Engineering Jobs in Third Lake, IL

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

Job Title: Packaging Engineer

Location: North Chicago, IL

Hire Type: Open-ended Contract, Onsite

Target Pay Rate: $40.00 - $45.00/hour (W2)

Benefits: PTO, paid holidays, BCBS Medical plans, Dental/Vision plans, 401(k), and ESOP

Must-Have Skills:

• Packaging design & development experience (materials, structures, functionality)
• Packaging testing & validation expertise (performance, shipping, integrity)
• Manufacturing/plant experience (trials, troubleshooting, production support)

Job Summary:

The Packaging Engineer develops and implements packaging solutions for new and existing products, ensuring functionality, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with manufacturing. This role supports pharmaceutical and/or combination product packaging through design, testing, validation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Job Duties:

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions
• Create and maintain packaging documentation (BOMs, specs, assembly instructions)
• Lead packaging validation and ensure compliance with FDA regulations (21 CFR 201, 210, 211)
• Develop and execute testing protocols (performance, container/closure integrity, shipping)
• Conduct plant trials, analyze results, and make recommendations on packaging viability
• Evaluate new materials and technologies to improve performance, cost, and efficiency
• Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to meet project timelines
• Support labeling, artwork review, and packaging design verification
• Troubleshoot packaging issues and support manufacturing operations

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of packaging design experience.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials (corrugate, plastics, cartons, films) and testing methods
• Experience with packaging validation, documentation, and regulatory requirements
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and packaging equipment (e.g., form-fill-seal)
• Ability to create 2D drawings
• Experience with pharmaceutical or combination product packaging is a plus.

Responsible for coordinating all activities necessary to complete technical service requests within an agreed upon timeline. This includes material testing, extrusion and problem solving.

Requirements

• Able to operate and interpret data with majority of the material characterizations tools such as DSC, rheometer, TGA, DMA, Tensile tester, hardness tester, GC-MS, HPLC, FTIR, optical , SEM, etc.
• No restriction in weight lifting of 50lb or so if needed when working in the extrusion lab for making pellets film and tubing.
• Execute protocols and write reports following procedures.
• BS 2-3+ years, MS or PhD 0+years in material science or engineering , chemical engineering, or equivalent. Experienced in Working in medical industries is preferred.

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

General Manager

Antioch, IL

$100,000 - $125,000 + Profit-Based Bonuses + 401(k) + Medical + Dental + Vision + Leadership Progression Opportunities

Are you an operations leader in the truck or heavy equipment industry looking to lead a large, high-performing dealership?

Do you want to take ownership of an established operation where your focus is on strengthening performance, supporting a large team, and continuing the success already built?

This is an opportunity to lead one of the company’s largest and most established dealership locations. With a team of over 100 employees and strong financial performance, the focus for the incoming General Manager is on maintaining operational excellence and continuing to build on an already successful foundation.

In this role, you’ll oversee service and parts operations while working closely with department managers to ensure the dealership continues to run efficiently and deliver excellent service to its customer base.

This role would suit someone with strong operational leadership experience in the truck, heavy equipment, or fleet space who is comfortable leading large teams and driving high standards across a busy dealership environment.

The Role:

• Oversee daily operations across service and parts departments
• Lead and support department managers across a large team
• Maintain strong operational performance and profitability
• Strengthen processes, training, and team development

The Person:

• Experience within the truck, heavy equipment, fleet, or dealership industry
• Strong operational leadership experience within large teams
• Proven ability to manage service and parts operations
• Strong leadership and team development skills

Key Words: Freightliner, Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), Mack Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International Trucks, Cummins Engines, Detroit Diesel, PACCAR, Class 8 Heavy-Duty Trucks, Fixed Operations, P&L Responsibility, Revenue Growth, EBITDA, Expense Control, Asset Management, Strategic Planning, Market Penetration, Budgeting & Forecasting, ROI, Inventory Management, Vendor Relations, Compliance, Risk Management, Facility Management, Service Department Operations, Parts Department Management, Warranty Administration, Shop Productivity, Technician Recruitment, Repair Order (RO) Management

