Engineering Jobs in Downey Illinois

34 positions found

Oceanography Officer
✦ New
Salary not disclosed
Highwood, Illinois 4 hours ago

Job Title : Oceanography Category / Component: Officer • Both Overview Oceanography (OCEANO) Officers, also called METOC, are the Navy's geophysical experts who understand and apply all facets of meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry.

Their mission is to define and apply the physical environment, from the bottom of the ocean to the stars, to ensure the U.S.

Navy has the freedom of action to deter aggression, maintain freedom of the seas, and win wars.

Key Responsibilities Provide timely and relevant support to fleet and joint operations by leading the collection, processing, prediction, exploitation, and dissemination of environmental data.

Ensure safety of navigation, access to denied waters, freedom to maneuver at will, and increase the lethality of Navy forces.

Lead teams ranging from small 3-4 person deployable units to large commands of over 400 personnel.

Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command.

What to Expect Serve in a variety of challenging operational billets with increasing scope and responsibility, both at sea and ashore.

The career path interweaves sea, shore, and educational tours.

Sea duty may include leading small team detachments on U.S.

and foreign vessels, serving as the embarked OCEANO Officer on an aircraft carrier or amphibious ship, or serving on a Strike Group or Joint Task Force staff.

Shore tours include assignments at major production commands, forecast centers, headquarters, Joint commands, the Navy Data Center, and Naval Research Labs.

Work Environment Assignments are worldwide, including Europe, Hawaii, Asia, and the Middle East.

Work environments range from being at sea on surface combatants, survey vessels, aircraft carriers, and amphibious ships to being ashore at major production commands, forecast centers, headquarters, and research facilities.

Pathways, Training & Advancement Initial training includes the 3-week Information Warfare Basic Course (IWBC) and the 7-week Basic Oceanography Accession Training (BOAT).

Officers may also attend Division Officer Leadership Course (DIVOLC).

Postgraduate education at the Naval Postgraduate School is required for officers at the LCDR level and senior, typically as mid-grade Lieutenants.

Promotions to LTJG and LT occur at 2 and 4 years of service, with competitive promotion opportunities to LCDR, CDR, CAPT, and Flag Officer ranks.

Requires a Baccalaureate degree, preferably in a technical field, with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or greater.

Must have completed a full college calculus series (I and II) with a minimum 'C' average, and a college-level calculus-based physics series (I and II) with a minimum 'B' average.

A desired degree is in physics, physics-based oceanography, meteorology, hydrography, earth science, engineering, or mathematics.

Qualifications All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include: Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy as an Officer, including United States citizenship A bachelor's or qualifying professional degree Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy.

Some communities have more restrictive age ranges Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening Achieving required test scores on the Officer Aptitude Rating exam Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.

Additional qualifications for this job may include: Must be qualified for sea duty, world-wide assignable, and eligible for a Top-Secret security clearance.

Education Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities.

Specific options depend on the Sailor's status, training, and current Navy policy.

Pay, Benefits & Service Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options.

Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.

Incentives Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.

Notes and Disclaimers This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community.

It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes.

Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.

Not Specified
Generative AI Lead, Associate Principal
✦ New
🏢 MathCo
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 4 hours ago

We are looking for a Generative AI Lead to drive the design and delivery of advanced AI solutions for enterprise clients.

This role sits at the intersection of hands-on engineering, system architecture, and technical leadership, focused on building production-grade GenAI systems that solve complex, real-world business problems.

