Mechanical Engineering Manager

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, based in Appleton, Wisconsin, seeks a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing engineering team through product lifecycle development and sustainment.

You will balance technical execution with strategic talent development to enable divisional growth and sustainable innovation. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you will align resources with CBI priorities, foster cross-functional collaboration, and model ITW's values while driving execution,

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of engineering experience with demonstrated team leadership.
• Experience in engineering management, including direct people leadership, talent development, resource alignment and workload planning is preferred.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to establish priorities and drive execution across multiple initiatives.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing functional engineering team that supports current priorities and long-term divisional growth initiatives.
• Develop and sustain talent pipelines with a focus on succession planning and future capability needs.
• Promote a culture of growth by learning, engagement, creativity and foster inclusive and collaborative team environments.
• Role-model ITW’s core values — Trust, Respect, Integrity, Shared Risk, and Simplicity — in decision-making and leadership practices.
• Align engineering resources with Customer Back Innovation (CBI) priorities and product sustainability objectives.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making in ambiguity

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Mechanical Engineering Manager leads a high-performing functional engineering team and is responsible for delivering innovative, customer-focused solutions throughout the product lifecycle. This role balances technical execution with strategic talent development, ensuring the right capabilities, processes, and organizational structure are in place to support divisional growth, product innovation, and product sustainability. A successful leader demonstrates strong cross-functional collaboration, a deep understanding of engineering practices, and a commitment to developing both people and organizational capability while enabling effective execution of new product development and sustainment initiatives.

• Build and lead a high-performing functional engineering team that supports current priorities and long-term divisional growth initiatives.
• Develop and sustain talent pipelines with a focus on succession planning and future capability needs.
• Promote a culture of growth by learning, engagement, creativity and foster inclusive and collaborative team environments.
• Role-model ITW’s core values — Trust, Respect, Integrity, Shared Risk, and Simplicity — in decision-making and leadership practices.

Product Development & Sustainability

• Align engineering resources with Customer Back Innovation (CBI) priorities and product sustainability objectives.
• Collaborate with divisional leadership to align engineering strategies with business goals, long-range plans, and product lifecycle support needs.
• Ensure consistent application of CBI best practices, driving disciplined, high-quality execution.
• Provide early-stage project input, including risk assessments, technical feasibility, and effort estimation.
• Apply lessons learned from product development, production and field performance to continuously improve development speed, efficiency, product quality and customer experience.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Service and Product Management to ensure effective prioritization and execution of product sustainment efforts, including field issue resolution, engineering change management, component obsolescence mitigation, and manufacturing support.

Technical & Capability Building

• Develop organizational capability to support both new product development and product sustainment responsibilities across the engineering team.
• Anticipate and plan for emerging technical needs to support future growth and innovation.
• Leverage internal and external resources to ensure adequate design capacity and capability.
• Champion innovation and support the development and protection of intellectual property.

Strategic Alignment & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with cross-functional managers and senior technical leaders to align project priorities, facilitate cross-functional problem solving, and maintain a systems-level approach to product development, sustainment, and technology exploration.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and capex expenditures in support of team development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of engineering experience with demonstrated team leadership.
• Experience in engineering management, including direct people leadership, talent development, resource alignment and workload planning is preferred.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to establish priorities and drive execution across multiple initiatives.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous situations, making informed decisions with incomplete information, and leading teams through change and uncertainty.
• Strong customer focus with the ability to translate pain points and industry trends into high-impact solutions.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Why ITW Welding?

Join a collaborative and growth-focused team where your expertise will directly impact the company’s financial health and operational success. We value innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Here’s what we offer to help you build the future you want:

• Generous Retirement Benefits – 401(k) match PLUS an additional retirement contribution to help you plan for the future.
• Paid Time Off – 11 paid holidays, 5 sick days, and vacation time to take time for what matters.
• Company-Paid Insurance – Life, AD&D, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability insurance to give you peace of mind.
• Family-Friendly Benefits – 4 weeks of paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement to support your family journey.
• Education Assistance – tuition reimbursement because we believe in investing in your personal and professional development.

At ITW Welding, we’re not just a place to work – we’re a community that empowers you to grow and make a real impact. Join us and build a career that makes a difference!

Company Description

Comprised of a market-leading portfolio of best-in‑class brands, the businesses of ITW Welding work together to provide premium performance delivered through a breadth of solutions encompassing welding, cutting, consumables, and accessories. ITW Welding North America represents Miller Electric Welding Equipment, Safety & Accessories, Hobart Filler Metals, and Bernard / Tregaskiss MIG Guns.

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and wholly owned by Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW). The company maintains its industry leadership by setting the standard for reliability, quality and responsiveness. Our tagline, “The Power of Blue,” is inspired by the blue color of Miller equipment.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.