MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING MANAGER

Smalley; Lake Zurich (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off (PTO)

Learning & development

Job summary

Smalley is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the Manufacturing and Packaging Engineering functions, driving safety, quality, throughput, and cost improvements. You will develop the engineering team, set priorities, and partner with cross-functional teams to build scalable operations.

The role requires deep experience in metal forming, automation, and process engineering, with a focus on continuous improvement and new product introduction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering.
• 10+ years in progressive manufacturing engineering roles.
• Experience with metal forming, spring winding, high-mix processes.
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, SPC, and engineering change management.
• Packaging engineering or automated packaging systems experience.
• Capital projects from concept to production handoff.

Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing Engineering and Packaging Engineering teams and set goals.
• Drive safety, quality, throughput, capacity, and cost improvements.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

3D CAD

PLCs/controls

Automation tools

Simulation tools

Job description

About Us

Smalley is a global manufacturing leader of precision metal formed products—known for our Spirolox® retaining rings and Crest-to-Crest® wave springs—supporting customers across industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, robotics, and industrial machinery.

Smalley is a global manufacturing leader of precision metal formed products—known for our Spirolox® retaining rings and Crest-to-Crest® wave springs—supporting customers across industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, robotics, and industrial machinery.

Why Smalley?

At Smalley, we cultivate an inclusive environment that values creativity, collaboration, and diverse perspectives. We also prioritize a positive onsite culture with team-building and engagement activities.

We offer

Competitive compensation and benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) match, Life insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, PTO, and more—plus ongoing learning and development opportunities.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager leads Smalley’s Manufacturing Engineering and Packaging Engineering functions and drives measurable improvement in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, capacity, and cost. This role provides technical and organizational leadership for manufacturing processes, automation, tooling, equipment, packaging systems, process documentation, and new product introduction. The Manager develops the engineering team, establishes priorities and performance measures, and partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, Product Engineering, Production Control, and Sales to build efficient, scalable, and customer-focused operations.

• Lead, develop, and manage the Manufacturing Engineering team and Packaging Engineer, including goal setting, coaching, performance management, workload prioritization, training, and succession planning.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, documentation discipline, continuous learning, and data-based decision making.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, throughput, capacity, labor productivity, machine utilization, setup reduction, and manufacturing cost.
• Develop, optimize, and standardize manufacturing processes, tooling, setup methods, work instructions, and technical documentation to improve repeatability and reduce process variation.
• Ensure manufacturing drawings, routers, setup instructions, PFMEAs, control plans, process flow diagrams, and engineering changes accurately reflect production requirements and current practice.
• Lead capital equipment, automation, tooling, and facility improvement projects, including business justification, budgeting, specifications, RFQs, supplier coordination, installation, validation, commissioning, and results tracking.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Maintenance to improve overall equipment effectiveness, reduce downtime, increase equipment reliability, shorten setup time, and recover manufacturing capacity.
• Provide technical leadership for new product introductions, product and process transfers, manufacturability reviews, process development, production readiness, and customer-specific technical requirements.
• Lead structured problem solving, root cause analysis, corrective actions, SPC implementation, and process capability improvement to reduce scrap, rework, defects, and customer issues.
• Direct packaging engineering activities, including package design, material selection, product protection, shipping validation, labeling requirements, automation, standardization, and packaging cost reduction.
• Provide cross-functional technical leadership to Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, Production Control, Product Engineering, and Sales to resolve issues, manage risk, and implement sustainable improvements.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, project priorities, resource plans, and capital roadmaps aligned with Smalley’s business objectives and long-term manufacturing strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience, including experience leading engineers, technical teams, or major cross-functional projects.
• Demonstrated experience with metal forming, spring winding, precision manufacturing, tooling, automation, or comparable high-mix manufacturing processes.
• Experience with packaging engineering or automated packaging systems, including product protection, material selection, labeling, and shipping performance.
• Proven ability to manage capital projects from concept and justification through installation, validation, and production handoff.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, structured root cause analysis, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, process capability, and engineering change management.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and engineering systems; experience with PLCs, controls, automation, or simulation tools is preferred.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 requirements, industrial safety practices, and applicable environmental regulations.
• Strong leadership, project management, analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 USD. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location. This role may be bonus/and or incentive eligible.

EEO/Affirmative Action

Smalley is an equal opportunity employer and believes in equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. Accordingly, all employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity. These decisions include recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, discipline, compensation, benefits, training, and other personnel actions involving persons in all job titles and shall occur without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, ancestry, marital status, or any other legally protected class as recognized by applicable law.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental vision, life, accident disability, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance program, paid holidays, paid time off and 401(k).