What You’ll Do

  • Lead the design and development of enterprise-scale Generative AI solutions
  • Architect and implement multi-agent AI systems and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines
  • Integrate LLM capabilities into business workflows and enterprise applications
  • Partner with business stakeholders to translate complex problems into scalable AI solutions
  • Guide and mentor engineering teams while maintaining a high bar for technical quality
  • Ensure reliable deployment, monitoring, and performance of AI systems (including handling hallucinations, drift, and scaling challenges)
  • Optimize infrastructure across cloud environments, including compute and GPU utilization

What We’re Looking For

  • Proven experience building and deploying LLM-based / Generative AI applications in production
  • Strong hands-on expertise in Python and modern AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex)
  • Experience designing RAG pipelines, semantic search systems, or knowledge retrieval architectures
  • Exposure to multi-agent frameworks (e.g., LangGraph, CrewAI) or similar architectures
  • Experience working in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and scaling AI systems
  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams or initiatives
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate with both technical and business stakeholders

Nice to Have

  • Experience working in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, life sciences, financial services)
  • Familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate)
  • Background in enterprise AI platform development or data infrastructure

Why This Role

  • Opportunity to build real-world GenAI systems at scale (not just prototypes)
  • Own end-to-end architecture and delivery, from concept to production
  • Work on high-impact use cases across enterprise clients
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams across engineering, product, and business

About MathCo

MathCo is a global Enterprise AI and Analytics company helping Fortune 500 organizations solve complex business problems through data and AI. Our work spans advanced analytics, AI platforms, and scalable solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

Not Specified
Product Manager
✦ New
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 1 day ago

Product Manager


Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary: $110,000 – $130,000 + Annual Bonus
  • Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage
  • 401(k) with Company Match


About the Opportunity

Sterling Engineering is partnering with a leading organization to hire a Product Manager who will drive innovation, profitability, and strategic growth across a diverse product portfolio.

This role is ideal for a data-driven, strategic thinker who thrives in retail manufacturing or industrial product environments and enjoys balancing high-level strategy with hands-on execution. You’ll play a key role in shaping product direction—not just responding to customer requests, but proactively identifying opportunities that impact the broader market.


What You’ll Do

Product Strategy & Portfolio Management

  • Lead product innovation through competitive analysis, gap identification, and market insights
  • Manage and optimize product portfolios, including SKU rationalization and lifecycle management
  • Identify new product opportunities aligned with business goals and market demand
  • Own product data and performance metrics to drive strategic decision-making
  • Partner with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to refine product specs, cost structures, and procurement strategies

New Product Development

  • Develop and execute product roadmaps focused on innovation and value creation
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure successful product launches and market adoption
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives across multiple product lines

Pricing Strategy

  • Analyze market trends and competitor pricing to ensure optimal positioning
  • Implement pricing strategies that drive both revenue growth and margin expansion
  • Conduct pricing analysis and experiments to evaluate demand and profitability

Channel & Go-to-Market Strategy (Place & Promotion)

  • Define and optimize sales channels (distribution, e-commerce, dealer networks, etc.)
  • Partner with Marketing to develop promotional strategies, campaigns, and product positioning
  • Support merchandising, packaging, and product content strategies across channels
  • Build and manage promotional calendars aligned with key sales events and market opportunities

What We’re Looking For

  • 3–5+ years of Product Management experience with a focus on strategy, innovation, and analytics
  • Experience in retail manufacturing, industrial, or durable goods environments
  • Strong background in competitive analysis, pricing strategy, and portfolio management
  • Proven ability to influence internal product strategy at scale, beyond individual customer requests
  • B2B experience preferred
  • Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred)
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Demonstrated career stability and long-term impact in prior roles
Not Specified
Scrum Master
✦ New
🏢 MathCo
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 1 day ago

We are looking for an experienced Scrum Master to support the delivery of enterprise AI and analytics solutions across global clients.

This role focuses on enabling high-performing data and engineering teams, ensuring Agile best practices are applied effectively, and driving consistent delivery outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments.


