Manufacturing Engineer

Sterling Engineering; Bensenville (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PTO

Holiday pay

Retirement plans

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Bensenville, IL is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to improve CNC manufacturing processes in a low-volume, high-mix environment. You will develop and document processes, routings, and setup sheets for CNC machining, lathes, mills, and waterjet cutting, while supporting programming and fixtures.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams to drive continuous improvement, reduce cycle times, and improve product quality and safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.
• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, preferably in machining.
• Hands-on CNC machining, lathes, mills, waterjet cutting, welding.
• Experience with CNC programming (G-code or conversational).
• Strong blueprint reading and GD&T knowledge.
• Experience with CAD/CAM (SolidWorks or AutoCAD).
• Collaborative with Engineering, Production and Quality teams.
• Background in low-volume, high-mix environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, routings, and setup sheets for CNC machining, lathes, mills, waterjet cutting, and welding operations.
• Support CNC programming, tooling design, fixture development, and workholding improvements.
• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, scrap, setup times, and manufacturing costs.
• Lead root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and corrective action initiatives to resolve production issues.
• Partner with shop floor personnel to improve machining processes and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support new product introductions (NPI), including manufacturing process development, BOMs, routings, and cost estimates.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve product quality.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and recommend tooling, equipment, and process enhancements.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with established quality and safety standards.

Skills

CNC machining

Process optimization

Root cause analysis

GD&T knowledge

Blueprint reading

Team collaboration

Lean/Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve manufacturing processes within a low-volume, high-mix machining environment. This hands-on role will focus on CNC machining, process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and production performance.

The Manufacturing Engineer will work closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, and other departments to support new product development, resolve manufacturing challenges, and implement long-term process improvements.

Location

Bensenville, IL 60106(100% Onsite)

Employment Type

Direct Hire

Compensation

$80,000–$95,000 annually

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off (PTO), Holiday Pay, Retirement Plans, and additional benefits.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, routings, and setup sheets for CNC machining, lathes, mills, waterjet cutting, and welding operations.
• Support CNC programming, tooling design, fixture development, and workholding improvements.
• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, scrap, setup times, and manufacturing costs.
• Lead root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and corrective action initiatives to resolve production issues.
• Partner with shop floor personnel to improve machining processes and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support new product introductions (NPI), including manufacturing process development, bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and cost estimates.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve product quality.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and recommend tooling, equipment, and process enhancements.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with established quality and safety standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably 5–10 years within a machining environment.
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining, lathes, mills, waterjet cutting, and welding processes.
• Experience with CNC programming, including G-code and/or conversational programming.
• Strong background in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience with root cause analysis, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
• Strong blueprint reading and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) knowledge.
• Experience with CAD/CAM software, including SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience or certification.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems, including BOMs, routings, and work order management.
• Familiarity with industrial safety equipment standards.
• Knowledge of automation and robotics integration.
• Bilingual communication skills are a plus.