Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group seeks a Manufacturing Engineer with hands-on experience in material handling, plant operations, and process improvement to support Caterpillar facilities in Illinois. The ideal candidate will optimize material flow, assist with plant layouts and equipment, and implement lean practices to boost productivity, safety, and efficiency across production lines.

Requirements include a Bachelor's in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering and 8+ years in

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing plant or industrial production environment.
• Experience with material flow optimization and plant layout improvements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and CAD tools such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and project coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing processes, production workflows, and material handling systems within plant operations.
• Optimize material flow, inventory movement, storage, and delivery of components to production lines.
• Support plant layout planning, equipment installation, production line modifications, and manufacturing process development.
• Analyze production bottlenecks, material movement issues, and workflow inefficiencies to improve throughput.
• Implement lean manufacturing, 5S, continuous improvement, and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and industrial engineering teams to resolve operational issues.
• Evaluate material handling equipment, including conveyors, carts, forklifts, pallet systems, and automated handling solutions.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, process instructions, layouts, and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor KPIs, including cycle time, productivity, material availability, and equipment utilization.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with plant safety standards, quality requirements, and applicable operational procedures.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Teamwork

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer with hands-on experience in material handling, plant operations, and manufacturing process improvement to support production activities at Caterpillar (CAT) facilities in Illinois. The ideal candidate will have experience optimizing material flow, improving plant layouts, supporting manufacturing equipment, and implementing lean manufacturing practices to enhance productivity, safety, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing processes, production workflows, and material handling systems within plant operations.
• Optimize material flow, inventory movement, storage, and delivery of components to production lines.
• Support plant layout planning, equipment installation, production line modifications, and manufacturing process development.
• Analyze production bottlenecks, material movement issues, and workflow inefficiencies to improve throughput.
• Implement lean manufacturing, 5S, continuous improvement, and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and industrial engineering teams to resolve operational issues.
• Evaluate material handling equipment, including conveyors, carts, forklifts, pallet systems, and automated handling solutions.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, process instructions, layouts, and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including cycle time, productivity, material availability, and equipment utilization.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with plant safety standards, quality requirements, and applicable operational procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, plant operations, material handling, or industrial engineering.
• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing plant or industrial production environment.
• Experience with material flow optimization, production line support, and plant layout improvements.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, 5S, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with CAD tools such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and project coordination skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in heavy equipment, automotive, machinery, or industrial manufacturing.
• Familiarity with Caterpillar manufacturing processes, production systems, or similar OEM environments.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems, material planning, and inventory control.
• Knowledge of automated material handling systems and manufacturing equipment integration.
• Experience using data analysis to improve production efficiency, quality, and material utilization.