We’re looking for a Manufacturing Engineer who’s energized by innovation, automation, and continuous improvement. If you love transforming ideas into efficient, high-performing processes, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Champion automation projects from concept to completion, ensuring seamless integration into existing workflows.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transition new products from design to full-scale production.
• Evaluate processes to identify inefficiencies, improve layouts, and deliver measurable cost savings.
• Partner with production teams to uphold quality, consistency, and safety standards.
• Utilize Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and elevate performance.
• Develop process enhancements that boost throughput, shorten cycle times, and cut operational costs.
• Assist with equipment selection, installation, and troubleshooting to maximize uptime and productivity.
• Create and maintain process documentation, SOPs, and work instructions to ensure operational clarity.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (or related field).
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement, or automation.
• Strong foundation in Lean principles, Six Sigma tools, and modern automation technologies.
• Proven track record managing projects and collaborating across teams.
• CAD experience (SolidWorks proficiency preferred).
• Analytical, detail-oriented mindset with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Innovation-Driven Culture – Be part of a team that embraces new technology and fresh ideas.
• Career Growth – Take ownership of impactful projects and continue building your expertise.
• Tangible Impact – See your work directly improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

If you’re ready to put your engineering expertise to work in a place where your ideas matter and your contributions drive real results, we’d love to hear from you.

LHH Recruitment Solutions has partnered with a growing organization, and they are seeking a motivated Tool Room Manager – Die Casting to join their team. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who brings deep technical expertise, strong people leadership, and a sense of urgency to supporting manufacturing operations and customer commitments.

The Tool Room Manager will have full responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and performance of a multi-shift tool room, overseeing approximately 20–25 skilled tool room professionals. This role partners closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure tooling readiness, reliability, and continuous improvement.

If you are energized by building relationships with your team, improving processes, and solving real-world manufacturing challenges, this role offers both stability and visibility within the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide direct leadership and oversight of the Tool Room team across shifts, fostering accountability, engagement, and development.
• Drive tooling availability, performance, and cost control to support production schedules and customer requirements.
• Plan and prioritize tooling workloads, maintenance, and repairs to meet changing production demands.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean manufacturing principles and 5S.
• Track tooling costs, labor efficiency, and performance metrics; identify opportunities for optimization.
• Support new product introductions, collaborating with cross-functional teams during launch and ramp-up.
• Evaluate and recommend capital equipment, tooling investments, dies, and molds.
• Ensure preventive maintenance programs are executed on dies, molds, and tool room equipment.
• Uphold all quality, safety, environmental, and compliance standards.
• Act as a trusted leader on the floor—coaching, mentoring, and developing talent within the tool room.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing environment, with a strong hands-on presence.
• Die Casting experience is required.
• Experience in metal stamping or injection molding.
• Demonstrated success managing skilled trades or tool room teams.
• Strong working knowledge of tooling processes, tool & die repair/build, and manufacturing best practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and communicate with urgency and clarity.
• Willingness to travel to customer sites within the U.S. on an occasional basis (a few times per year).
• Bilingual English/Spanish is highly preferred.
• Background in Lean manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting automotive or high-volume manufacturing operations.
• CAD/CAM familiarity and strong technical troubleshooting skills.

Compensation Range: $110,000 - $130,000

Benefits Offered: 2 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 Tool Room Manager looking 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 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

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

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• College Degree or equivalent experience. A technical degree (Engineering or Science) is preferred.
  
• Knowledge of basic regulatory requirements, laboratory safety, and GxP.
  
• At least 2+ years of experience with a variety of laboratory equipment, either having served as a lab analyst, lab equipment service provider, or both.
  
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• Self-motivated and positive attitude with a great desire to contribute to our success.