What You’ll Do

  • Facilitate Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives, and backlog refinement
  • Enable delivery across data, analytics, and AI teams, ensuring alignment and momentum across workstreams
  • Partner with product owners and stakeholders to maintain clear, prioritized backlogs
  • Track and report on Agile metrics (velocity, burndown, cycle time) to drive continuous improvement
  • Identify and remove blockers impacting delivery and team productivity
  • Coordinate across cross-functional teams to manage dependencies and delivery risks
  • Promote Agile best practices and foster a culture of continuous improvement


What We’re Looking For

  • Proven experience as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or Agile Delivery Lead
  • Experience supporting data, analytics, or software engineering teams
  • Strong understanding of Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe)
  • Hands-on experience with tools like JIRA or Azure DevOps
  • Strong communication and facilitation skills with the ability to align technical and business stakeholders
  • Demonstrated ability to drive delivery outcomes, not just facilitate ceremonies


Nice to Have

  • Experience working in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, life sciences, financial services)
  • Exposure to AI/ML or data platform environments


Why This Role

  • Work on high-impact AI and analytics initiatives across enterprise clients
  • Play a key role in driving delivery across data and engineering teams
  • Opportunity to influence Agile practices and team performance at scale
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams across product, engineering, and business


About MathCo

MathCo is a global Enterprise AI and Analytics company helping Fortune 500 organizations solve complex business problems through data and AI. Our work spans advanced analytics, AI platforms, and scalable solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

Not Specified
Senior Mechanical Engineer
✦ New
🏢 Akkodis
Salary not disclosed
Waukegan, Illinois 1 day ago

Akkodis is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer for a 3+ Contract position with a client located in Waukegan, IL

Pay Range: $50/hr - $60/hr (The rate may vary based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors.)

Position Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Mechanical Engineer with strong experience designing mechanical solutions for electrical and electromechanical systems. This role focuses on sheet metal design, electrical component placement, enclosure design, and wire harness routing, with an emphasis on delivering robust, manufacturable designs that integrate seamlessly with electrical system requirements.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead mechanical design efforts for electromechanical products including enclosures, chassis, brackets, and system-level packaging.
  • Create detailed 3D models and engineering drawings using CREO or SolidWorks, including GD&T, BOMs, and tolerance stack-ups.
  • Develop sheet metal designs that meet structural, thermal, manufacturability, and cost requirements.
  • Plan and execute electrical component placement, mechanical packaging, and integration with PCBs, power supplies, connectors, and cable assemblies.
  • Design and route wire harnesses and cable assemblies to ensure proper fit, bend radius, and strain relief.
  • Partner closely with Electrical Engineers to ensure design compatibility, grounding, shielding, and component accessibility.
  • Work with Manufacturing Engineering to optimize designs for fabrication processes such as sheet metal forming, machining, injection molding, and assembly.
  • Collaborate with Application Engineering to incorporate customer requirements and field-use conditions.
  • Perform thermal, structural, and airflow considerations in mechanical layouts.
  • Support prototype builds, testing, validation, and design revisions.
  • Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, DFMEA, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Maintain engineering documentation, revision control, and compliance with internal standards.

Required Skills

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
  • 6+ years of mechanical design experience in an electromechanical or electronics-packaging environment.
  • Proficiency in CREO or SolidWorks (assembly modeling, surfacing, sheet metal, drawings).
  • Experience with sheet metal enclosure design, component packaging, and mechanical layout for electrical systems.
  • Experience with wire harness layout/design and cable management.
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, DFM/DFA, and design best practices.
  • Experience with thermal management, airflow design, or electronics cooling.
  • Familiarity with regulatory and safety standards (UL, IEC, CE, etc.).
  • Knowledge of vibration and shock testing for critical infrastructure products.

If you are interested in this Senior Mechanical Engineer job, then please click APPLY NOW. For other opportunities available at Akkodis go to If you have questions about the position, please contact Sunny Kumar at .

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, an EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable. Disclaimer: These benefit offerings do not apply to client-recruited jobs and jobs that are direct hires to a client.

