Machine Shop Project Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of product or project management experience in a manufacturing, engineering, or machine shop environment.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, with a preference for Microsoft Dynamics 365 or similar platforms such as SAP, NetSuite, Oracle, or Epicor.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, order entry, and project tracking.

Work Environment

This is an office-based position in an open workstation environment without cubicles, encouraging collaboration and easy communication among team members. The standard work schedule is 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a company-wide lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

Job Description

This Project Manager role sits within the engineering department and focuses on managing customer orders and projects from initiation through delivery. You will coordinate closely with engineering, sales, shop personnel, and vendors to ensure projects are completed accurately, on time, and in line with customer requirements. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented project professional with manufacturing or machine shop experience who enjoys cross-functional collaboration and managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Receive and process customer purchase orders, enter them into the ERP system, and create accurate sales orders.
• Gather and clarify technical information from regional sales managers and customers to support engineering needs and ensure complete project requirements.
• Coordinate project handoff and review with design engineers, ensuring all necessary documentation and specifications are in place.
• Send engineering drawings to sales managers and customers for approval, track approval status, and communicate updates promptly.
• Oversee detailing and release of prints to the shop, ensuring that shop staff and outside vendors receive the correct information and documentation.
• Coordinate with shop personnel and outside vendors throughout the production process, tracking project progress from start to shipment.
• Manage multiple customer-based projects at once, maintaining organized, paper-based project packages and documentation.
• Maintain consistent communication with internal teams, including engineering, sales, and shop staff, as well as external customers, to resolve issues and keep projects on schedule.
• Support the training of new project managers by walking them through processes and helping them understand workflows and tools.
• Organize and prioritize daily workload, typically handling 3–5 orders per day, while meeting deadlines and customer expectations.
• Work within a structure where projects are assigned by major customer accounts and range in duration from quick 2-week designs to longer 10–12 week tooling projects.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge, participating in process improvements, and supporting overall departmental goals.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Wheeling, IL.

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Wheeling,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 14, 2026.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.