Manufacturing Jobs in Illinois
Manufacturing jobs in Illinois are concentrated in the Chicago metro, Rockford, and the Peoria-Bloomington corridor, where the state's deep industrial base keeps demand steady at every experience level from entry-level assembler to senior process engineer. Major employers with lasting Illinois footprints include Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Illinois Tool Works, all of which run large-scale production and engineering operations across the state. The most in-demand specialties right now are CNC machining, quality assurance, and automated assembly. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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C3 AI (NYSE: AI), is the Enterprise AI application software company. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products including the C3 Agentic AI Platform, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating enterprise AI applications, C3 AI applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS enterprise AI applications that enable the digital transformation of organizations globally, and C3 Generative AI, a suite of domain-specific generative AI offerings for the enterprise. Learn more at: C3 AI
C3 AI is seeking an Industry Solution Leader (ISL) for Food & Agriculture to lead the design and delivery of enterprise AI solutions for its clients with a specialization in Food Manufacturing.
Industry Solution Leaders combine deep industry and engineering expertise with end-to-end ownership of customer solutions. They are expected to understand a customer's operations deeply enough to challenge assumptions, identify and quantify the highest-value opportunities, define the right technical solution, and lead cross-functional teams through design, deployment, validation, and scale.
The role combines the responsibilities of a senior domain expert and solution leader. Industry Solution Directors work directly with customer engineering, operations, maintenance, and executive teams while leading C3 AI Forward Deployed Engineers, data scientists, product teams, and other technical resources to deliver measurable business outcomes.
The ideal candidate brings significant hands-on experience in engineering, manufacturing, operations, reliability, or maintenance and has the technical judgment, customer leadership, and delivery ownership required to lead complex enterprise AI solutions from problem definition through production.
The ISL, Food & Agriculture - Food Manufacturing should have hands-on experience in food or beverage plant operations, with direct exposure to continuous/batch processing, packaging, and utilities, and ownership of OEE, yield, throughput, quality, sanitation/CIP, downtime, labor, or energy outcomes.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the overall solution strategy, technical direction, and delivery outcomes for assigned customer engagements, maintaining accountability from initial problem definition through production deployment and scale.
- Serve as the primary customer-facing solution leader and domain expert, developing a detailed understanding of customer operations, equipment, processes, constraints, and business objectives.
- Identify and quantify high-impact business opportunities across equipment reliability, maintenance, production performance, process optimization, throughput, yield, quality, energy efficiency, and operating economics.
- Translate complex engineering and operational challenges into tractable AI, machine learning, optimization, and software problems with clearly defined requirements, success criteria, and expected business value.
- Lead engagements through use case definition, requirements gathering, solution architecture, application configuration, validation, production deployment, user adoption, and scale-out.
- Apply deep engineering and industry expertise to challenge assumptions, evaluate technical approaches, interpret analytical results, and ensure solutions are consistent with engineering fundamentals and operational realities.
- Lead cross-functional teams of Forward Deployed Engineers, data scientists, product managers, engineers, and industry experts, establishing technical priorities and driving alignment around customer outcomes.
- Work directly with customer engineers, operators, reliability teams, maintenance organizations, and executives to validate requirements, solution performance, operational workflows, and business impact.
- Guide the interpretation and use of industrial data, including process signals, equipment attributes, operating states, maintenance history, production information, alarms, quality data, and other engineering information required to solve customer problems.
- Maintain accountability for solution quality, business value, technical risks, delivery progress, customer adoption, and executive communication throughout the engagement.
- Partner with C3 AI product management and engineering teams to identify reusable capabilities, inform product development, and scale successful solutions across assets, production lines, facilities, and business units.
- Support sales teams during opportunity assessment and capture by helping define customer problems, solution approaches, business value, technical requirements, deployment strategy, and demonstrations.
- Support development of statements of work and deployment plans, ensuring scope, deliverables, assumptions, data requirements, risks, timelines, and resource requirements are clearly defined.
- Develop repeatable industry methodologies, solution patterns, and best practices and represent C3 AI in relevant customer, industry, and technical forums.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline. Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Mining, Metallurgical, Petroleum, Materials, or similar engineering backgrounds are preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, operations, reliability, maintenance, industrial technology, or technically focused consulting.
- Deep experience in one or more asset-intensive industries, including high-tech or semiconductor manufacturing, steel and metals, minerals and mining, utilities and power generation, oil and gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, LNG, pharmaceuticals, or heavy manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience solving complex operational problems and improving equipment reliability, production performance, throughput, yield, quality, maintenance effectiveness, energy efficiency, or operating economics.
- Strong understanding of industrial equipment, manufacturing or production processes, process controls, maintenance practices, and operational workflows.
