Engineering Manager

The Planet Group; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Planet Group is hiring an Engineering Manager in Chicago to lead a team of 10–20 design engineers focused on cost-effective design solutions for standard and custom applications. You will drive CAD data for manufacturing and oversee design, prototyping, and process improvements to meet timelines and budgets.

Responsibilities include coordinating with sales, producing drawings, BOMs, and ensuring high quality while prioritizing cost savings.

Qualifications

• Degree preferred.
• 3+ years experience as a Manager in a wood or metal manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of multi-materials including wood, metal, plastics, glass, etc.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing techniques in wood/metal industries.
• Proficiency with 3D solid modeling, preferably Autodesk Inventor.
• Exposure to Autodesk AutoCAD and Vault or equivalent.
• Working understanding of ERP software.
• Ability to express oneself professionally using verbal and written communications.
• Ability to problem-solve quickly and effectively.
• Ability to produce under pressure of timelines and customer demands.
• Ability to prioritize and work independently on multiple small projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 10-20 engineers, drafters, and designers.
• Produce fixture design and drawings for internal and customer review.
• Incorporate efficient, best-practice methods in design and drawings.
• Manage custom projects to ensure on-time completion.
• Source and develop information for efficient production and cost reduction.
• Create assembly and installation drawings for production and client.
• Coordinate with production/manufacturing to ensure design flow.
• Create Bills of Materials for all wood/metal products and maintain revisions.
• Prioritize cost savings across processes with value engineering.
• Involve in assembly of prototypes.
• Follow manager instructions and perform other duties as required.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Professional communication

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

Degree preferred

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

AutoCAD

Autodesk Vault

ERP software

Job description

Starting Pay: Up to 140k depending on experience

Bonus: 20% annual bonus (Paid in full the last 3 years)

Onsite position: After 3-6 months will have ability to work from home 1 day

Direct Hire

Job Summary

The Engineering Manager will lead a team of around 10-20 design engineers who will be working to expand and develop cost effective design solutions for standard and custom applications. Will work closely with members of the sales team to create unique design solutions for the client. The design then needs to be detailed and adapted to suit the comprehensive in‑house and sourced manufacturing processes. The Engineering Manager will provide detailed CAD data to allow the manufacturing group to produce the items within their capabilities and the customer’s timeline and costs. The Engineering Manager will also be responsible for carrying out the duties of the Engineering department, including design, research, prototyping, engineering documentation, estimating and process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Lead a team of 10-20 engineers, drafters, and designers who will be -

• Produce fixture design & drawings as required for internal & customer review
• Incorporate engineered, efficient, best practice methods in the design/detail of drawings
• Manage your custom projects to assure on‑time completion
• Find, source, develop information and details for efficient production resulting in excellent quality for product development
• Create assembly & installation drawings for production and client
• Interact regularly with production/manufacturing to assure design/production flow
• Create Bills of Materials for all manufactured wood/metal products
• Maintain/update all revisions to B.O.M.s
• Prioritize cost savings throughout all processes, offering value engineered solutions
• Intimately involved in the assembly of prototypes
• Follow any other instructions and perform any other duties as requested by manager

Required Technical Skills

• Degree preferred
• 3+ years experience as an Manager in a wood or metal manufacturing environment, store fixture industry preferred
• Knowledge of multi-materials including wood, metal, plastics, glass, etc.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing techniques in the wood and/or metal industries:
• Cabinetry, wood materials and joining techniques, laminating processes, and cabinet hardware Sheet metal, metal fabrication, metal and aluminum machining, aluminum die casting and extruding a plus
• Proficiency working with 3D solid modeling is required, preferably Autodesk Inventor
• Exposure to other Autodesk software including AutoCAD and Vault or equivalent
• Working understanding of ERP software
• Ability to express oneself professionally utilizing both verbal and written communications
• Ability to problem-solve quickly and effectively
• Ability to produce under pressure of timelines and customer demands
• Ability to prioritize and work independently to work on multiple small projects simultaneously ensuring all key dates are met while maintaining the highest level of quality