Engineering Manager (Wood Dale, IL)

Planet Group; Wood Dale (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Group in Wood Dale, IL is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a cross-functional engineering team responsible for optimizing fixture designs and driving cost-efficient solutions. The role focuses on translating customer requirements into manufacturable designs while ensuring quality, on-time delivery, and continuous improvement.

The position supervises design engineers, estimators, and project managers, with emphasis on mentoring, process improvement, and collaboration across Design,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Master's degree is a plus.
• 8+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading engineering teams.
• Experience with custom manufacturing and product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a cross-functional Engineering team.
• Drive optimization of custom and standard fixture designs.
• Oversee development and improvement of the 3-inch pin-system product lines.
• Translate customer specifications into manufacturable designs.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation including BOMs and specs.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Mentoring

Root-cause analysis

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Vault

ERP systems

PDM systems

GD&T

Bills of Materials (BOMs)

CAD data management

Job description

Salary: $120-150K/year + Bonus

Engineering Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead our Engineering team in optimizing product design, improving engineering processes, and ensuring the successful execution of both custom and standard fixture projects on time and within budget. This position is responsible for driving collaboration across Design, Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Supply Chain while maintaining the Company's commitment to quality, innovation, and rapid turnaround.

The Engineering Manager will lead and mentor a cross-functional team of design engineers, estimators, and project managers, translating customer requirements into manufacturable, cost-effective solutions while supporting continuous improvement and new product introductions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a cross-functional Engineering team consisting of design engineers, estimators, and project managers.
• Drive optimization of custom and standard fixture designs to meet customer requirements, quality standards, and cost objectives.
• Oversee the development, enhancement, and continuous improvement of the Company's patented 3-inch pin-system product lines, ensuring ease of installation, secure mounting, and modular flexibility.
• Translate customer specifications into detailed engineering designs that are accurate, manufacturable, and cost-effective.
• Develop, review, and maintain engineering documentation including drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), specifications, and engineering change documentation.
• Ensure BOM accuracy and maintain CAD/Vault data integrity throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate closely with Design/Sales, Production, Purchasing, and Quality teams to ensure smooth transition from concept through manufacturing and on-time product delivery.
• Support the successful transfer and implementation of new products from New Product Development into production.
• Conduct regular project reviews with senior leadership, providing updates on project status, timelines, risks, and resource requirements.
• Ensure engineering designs meet requirements for fit, form, function, manufacturability, safety compliance, material selection, dimensional tolerances, and overall product quality.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Troubleshoot engineering and production issues using analytical, data-driven problem-solving techniques.
• Develop engineering standards, best practices, and design procedures to improve consistency and productivity.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning within the Engineering department.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field required.
• Master's degree is a plus.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of engineering experience in wood, metal, or mixed-material manufacturing environments.
• Previous experience leading or supervising engineering teams.
• Experience supporting custom manufacturing and product development.
• Proven success balancing cost, quality, delivery schedules, and customer expectations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Technical Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing materials including:
  • Wood
  • Metal
  • Plastics
  • Glass
  • Composite materials
• Strong understanding of fabrication and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced proficiency with Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Vault (preferred).
• Experience creating, maintaining, and managing Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Experience working with ERP and Product Data Management (PDM) systems.
• Ability to develop manufacturable engineering solutions while maintaining engineering documentation integrity.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering tolerances, manufacturing methods, and design for manufacturability.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers and technical staff.
• Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving abilities.

Leadership Competencies

• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing engineering teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent decision-making and prioritization abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while meeting deadlines.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ability to drive innovation while maintaining quality and cost objectives.

Communication Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Comfortable interacting directly with customers to gather requirements, present solutions, and manage expectations.
• Strong collaboration skills with Design, Sales, Production, Purchasing, Quality, and executive leadership.

Personal Attributes

• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality and accuracy.
• Collaborative team player.
• Innovative and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Adaptable and proactive in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop others.

Reporting Structure

Reports To

• Senior Vice President of Engineering and New Product Development

Direct Reports

• Yes

Work Environment

• Full-time
• In-person
• Standard day shift
• 8-hour shifts
• Manufacturing and office environment
• Occasional interaction with production floor personnel

Travel

• Up to 25% travel preferred.

Location

Wood Dale, Illinois 60191

• Ability to reliably commute required.
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 401(k) with 3% company match
• Medical benefits
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• AD&D Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Relocation Assistance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Schedule

• Full-time
• Day Shift
• Monday through Friday
• 8-hour shifts