- Experience working with industrial data including sensor and time-series data, equipment states, alarms, maintenance history, production data, laboratory or quality information, equipment hierarchies, and engineering data.
- Experience with industrial systems such as process historians, SCADA, DCS, MES, EAM/CMMS, ERP, advanced process control, or industrial analytics platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to reason from engineering fundamentals and determine whether analytical and AI-driven recommendations are physically, technically, and operationally credible.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, customer-facing technical engagements and working directly with engineering, operational, and executive stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguous problems, establish priorities, and drive teams toward practical solutions.
- Ability to work effectively with software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and customer technical teams and translate between domain, business, and technical requirements.
- Excellent presentation, written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to travel to customer locations as required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience delivering AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, optimization, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, process optimization, or industrial digital transformation solutions.
- Hands-on technical experience working with industrial data, SQL, Python, analytics tools, application configuration, scripting, or similar technologies, with the ability to directly inspect data, prototype analyses, and troubleshoot solution behavior.
- Experience with rotating equipment, electrical equipment, production equipment, manufacturing lines, process units, mining systems, utility assets, or other complex industrial systems.
- Experience taking technical solutions from initial proof of value through production deployment and scale.
- Experience scaling solutions across multiple assets, plants, facilities, or business units.
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical discipline.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future company sponsorship.
C3 AI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristics, including disabled and veteran status.
C3 AI (NYSE: AI), is the Enterprise AI application software company. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products including the C3 Agentic AI Platform, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating enterprise AI applications, C3 AI applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS enterprise AI applications that enable the digital transformation of organizations globally, and C3 Generative AI, a suite of domain-specific generative AI offerings for the enterprise. Learn more at: C3 AI
C3 AI is seeking an Industry Solution Leader (ISL) for Food & Agriculture to lead the design and delivery of enterprise AI solutions for its clients with a specialization in Food Manufacturing.
Industry Solution Leaders combine deep industry and engineering expertise with end-to-end ownership of customer solutions. They are expected to understand a customer's operations deeply enough to challenge assumptions, identify and quantify the highest-value opportunities, define the right technical solution, and lead cross-functional teams through design, deployment, validation, and scale.
The role combines the responsibilities of a senior domain expert and solution leader. Industry Solution Directors work directly with customer engineering, operations, maintenance, and executive teams while leading C3 AI Forward Deployed Engineers, data scientists, product teams, and other technical resources to deliver measurable business outcomes.
The ideal candidate brings significant hands-on experience in engineering, manufacturing, operations, reliability, or maintenance and has the technical judgment, customer leadership, and delivery ownership required to lead complex enterprise AI solutions from problem definition through production.
The ISL, Food & Agriculture - Food Manufacturing should have hands-on experience in food or beverage plant operations, with direct exposure to continuous/batch processing, packaging, and utilities, and ownership of OEE, yield, throughput, quality, sanitation/CIP, downtime, labor, or energy outcomes.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the overall solution strategy, technical direction, and delivery outcomes for assigned customer engagements, maintaining accountability from initial problem definition through production deployment and scale.
- Serve as the primary customer-facing solution leader and domain expert, developing a detailed understanding of customer operations, equipment, processes, constraints, and business objectives.
- Identify and quantify high-impact business opportunities across equipment reliability, maintenance, production performance, process optimization, throughput, yield, quality, energy efficiency, and operating economics.
- Translate complex engineering and operational challenges into tractable AI, machine learning, optimization, and software problems with clearly defined requirements, success criteria, and expected business value.
- Lead engagements through use case definition, requirements gathering, solution architecture, application configuration, validation, production deployment, user adoption, and scale-out.
- Apply deep engineering and industry expertise to challenge assumptions, evaluate technical approaches, interpret analytical results, and ensure solutions are consistent with engineering fundamentals and operational realities.
- Lead cross-functional teams of Forward Deployed Engineers, data scientists, product managers, engineers, and industry experts, establishing technical priorities and driving alignment around customer outcomes.
- Work directly with customer engineers, operators, reliability teams, maintenance organizations, and executives to validate requirements, solution performance, operational workflows, and business impact.
- Guide the interpretation and use of industrial data, including process signals, equipment attributes, operating states, maintenance history, production information, alarms, quality data, and other engineering information required to solve customer problems.
- Maintain accountability for solution quality, business value, technical risks, delivery progress, customer adoption, and executive communication throughout the engagement.
- Partner with C3 AI product management and engineering teams to identify reusable capabilities, inform product development, and scale successful solutions across assets, production lines, facilities, and business units.
- Support sales teams during opportunity assessment and capture by helping define customer problems, solution approaches, business value, technical requirements, deployment strategy, and demonstrations.
