Chief Mechanical Engineer

Mi-Jack Products; Hazel Crest (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Lanco in Hazel Crest, Illinois, is seeking a Chief Engineer to own the technical delivery of a heavy equipment product series, driving engineering from concept through validation and launch. This hands-on leader will build capable teams, improve products, and steer cross-functional execution.

You will lead sustainment and new product development, balance safety, quality, timing, and cost, and partner with manufacturing and external partners to set strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in product development, full-machine delivery.
• 5+ years of people leadership with a track record of building teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an engineering team focused on sustainment and new product development.
• Drive technical delivery of product programs to meet customer requirements, quality targets, timing, and cost goals.
• Lead projects related to electrification, product improvement, manufacturability, warranty reduction, and cost optimization.
• Partner with manufacturing, purchasing, and cross-functional engineering teams to resolve issues and set product strategy.
• Develop machine-level and component-level validation strategies with internal experts and external partners.
• Manage prototype planning, DV/PV test plans, design reviews, and project gate reviews.
• Investigate product quality issues and lead structured root-cause problem solving using 8D, Red-X, and 5 Why.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support engineering process improvement, resource planning, and budget input for development programs.
• Maintain full-machine vehicle architecture and customer requirements in Autodesk Inventor.
• Lead new product introduction efforts to ensure engineering specifications, timing, and product quality expectations are achieved.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in engineering-related discipline

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Job description

The Chief Engineer owns the technical delivery of a product series and leads engineering efforts from concept through validation and launch. This position is ideal for a hands‑on engineering leader with deep experience in heavy equipment product development and a strong track record of building capable teams, improving products, and driving cross‑functional execution.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop an engineering team focused on sustainment and new product development.
• Drive technical delivery of product programs to meet customer requirements, quality targets, timing, and cost goals.
• Lead projects related to electrification, product improvement, manufacturability, warranty reduction, and cost optimization.
• Partner with manufacturing, purchasing, and cross‑functional engineering teams to resolve issues and set product strategy.
• Develop machine‑level and component‑level validation strategies with internal experts and external partners.
• Manage prototype planning, DV/PV test plans, design reviews, and project gate reviews.
• Investigate product quality issues and lead structured root‑cause problem solving using methods such as 8D, Red‑X, and 5 Why.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support engineering process improvement, resource planning, and budget input for development programs.
• Maintain full‑machine vehicle architecture and customer requirements in Autodesk Inventor.
• Lead new product introduction efforts to ensure engineering specifications, timing, and product quality expectations are achieved.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience supporting product development, with emphasis on full‑machine delivery.
• 5+ years of people leadership or supervisory experience with a record of building and leading successful teams.
• Strong knowledge of design and development practices for material handling, construction, agricultural, or other heavy equipment.
• Experience balancing safety, quality, timing, and cost across multiple engineering projects.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including experience working with external partners.
• Ability to adapt to evolving technologies and help teams prepare for future product development needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an engineering‑related discipline.
• Experience with electrification initiatives and machine‑level systems engineering.
• Proficiency with Autodesk Inventor and full‑machine CAD architecture ownership.
• Experience working across global teams or with partners in multiple countries and cultures.

You will directly lead members of the engineering team and play a key role in coaching, mentoring, hiring, and developing talent.

This role is primarily office‑based in a professional engineering environment with occasional work in offsite settings. Approximately 10% domestic and international travel is expected.

Additional Information

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

We foster a collaborative team environment that values innovation and encourages creative solutions to drive positive organizational impact. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. The base pay range for this role is $125,000 to $175,000. The final compensation offer may vary based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and location. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lanco is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, disability, citizenship, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.