Product Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois
Product Engineering Manager jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with concentrations in manufacturing technology, enterprise software, and industrial automation sectors at levels from team lead to senior director. Chicago anchors the market, with meaningful hiring also in Peoria and Rockford, where companies like Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Abbott actively recruit product engineering managers for hardware, software, and cross-functional product teams. Embedded systems, agile delivery, and IoT product development are among the most consistently sought specialties across Illinois employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW.
John Deere is an equal opportunity employer, including disabled & veterans.
Primary Location: United States (US) - Illinois - Ames
Function: Product Engineering (CA)
Title: Part-Time Student - Product Engineering - Ames, IA, or Silvis, IL - 123369
Onsite/Remote:Onsite Position
Your Responsibilities
As a Part-Time Student - Product Engineering for Jon Deere World Headquarters located in Ames, IA or Silvis, IL you will:
The work will entail modeling physical systems such as hydraulics, electrical circuits, and controls systems in Matlab/Simulink/SimScape.- Work with design engineers, embedded engineers, and control engineers to tackle some of the most challenging problems at John Deere. You will use simulation to architect, optimize and develop the very best design possible for our customers
This position is not available to students on immigration visas
What Skills You Need
Ideally, you will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer/Software, Industrial, or Agricultural Engineering, or equivalent; others may apply- Must be registered as a full-time student at an accredited university
- Graduation date of December 2027 or later
- Cumulative GPA of 2.8 or above
- Available to work approximately 10-20 hours/week onsite during the academic year
- Available to work approximately 30-40 hours/week onsite during the summer
- Available to commute to a JD work location in Ames, IA, or Silvis, IL, year-round
- Strong understanding and intuition for physics and dynamics
- Effective communication skills both oral and written
- Strong problem-solving skills and inquisitive nature for resolving complex problems
What Makes You Stand Out
Knowledge or work experience in production agriculture or construction equipment- Experience in product engineering (product design, product testing, software testing)
- 3D modeling experience (Creo preferred)
- Programming experience (MATLAB, C++, Python, Visual Basic, Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
- Model Based Software Development Experience (Simulink, Simscape, LabVIEW, Amesim)
- Data analytics experience (Python, R, SQL)
- Strong familiarity with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, or Power BI
- Leadership experience
What You'll Get
At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Highly competitive base pay
- Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
- Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
- Adoption assistance
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Tuition assistance
- Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
- Charitable contribution match
- Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
- Vacation and Holiday Pay
$1.00 - $999,999.00 + Benefits
Follow this link to learn more about our Total Rewards Package https://bit.ly/3XCd8fL
Must be 18 years of age or older to apply
The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals performing the job. The qualifications detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum requirements necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.
The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.
ACA Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Notice
The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
See All 10 Product Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsProduct Engineering Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Product Engineering Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product engineering manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related technical field
- Five or more years of hands-on product engineering experience in a relevant industry
- Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring cross-functional engineering teams
- Proficiency with agile methodologies such as Scrum or SAFe in a product development context
- Experience managing product roadmaps, release cycles, and engineering delivery timelines
- Familiarity with hardware-software integration or embedded systems common in Illinois manufacturing
Product Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a product engineering manager in Illinois?
The most direct path is earning a bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science, gaining several years of individual-contributor engineering experience, and then moving into a lead or principal engineer role before stepping into people management. Illinois does not require a state-issued license to work as a product engineering manager, though a Professional Engineer credential from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation can strengthen candidacy for roles in regulated manufacturing or infrastructure sectors.
How much do product engineering managers make in Illinois?
Product engineering managers in Illinois earn a median of about $163,610 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $112,090 for the lowest 10% to over $231,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire product engineering managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring product engineering managers in Illinois right now include IFS, Danfoss, and Grainger, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base and concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters mean demand is spread across industrial, healthtech, and enterprise software companies throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most product engineering manager jobs?
Chicago, Ames, and Itasca have the most product engineering manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the majority of listings through its dense cluster of technology companies, financial services firms, and corporate headquarters, while Peoria and Rockford generate consistent demand from large industrial employers in manufacturing and heavy equipment.
Are there remote product engineering manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields, because the coordination, planning, and strategic work central to product engineering management translates well to distributed teams. About 25% of product engineering manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting broader tech-industry norms. Roadmap planning, sprint reviews, and stakeholder communication are the responsibilities most commonly performed fully remotely.
How can I get hired as a product engineering manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting a senior individual-contributor role first, such as a staff engineer, technical lead, or principal engineer, then transitioning into management once you have demonstrated cross-team influence. Large Illinois employers like Caterpillar and Motorola Solutions run rotational and leadership development programs for early-career engineers that build the management exposure needed. Building a portfolio of project ownership, presenting at Chicago-area engineering meetups, and pursuing a PMP credential can each accelerate that transition.
Where can I find and apply to product engineering manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to product engineering manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 10 Product Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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