Manufacturing Engineer

Job DescriptionJob Description

MFG Engineer – Automotive Manufacturing
Location: Itasca, IL | Compensation: Up to $85K (flexible for the right candidate) | Direct Hire

A rapidly growing, ISO-certified metal manufacturing company in the northwest suburbs is creating a brand-new role for a Program Engineer to lead all automotive customer programs—most notably for a major Tier 1 automotive client. This is an exciting opportunity to join a business in high-growth mode, with a new facility acquisition in progress and major projects already awarded.

In this role, you’ll be the go-to industry expert for all automotive customers at the site. You’ll develop and oversee programs from cradle to grave—from bidding and quoting to launch, production, quality oversight, and delivery. You’ll also have the chance to travel to one of the company’s West Coast plants early on to train with their established automotive team and adapt best practices for the Midwest operation.

This is not a “follow the playbook” type of position—you’ll be creating processes, solving problems in the grey, and making a significant impact on how automotive projects are executed at the site. You’ll work closely with customers, engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure precision, speed, and cost-effectiveness in a highly competitive industry where every minute counts.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead all automotive programs for the facility, from quoting through production and delivery

• Serve as the primary liaison between the plant and automotive customers

• Create and implement an automotive program tailored to Midwest operations

• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to meet customer requirements and timelines

• Develop BOMs, manage budgets, and identify opportunities to bring tooling work in-house or shift to domestic suppliers

What We’re Looking For:

• 2–3+ years of experience in a metal manufacturing environment (stamping, fabrication, etc.)

• Strong project/program management skills with cradle-to-grave ownership

• Proven customer-facing experience in the automotive sector

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities

• Experience in an ISO 9001-certified plant; IATF 16949 experience a plus

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience)

Why This is a Great Opportunity:

• Newly created position – make it your own

• Direct impact on the growth of the automotive segment at the facility

• Work closely with leadership—no corporate red tape

• Growing company with a family-like culture and strong investment in employees

• Opportunity for career advancement as the automotive division expands

If you’re looking for a role where you can take full ownership of programs, work directly with major automotive customers, and shape the way a fast-growing manufacturer operates in the automotive space, this could be the next big step in your career.