Mechanical & Design Engineering Manager (Direct Hire) Hillside, ILJob Requisition: 7762 Annual Salary Range: $130,000 to $145,000 plus up to 10% bonus. Individual salaries are based on education, geographic location, and alignment to the market data. SUMMARY The Mechanical & Design Engineering Manager provides technical and organizational leadership for our Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Design teams. This role is responsible for managing a multidisciplinary engineering organization focused on the design, development, implementation, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures, gauges, automated testing systems, and advanced automation solutions supporting the manufacturing operations. The role is expected to maintain 3D models, 2D drawings, and produce and assemble mechanical fixtures, gauges, mechanical engineering solutions, and technologies aiming to aid manufacturing operators in testing components, sub-assemblies, and assemblies of products. The position combines strategic engineering leadership with hands-on technical oversight across mechanical design, industrial automation, robotics, motion control, hydraulics, pneumatics, machine safety, and manufacturing systems integration. The manager establishes engineering standards, develops technical roadmaps, mentors engineering talent, and partners closely with Controls Engineering, Software Controls, Instrumentation Engineering, Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and external suppliers to deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions. Engineering & Technical Responsibilities: • Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team of 8-12 direct reports that include Mechanical Engineers, Mechanical Designers, Design Engineers, and Technicians. • Establish engineering standards, technical roadmaps, and best practices for mechanical design and automation. • Direct design of tooling, fixtures, gauges, ergonomic devices, assembly equipment, and automated test systems. • Lead advanced automation initiatives including robotics, servo motion control, hydraulics, pneumatics, and machine safety. • Collaborate with Controls, Software Controls, and Instrumentation Engineering to integrate complete manufacturing systems. • Evaluate equipment and determine repair, redesign, rebuild, replacement, or automation strategies. • Review and approve CAD models, drawings, engineering calculations, FEA, structural analysis, tolerance studies, and prototype validation. • Apply DFM, DFA, PLM, material selection, GD&T, and 3D assembly simulation throughout development. • Manage capital equipment projects from concept through commissioning while controlling scope, schedule, budget, and technical risk. • Support new product launches and manufacturing readiness. • Drive Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause problem solving. • Mentor engineers, conduct performance reviews, hire talent, and build succession plans. • Represent the company with customers, suppliers, and engineering partners. Project & Operational Leadership: • Lead multiple concurrent engineering projects from concept through implementation while managing scope, schedule, budget, resources, and technical risk. • Coordinate engineering activities across Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Maintenance, and external vendors. • Support new product launches through equipment development, manufacturing readiness, validation, and process implementation. • Manage supplier selection, equipment procurement, technical reviews, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), installation, and commissioning. • Monitor engineering KPIs, project performance, capital expenditures, and resource utilization. Customer & Supplier Interface: • Serve as the technical engineering representative during customer meetings, engineering reviews, and technical discussions. • Build strong partnerships with equipment suppliers, system integrators, and engineering service providers. • Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies and recommend investments that strengthen our engineering capabilities. Required Skills/Abilities: • Demonstrated success delivering complex automation and manufacturing equipment projects. • Advanced knowledge of CAD, 3D Design, Linear FEA, structural analysis, PLM, DFM/DFA, prototype development, and material selection (especially for metals). • Strong project management, leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. • Project management certifications and/or a proven record of successful delivery of projects • Ability to demonstrate prior success in all project phases such as inception, costing, design, implementation, troubleshooting, and delivery • Demonstrated understanding of electrical, mechanical and software engineering concepts • Ability to make smart decisions independently, with minimal supervision while weighing multiple factors and considering different outcomes • Working knowledge of spreadsheets, and data analysis and presentation Education and Experience: • A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent • 6-10 years of progressive experience in the field of Engineering • Minimum of 5 years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams. • Experience working in the manufacturing and/or automotive industry • Experience with lean methodologies such as SMED, Kaizen, 5S, and Kanban • Strong experience with industrial robotics, motion control, hydraulics, pneumatics, automated test equipment, tooling, fixtures, and gauges. BENEFITS FOR PRODUCT ENGINEER II: • Opportunities for Advancement • Tuition Reimbursement • Competitive Pay (pay weekly!) • Comprehensive Benefits Package & 401(k) Match • Generous Paid Time Off, and more!