- Support development of statements of work and deployment plans, ensuring scope, deliverables, assumptions, data requirements, risks, timelines, and resource requirements are clearly defined.
- Develop repeatable industry methodologies, solution patterns, and best practices and represent C3 AI in relevant customer, industry, and technical forums.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline. Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Mining, Metallurgical, Petroleum, Materials, or similar engineering backgrounds are preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, operations, reliability, maintenance, industrial technology, or technically focused consulting.
- Deep experience in one or more asset-intensive industries, including high-tech or semiconductor manufacturing, steel and metals, minerals and mining, utilities and power generation, oil and gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, LNG, pharmaceuticals, or heavy manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience solving complex operational problems and improving equipment reliability, production performance, throughput, yield, quality, maintenance effectiveness, energy efficiency, or operating economics.
- Strong understanding of industrial equipment, manufacturing or production processes, process controls, maintenance practices, and operational workflows.
- Experience working with industrial data including sensor and time-series data, equipment states, alarms, maintenance history, production data, laboratory or quality information, equipment hierarchies, and engineering data.
- Experience with industrial systems such as process historians, SCADA, DCS, MES, EAM/CMMS, ERP, advanced process control, or industrial analytics platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to reason from engineering fundamentals and determine whether analytical and AI-driven recommendations are physically, technically, and operationally credible.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, customer-facing technical engagements and working directly with engineering, operational, and executive stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguous problems, establish priorities, and drive teams toward practical solutions.
- Ability to work effectively with software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and customer technical teams and translate between domain, business, and technical requirements.
- Excellent presentation, written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to travel to customer locations as required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience delivering AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, optimization, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, process optimization, or industrial digital transformation solutions.
- Hands-on technical experience working with industrial data, SQL, Python, analytics tools, application configuration, scripting, or similar technologies, with the ability to directly inspect data, prototype analyses, and troubleshoot solution behavior.
- Experience with rotating equipment, electrical equipment, production equipment, manufacturing lines, process units, mining systems, utility assets, or other complex industrial systems.
- Experience taking technical solutions from initial proof of value through production deployment and scale.
- Experience scaling solutions across multiple assets, plants, facilities, or business units.
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical discipline.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future company sponsorship.
C3 AI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristics, including disabled and veteran status.
See All 149+ Manufacturing Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing JobsManufacturing Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Chemicals & Materials
- Mining & Natural Resources
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing jobs across Illinois.
- High school diploma or GED required, with technical or vocational training strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience operating CNC machines, assembly lines, or production equipment
- Familiarity with quality control standards such as ISO 9001 or Six Sigma methodologies
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and work orders accurately
- Physical stamina for standing, lifting, and repetitive tasks in a production environment
- Reliable transportation to reach Illinois industrial parks and suburban manufacturing campuses
Manufacturing Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a manufacturing worker in Illinois?
Most manufacturing roles in Illinois require at minimum a high school diploma or GED, with many employers preferring completion of a vocational or technical program in fields like machining, welding, or industrial maintenance. Community colleges such as Joliet Junior College and Moraine Valley offer certificate programs aligned with Illinois employer expectations. No single state license governs general manufacturing, but specific trades like electricians or stationary engineers require licensure through the Illinois Department of Labor.
Which companies hire manufacturing workers in Illinois?
Illinois manufacturing roles are posted by Caterpillar, Mars, and Pmall and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's mix of heavy industry, medical device production, and food processing means openings come from a wide range of employer types beyond automotive and metals.
Which Illinois cities have the most manufacturing jobs?
Chicago, Aurora, and Saint Charles have the most manufacturing openings in Illinois right now. The Chicago metro dominates due to its concentration of corporate headquarters, logistics infrastructure, and proximity to major suppliers, while Rockford and Peoria draw volume from their long-established heavy equipment and precision parts industries anchored by employers like Woodward and Caterpillar.
Are there remote manufacturing jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Manufacturing work is predominantly hands-on and tied to a physical facility, so fully remote roles are uncommon. About 25% of manufacturing openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to be in production planning, quality systems, or supply chain coordination rather than floor-level or equipment roles.
How can I get hired as a manufacturing worker in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a production associate or general laborer role at a large Illinois manufacturer that runs structured training programs, such as those offered by Illinois Tool Works or Abbott at their Illinois facilities. Community college certificate programs in machining or industrial technology give candidates a concrete edge during screening. Temp-to-hire placements through Illinois staffing agencies that specialize in industrial roles are also a common bridge into full-time manufacturing work.
Where can I find and apply to manufacturing jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to manufacturing jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Search the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 149+ Manufacturing Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing Jobs