Manufacturing Engineer

TekPro; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 57,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

TekPro is seeking a hands-on Project Engineer to join a growing manufacturing organization, offering a strong blend of mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, project ownership, and continuous improvement. This role provides an opportunity to see projects through from concept and design into full-scale production.

This position is ideal for engineers who want direct exposure to the manufacturing floor, tooling, fabrication, production processes, and ongoing improvement initiatives,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering (Mechanical / Manufacturing)
• 3-5 years of mechanical or manufacturing engineering experience
• Fabrication, Metal, or Stamping background preferred

Responsibilities

• Create and modify 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and production documentation from initial design through manufacturing.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles to evaluate designs for manufacturability, tooling, fabrication, tolerances, materials, cost, and production capabilities.
• Partner directly with manufacturing, production, tooling, and quality teams to troubleshoot production issues and implement practical engineering solutions on the shop floor.
• Support new product introduction and prototype-to-production activities, including process development, tooling/fixture considerations, design revisions, and manufacturing readiness.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities focused on throughput, waste reduction, process consistency, and overall manufacturing efficiency.

Skills

3D CAD modeling

DFM principles

Manufacturing collaboration

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a hands-on Project Engineer to join an established and growing manufacturing organization. This position offers a strong blend of mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, project ownership, and continuous improvement, giving the engineer an opportunity to see projects through from initial concept and design into full-scale production.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys being involved beyond the CAD/design phase and wants direct exposure to the manufacturing floor, tooling, fabrication, production processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Why This Opportunity?

• Up to $90-95k
• Work on projects from concept and design through implementation and production
• Gain a unique combination of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering experience
• Direct exposure to metal stamping, sheet metal fabrication, welding, assembly, tooling, and other manufacturing processes
• Work closely with production and manufacturing teams rather than being isolated in a traditional design-only engineering environment
• Opportunity to apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles and directly influence how products are manufactured
• Take ownership of projects and see the tangible results of your engineering decisions on the production floor
• Work across a diverse customer and project portfolio, providing exposure to different products, manufacturing challenges, and industries
• Opportunity to become a well-rounded engineer by gaining experience across design, manufacturing, tooling, process improvement, and project management
• Join a stable, established manufacturer with a strong reputation for employee satisfaction and long-term tenure
• Collaborative, approachable engineering and manufacturing environment where engineers have visibility and the ability to make an impact
• Strong opportunity for continued professional growth beyond a narrowly defined engineering function

Key Responsibilities:

• Create and modify 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and production documentation, supporting projects from initial design through manufacturing and production.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles to evaluate designs for manufacturability, including tooling requirements, fabrication methods, tolerances, materials, cost, and production capabilities.
• Partner directly with manufacturing, production, tooling, and quality teams to troubleshoot production issues and implement practical engineering solutions on the shop floor.
• Support new product introduction and prototype-to-production activities, including process development, tooling/fixture considerations, design revisions, and manufacturing readiness.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities focused on improving throughput, reducing waste, increasing process consistency, and improving overall manufacturing efficiency.

What Is Needed:

• Bachelors in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing Etc)
• At least 3-5 years of mechanical, or manufacturing engineering experience
• Fabrication, Metal, or Stamping Background preferred