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Senior Engineering Manager Jobs in Naperville, IL

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Senior Engineering Manager information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$63.4K

$136K

$197.8K

How much do senior engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior engineering manager in Naperville, IL is $136,026.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,400.00 and $162,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior engineering manager?

A Senior Engineering Manager is a seasoned leader responsible for overseeing multiple engineering teams or large projects within an organization. They manage engineering managers or team leads, set technical direction, and ensure alignment with business goals. Their duties include mentoring staff, driving process improvements, managing budgets, and collaborating with other departments. Senior Engineering Managers play a key role in hiring, performance evaluations, and fostering a productive engineering culture. They typically have extensive industry experience and strong leadership skills.

What is a senior engineering manager?

Senior engineering managers oversee the project team to ensure each phase is completed accurately, on time, and within budget. They coordinate with the company’s marketing and sales departments to determine what products or services are offered to clients and then develop those offerings to specifications. As a senior engineering manager, you may also need to troubleshoot equipment or software. To become a senior engineering manager, you need a certificate or degree in computer science or a related field, several years of working in software development, and management experience.

How does a senior engineering manager typically balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities?

A Senior Engineering Manager often splits their time between guiding technical strategy and supporting their team’s professional development. This involves overseeing complex engineering projects, setting clear technical direction, and ensuring best practices are followed, while also mentoring engineers, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a collaborative team culture. Balancing these areas requires strong delegation, prioritization, and communication skills, as well as regularly collaborating with other departments like Product and Design to align goals. Most organizations expect Senior Engineering Managers to actively contribute to both technical and people-focused initiatives, which can be challenging but is essential for team and project success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior engineering manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Engineering Manager, you need a robust background in engineering principles, leadership experience, and a relevant degree, often complemented by prior management roles. Familiarity with project management tools (such as Jira or Asana), software development methodologies (like Agile), and technical certifications can be highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, and mentoring skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills are vital for effectively guiding teams, delivering projects on time, and fostering an innovative and collaborative engineering environment.

What is the difference between Senior Engineering Manager vs Engineering Director?

AspectSenior Engineering ManagerEngineering Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple engineering teams, manages project delivery, and mentors managersSets strategic direction, manages multiple departments, and aligns engineering goals with company objectives
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field, 8+ years experience, leadership skillsSimilar credentials, often with 10+ years experience, strategic planning skills
Work EnvironmentHands-on team management within engineering teamsHigh-level strategic planning, cross-department coordination
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, and large enterprisesTypically found in larger organizations with complex structures

While both roles require strong technical backgrounds and leadership skills, Senior Engineering Managers focus more on team management and project execution, whereas Engineering Directors are responsible for strategic planning and organizational alignment across multiple teams.

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Senior Engineering Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Engineering Manager job openings in Naperville, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $136,026 per year, or $65.4 per hour.

Sr Engineering Manager Electrical Division

Sterling Engineering Inc.

Wheaton, IL • On-site, Remote

$145K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Title: Senior Engineering Manager – Electrical Distribution
Location: Chicagoland Area (Mostly Remote)
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $145,000 - $160,000
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with Company Match, Generous PTO, Paid Volunteer Time Off, Paid Holidays, Continuing Education Reimbursement, and more.

Sterling Engineering is looking for a Senior Engineering Manager – Electrical Distribution for a growing engineering services firm. This is a mostly remote opportunity, but candidates must be able to commute to the Chicagoland office as needed.

Job Duties:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and designers supporting electrical distribution programs.
  • Oversee electrical distribution projects from planning through execution, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
  • Manage overhead and underground distribution design projects, system upgrades, and new business work.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for utility clients, providing project updates, resolving issues, and building strong client relationships.
  • Review and approve engineering deliverables for accuracy, constructability, and compliance with utility standards.
  • Coordinate with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
  • Support resource planning, forecasting, proposal development, and workload balancing.
  • Drive process improvements and standardization initiatives across engineering teams.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field required.
  • 8+ years of electrical distribution engineering experience within a utility or consulting environment.
  • 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams and/or projects.
  • Experience supporting investor-owned utilities (IOUs), preferably ComEd or other Exelon utilities.
  • Strong knowledge of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems (4kV–34.5kV).
  • Experience with utility design tools such as GIS, CAD, and work management systems.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license or the ability to obtain one preferred.
  • Excellent communication, client management, and leadership skills.
  • Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to project sites as needed.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.