Engineer Facilities Manager

EPITEC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Epitec is seeking an Engineer Facility Manager in Chicago, IL to lead Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities within a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment. You will drive reliability, launch readiness, and continuous improvement while developing high-performing technical teams.

This direct hire, onsite role requires managing cross-functional teams, budgets, and safety programs, with up to 20% travel. Join a Tier 1 automotive supplier serving Ford, GM, Chrysler, and Stellantis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of management experience within automotive manufacturing.
• Experience leading Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities teams.
• Strong understanding of: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with Robotics and Automated Manufacturing Systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities departments.
• Oversee equipment, tooling, production processes, building infrastructure, grounds, utilities, and janitorial services.
• Develop departmental objectives, KPIs, staffing plans, and budgets.
• Drive operational excellence across all technical functions.
• Champion a Safety-First culture and ensure OSHA/compliance.
• Lead Launch Readiness activities and cross-functional coordination.
• Support new program launches, tooling installation, equipment validation, and production readiness.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Improve equipment reliability, throughput, efficiency, and cost performance.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Problem-solving

Mechanical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Project

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Epitec is seeking an Engineer Facility Manager for a leading Tier 1 automotive supplier supporting Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and Stellantis in Chicago, IL. This direct hire leadership opportunity is responsible for managing Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities functions within a fast-paced automotive manufacturing operation. The successful candidate will lead equipment reliability, launch readiness, facility infrastructure, automation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts while developing high-performing technical teams.

• Title: Engineer Facility Manager
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Employment Type: Direct Hire
• Work Environment: Fully Onsite
• Travel: Up to 20%
• Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

Responsibilities

Engineering & Facilities Leadership

• Lead Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities departments.
• Oversee manufacturing equipment, tooling, production processes, building infrastructure, grounds, utilities, and janitorial services.
• Develop departmental objectives, KPIs, staffing plans, and budgets.
• Drive operational excellence across all technical functions.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a Safety-First culture.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and corporate safety standards.
• Lead accident prevention and risk reduction initiatives.
• Support emergency preparedness and evacuation compliance.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Manage preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Ensure equipment uptime and operational readiness.
• Oversee CMMS utilization, maintenance planning, and performance metrics.
• Maintain technical capabilities required to support production operations.

Launch Readiness & Program Execution

• Lead Launch Readiness activities and cross-functional coordination.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Controls Engineering, Quality, Production, Materials, Program Management, and Product Engineering.
• Support new program launches, tooling installation, equipment validation, and production readiness.
• Remove barriers and drive accountability for program success.
• Coordinate quoting, costing, implementation, and validation of engineering changes.
• Ensure successful execution of customer and internal engineering modifications.

Product & Process Development

• Support product and process development initiatives.
• Improve manufacturing feasibility, ergonomics, safety, timing, cost, and quality performance.
• Incorporate lessons learned into future program launches.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Improve equipment reliability, throughput, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Identify and implement best practices and emerging technologies.

Team Development

• Conduct performance evaluations and development planning.
• Develop engineering and maintenance talent pipelines.
• Foster collaboration, communication, and accountability.

Documentation

• Ensure proper documentation of all engineering, maintenance, and facilities activities.
• Support plant audits and reporting requirements.

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of management experience within automotive manufacturing.
• Experience leading Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities teams.
• Strong understanding of:
• APQP
• PPAP
• FMEA
• MSA
• SPC
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with:
• Robotics
• Automated Manufacturing Systems
• Proficiency with:
• AutoCAD
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Valid Driver's License.

Preferred

• Automotive JIT Assembly and Sequencing experience.
• Launch Readiness leadership experience.
• Lean Manufacturing experience.
• MOST
• MODAPTS
• Capital equipment planning and implementation experience.

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