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records by federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

· The California Fair Chance Act

· Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

· Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers

· San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Not Specified
Supply Chain Planning Manager
✦ New
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 1 day ago

Supply Chain Planning Manager


Ref No: 1491


Location: Vernon Hills, IL


Company Description:

We’ve partnered with a growing, design-driven consumer products manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality and innovation. With a diverse portfolio of premium brands and a commitment to craftsmanship and operational excellence, the company continues to invest in expanding its U.S. manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.


The newly added Supply Chain Planning Manager is a highly-visible, hands-on role to align demand forecasts with production execution to improve schedule attainment, fill rates and order fulfillment.


Position Description:

  • Design, implement and run the supply planning, production scheduling, and materials procurement processes to support manufacturing operations.
  • Translate demand forecasts into executable supply plans across multiple planning horizons.
  • Develop production schedules that align with manufacturing capacity and operational constraints.
  • Ensure raw materials and components are available to support production commitments.
  • Balance production output and finished goods inventory to support seasonal demand and service levels.
  • Optimize production sequencing and lot sizing to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
  • Monitor schedule attainment and production performance, identifying and addressing potential risks.
  • Manage supplier commitments, track shortages, and expedite materials as needed.
  • Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance, reduce costs, and increase supply reliability.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to improve planning processes, operational visibility, and supply chain efficiency.


Background Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
  • 5–8 years of experience in materials management, supply planning, production planning, or procurement within a manufacturing environment.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate closely with manufacturing and cross-functional teams.


Miscellaneous:

  • Compensation: $100,000 – $115,000 + bonus.
Not Specified
Construction Project Manager
✦ New
Salary not disclosed
Waukegan, IL 1 day ago

Key Responsibilities:

  • Prepare project cost codes and review accounting reports to ensure accuracy.
  • Track project costs weekly and provide regular financial updates and profit projections.
  • Assist with monthly pay applications and coordinate billing schedules.
  • Review and approve subcontractor and supplier payments based on completed work and contract terms.
  • Maintain project draw projections and schedules of values.
  • Distribute construction drawings, addenda, and change bulletins to subcontractors.
  • Maintain project documentation including drawing logs, change order logs, submittal logs, and RFIs.
  • Manage project management software and ensure all documentation is current and organized.
  • Coordinate and process submittals and RFIs in a timely manner.
  • Develop and maintain accurate project schedules and provide updates during project meetings.
  • Lead weekly job meetings and distribute meeting minutes.
  • Coordinate communication between the owner, architect, city officials, subcontractors, and consultants.
  • Track project progress and labor in coordination with the superintendent.
  • Issue and manage change orders and track project impacts.
  • Coordinate pre-punch and final punch list activities with the superintendent and subcontractors.
  • Prepare project closeout documentation, including O&M manuals.
  • Coordinate final inspections and obtain the Certificate of Occupancy.


Qualifications:

  • 5+ years of construction project management experience (preconstruction and estimating experience preferred).
  • Experience with civil and structural construction strongly preferred.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred.
  • Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
  • Experience with estimating, scheduling, and quantity take-off software.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Not Specified
Operations Support III JP32786
Salary not disclosed
Lake Bluff, IL 2 days ago
Operations Support III – Patient Services Operations
Location: Mettawa, IL 
Work Model: Hybrid – onsite approximately one week per month
Contract Duration: Through December 2026 (extension likely)
Rate: $21-26/HR based on benefit selection

Orion Group's pharmaceutical client is seeking an Operations Support III professional to join the U.S. Patient Services (APS) Operations team. The APS organization is recognized as an industry leader in delivering high-quality patient support programs that enhance both patient satisfaction and brand loyalty.

