Senior Mechanical Engineer – Manufacturing / Process Engineering (Direct Hire)
Location: West Chicago, IL
Requisition: 7742
Annual Salary Range: $110,000 - $127,000 base salary. Individual salaries are based on education, experience, geographic location, and alignment to market data.
Hours: Onsite 8am-4pm, but flexible starting time is available if needed.
Travel: Up to 25%, primarily within the United States. Travel will generally be short-term, with no expected weekend travel.
Summary
The Senior Mechanical Engineer (Manufacturing / Process Engineering) will provide hands-on engineering support to manufacturing operations, primarily at the West Chicago facility with occasional support of other manufacturing locations. This role focuses on investigating equipment and process issues, performing root cause analysis, developing long-term corrective solutions, improving existing manufacturing systems, and supporting capital projects. The engineer will work closely with Maintenance, Operations, Automation, OEMs, contractors, and other engineering teams to develop practical solutions and improve equipment reliability and manufacturing performance. This is a hands-on, plant-floor engineering position rather than a traditional CAD or product design role.
Responsibilities
- Provide engineering support to plant Maintenance and Operations teams by investigating equipment and process issues and developing long-term corrective actions.
- Perform root cause analysis, troubleshoot mechanical and process problems, and recommend engineering solutions to improve equipment reliability and performance.
- Evaluate existing equipment and manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for improvement, modification, and optimization.
- Work with OEMs and outside engineering firms to develop equipment modifications, upgrades, and system improvements.
- Develop engineering concepts, system improvements, equipment specifications, and technical solutions based on plant needs.
- Create, review, interpret, and modify P&IDs, mechanical drawings, and related engineering documentation using AutoCAD.
- Perform engineering calculations related to equipment, fluid handling, pumping, hydraulics, piping, and other mechanical systems.
- Support the design and improvement of pumping, piping, mixing, tank, fluid handling, utility, and other process systems.
- Obtain and evaluate vendor/OEM proposals and quotes and provide technical information and recommendations for equipment improvements and capital projects.
- Support capital projects by assisting with scope development, technical justification, equipment selection, budgeting, implementation, and commissioning.
- Collaborate with Maintenance, Operations, Automation/Controls, contractors, vendors, and other engineering teams to implement engineering solutions.
- Provide engineering support to other manufacturing facilities throughout North America as needed.
- Support equipment startups, commissioning, modifications, and troubleshooting activities.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and help improve manufacturing processes, equipment performance, reliability, safety, and efficiency.
- Maintain appropriate engineering documentation and communicate project status, findings, and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and contribute to the continued development of the engineering team.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; Mechanical Engineering strongly preferred.
- 5+ years of engineering experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Experience working directly with manufacturing, production, maintenance, and/or plant engineering teams.
- Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with experience troubleshooting equipment and developing practical engineering solutions.
- Experience with equipment and systems such as pumps, piping, tanks, mixers, fluid handling systems, utilities, or similar process equipment.
- Ability to read, interpret, and modify P&IDs and mechanical drawings using AutoCAD. Experience developing or redlining drawings is preferred.
- Experience with mechanical, hydraulic, fluid handling, equipment sizing, or similar engineering calculations.
- Strong root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and corrective action experience.
- Experience supporting equipment upgrades, modifications, installations, or capital projects.
- Ability to work effectively with equipment manufacturers, outside engineering firms, contractors, and vendors.
- Experience in chemical, coatings, paints, adhesives, specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, food, or other batch/process manufacturing environments is preferred.
- Familiarity with PLC-controlled equipment and automation is helpful, but PLC programming experience is not required.
- Comfortable working hands-on in a manufacturing/plant environment and regularly supporting operations on the plant floor.
- Ability to travel up to 25%, primarily within the United States.
Benefits
- Medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance
- 401(k)
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- HSA and FSA options
- Pet insurance
- Paid Volunteer Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee-focused development and training programs