This role provides operational coordination, reporting, and project support to ensure efficient service delivery across APS initiatives. The position reports to the Director or Associate Director of APS Operations and collaborates closely with internal teams and external vendors.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Coordination
  • Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes in partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors
  • Support operational workflows to ensure continuity and efficiency of APS programs
Process Improvement
  • Identify and recommend process improvements and operational efficiencies within APS operations
  • Support initiatives that enhance workflow consistency and service delivery quality
Issue & Ticket Management
  • Monitor and manage tickets within a custom issue management system
  • Analyze trends, identify recurring issues, and support resolution efforts
Project & Reporting Support
  • Provide project management and operational support across APS initiatives
  • Develop and maintain routine reports using Microsoft Excel
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for leadership and stakeholder updates
Additional Support
  • Assist with special projects and ad hoc operational initiatives as assigned by APS Operations leadership
Required Qualifications
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • High level of attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Comfortable working across multiple systems and tools simultaneously
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a highly organized operations professional who thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys supporting operational processes, reporting, and cross-functional initiatives.
Experience supporting healthcare, pharmaceutical, patient services, or operational teams is a plus.

People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.

Not Specified
Director, Indirect Procurement
🏢 LHH
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 2 days ago

LHH Recruitment Solutions has partnered with a growing organization, and they are seeking a motivated Director, Indirect Procurement to join their team. You will lead a large, enterprise-wide spend portfolio. This is a highly visible role for a procurement leader who thrives in hands-on, stakeholder-facing environments and brings deep expertise across transportation, logistics, facilities, and utilities categories. This position offers the opportunity to shape strategy while remaining closely embedded in the business—working directly with executive leadership, plant operations, and cross-functional partners to drive value, resilience, and long-term capability.


The Opportunity:

The Director of Indirect Procurement will own and lead a $1B+ annual indirect spend portfolio, with primary emphasis on:


  • Transportation and logistics (3PL – over-the-road and ocean).
  • Warehousing and distribution services.
  • Utilities, facilities, and site services.


This leader will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that balance cost, service, risk, and scalability across a multi-site manufacturing and operations footprint.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead enterprise-wide sourcing strategies across transportation, logistics, warehousing, utilities, facilities, and related indirect categories.
  • Act as a trusted business partner to senior executives and site leadership, ensuring procurement is fully embedded in core business decisions.
  • Drive total cost of ownership improvements while maintaining service continuity and supply assurance.
  • Lead complex supplier negotiations and long-term contractual strategies across domestic and international providers.
  • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships that enable innovation, flexibility, and performance improvement.
  • Partner closely with operations, finance, engineering, and HR to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
  • Develop and manage annual value creation targets, budgets, and performance metrics.
  • Ensure procurement governance, policies, and standards are consistently applied across the organization.


Leadership & Talent Development:

  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing indirect procurement team.
  • Play an active role in hiring, onboarding, and succession planning for procurement talent.
  • Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and engagement rhythms.
  • Foster a hands-on, collaborative culture that values accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.


Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Serve as a primary procurement interface to executive leadership and senior business stakeholders.
  • Navigate complex, sometimes competing priorities across multiple plants and functions.
  • Travel to manufacturing sites, vendors, and key stakeholders as needed (approximately 20–25%; majority of sites located in IL/WI).


Qualifications and Skills:

  • Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
  • Significant, progressive leadership experience in indirect procurement within large, complex organizations.
  • Deep expertise in transportation procurement (3PL – over-the-road and ocean), warehousing, utilities, and facilities.
  • Proven experience managing and influencing large-scale spend portfolios (approaching or exceeding $1B annually).
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, challenge, and partner at the senior leadership level.
  • Hands-on leadership style with a track record of being embedded in the business.
  • Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing, industrial, or asset-intensive environments.
  • Background in organizations with mature procurement and sourcing functions.
  • Exposure to international suppliers and global sourcing strategies.


Compensation Range: $200,000 - $240,000 + 25% Bonus


Benefits Offered: 3 weeks of vacation, paid sick leave where applicable by state law, Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance Vision Insurance, 401K, and Life Insurance.


If you are a passionate Director, Indirect Procurementlooking for anew and rewarding career, please apply today! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!


LHH is a leader in permanent recruitment—and in the placement of top talent. Our areas of specialty include office administration, customer service, human resources, engineering, and supply chain and logistics. Please feel free to check us out and apply for other opportunities if this role isn’t a perfect match.


Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled


To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit

Not Specified
Director of Manufacturing
Salary not disclosed
Vernon Hills, IL 3 days ago

Position Title: Director of Manufacturing

Reports to: Head of Operations


Role Description

The Director of Manufacturing will play a pivotal role in overseeing and managing the daily operations of the manufacturing facility. This individual will be responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and ensuring the smooth operation of all activities within the plant, with an emphasis on maintaining high productivity, efficiency, safety, and the highest quality standards. The Director of Manufacturing will collaborate with various departments, which include Product Development, Marketing and Accounting, in support of all commercial and financial objectives. Departments under Director of Manufacturing’s direct leadership include production, quality control, maintenance, and logistics.


Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and mentor a cross-functional team of engineers, technicians, and production staff in eyewear frame manufacturing to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Develop and implement strategies to improve product quality, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Partner with design and product development team to transition new frame designs into scalable, stable production.

• Manage day-to-day operations of in-house frame manufacturing.

• Manage capital projects and equipment upgrades to enhance production capabilities and support scaling initiatives.

• Champion a culture of craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Product Engineering & Product Development Support

• Develop industry standards and provide DFM (Design for Manufacturability) feedback during early design phases, influencing materials, tolerances, and construction methods for new eyewear frames.

• Translate product design into production-ready engineering documentation, including drawings, BOMs, specifications, and process routings.

• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers and product designers to develop innovative solutions for frame construction, hinge integration, and surface finishing.

• Assist in the technical training of product development and production staff on new materials and processes.

• Document, standardize, and improve processes across machining, shaping, assembly, and finishing operations.

• Introduce and sustain lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve quality, and shorten lead times.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for process and product issues.

• Maintain equipment capability and recommend capital investments in manufacturing technology. • Implement measurement and inspection methods for critical-to-quality features. Operational Excellence

• Develop metrics for yield, cycle time, and productivity to develop consistent, manual master planning for more predictable production throughput.

• Coordinate with supply chain and vendor partners on components and outsourced processes (e.g., plating, coatings, laser engraving).

  • Team Leadership: Successfully manages the manufacturing, quality control, and industrial design teams, comprised of a skilled labor pool of exempt and non-exempt employees. Direct and lead the team with clear priorities and goals in support of broader business initiatives and to ensure quality, efficiency and collaboration at all times. Actively develops supervisors and leads to engage and motivate the workforce. Provides ongoing training/support for continuous skill development.
  • Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement: Continuously evaluate existing processes to enhance output; leverage industry expertise as well as manufacturing background to implement the most efficient manufacturing solutions for eyewear production. Identify and implement new technologies, and systems to enhance resource use and streamline operations. Constantly strive to improve the operation in support of business goals and market needs (quality, cost, efficiency, timeliness etc.)
  • Equipment & Machinery Oversight: Strong knowledge of specialized equipment and machinery, with the ability to diagnose, repair, and source parts, especially in collaboration with the Maintenance Manager.
  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with executive leadership and other departments to achieve organizational goals and ensure operational efficiency. Key stakeholders include Product Development, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing
  • Alignment with Business Plan: Work closely with key stakeholders to ensure manufacturing plans meet the expectations of the business (ie: COGS, timing, quality etc).
  • Budget Mgt and Cost Control: Establish appropriate annual plans and budgets in support of production forecasts and actively manage labor and raw material costs to ensure targets are met. Sets the foundation for growth, scalability and profitability in the manufacturing center.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Logistics, Engineering, or other industry-related field required; MBA preferred  At least ten years of manufacturing experience
  • Prior experience leading teams and managing complex initiatives

Position Details

  • Full-time onsite position based at our Vernon Hills, IL Headquarters
Not Specified
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