Senior Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Justrite Manufacturing
3921 Dewitt Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938, USA

At Justrite Safety Group, we're more than just a collection of industrial safety companies; we're a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting people, property, and the planet. Our ever-growing portfolio of companies collaborates to deliver advanced industrial safety solutions that set the standard for excellence.

As our business continues to grow, we continue to look for top talent to join our team as we lead the charge in revolutionizing industrial safety, ensuring that every worker returns home safe, every workplace remains secure, and our environment thrives for generations to come. With Justrite Safety Group, safety isn't just a priority—it's our passion.

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for leading the development and implementation of advanced manufacturing methods, tooling, automation, and machine designs to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance. This role serves as a technical leader for complex manufacturing initiatives, drives continuous improvement efforts, and manages capital and operational projects to ensure timely completion within budget and scope.

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer owns manufacturing equipment performance and machine uptime KPIs, partnering closely with Operations and Maintenance to identify, prioritize, and execute reliability improvements. This position provides dotted-line leadership to Maintenance personnel regarding equipment reliability, preventive maintenance strategies, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement activities.

As a member of our Manufacturing Engineering team, you’ll have the opportunity to work on innovative projects that directly enhance our production capabilities and drive continuous improvement across our facilities. Our team is committed to optimizing processes, developing cutting-edge tooling and equipment, and resolving complex engineering challenges to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency. With a focus on collaboration and excellence, you’ll be part of a group that plays a key role in advancing our manufacturing operations. This role offers the chance to work alongside skilled professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and support the growth of a company that is a leader in safety solutions.

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and automation systems to improve operational performance.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for manufacturing equipment reliability and process capability.
• Own plant machine uptime, OEE, and related equipment performance KPIs, establishing targets, monitoring trends, and leading corrective actions to achieve business objectives.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to equipment downtime, recurring failures, quality issues, and process inefficiencies.
• Develop and implement reliability improvement strategies, preventive maintenance programs, and predictive maintenance initiatives in partnership with Maintenance and Operations.
• Provide dotted-line leadership and technical direction to Maintenance personnel regarding equipment reliability, maintenance planning, troubleshooting methodologies, and continuous improvement projects.
• Prioritize equipment improvement projects and capital investments based on safety, reliability, productivity, and financial impact.
• Mentor Manufacturing Engineers, Maintenance Technicians, and other technical personnel while serving as a key technical resource across the facility.
• Lead cross‑functional continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and reliability‑centered maintenance principles.

To ensure your success from day one in this role, Justrite requires the following qualifications at a minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably within metal fabrication, sheet metal, welding, roll forming, or related industrial manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated leadership of manufacturing improvement projects with measurable results in safety, quality, productivity, and equipment reliability.
• Experience owning and improving machine uptime, OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and other manufacturing performance metrics.
• Strong understanding of preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, TPM, equipment reliability, and root cause analysis methodologies.

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams and provide technical leadership without direct supervisory authority.
• Experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, automation initiatives, and facility improvements.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or reliability certifications preferred.

The position offers a competitive base salary ranging from $110,000 to $130,000. Actual base salaries will vary and may be above or below the recommended pay range based on factors such as but not limited to location, relevant experience and performance. Additionally, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan to enhance their overall total compensation package when Justrite Safety Group and their business units achieve annual business and financial targets.

Our benefits package at Justrite Safety Group is designed to be the best in the industry, offering everything you need to support your career and personal well‑being. You’ll receive a competitive salary paired with an extensive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage. We provide flexible hours and alternative work arrangements designed to support a healthy work‑life balance. These options vary depending on the specific roles and business needs.

Your financial future is secure with our 401K plan, complete with a company match, and you’re protected with company‑paid short and long‑term disability insurance. To ensure you’re at your best, we also offer generous paid time off, personal days, and a robust employee wellness program that supports your overall health and happiness. At Justrite, our benefits package is designed to help you thrive both in and out of the workplace.

As a leading name in the safety industry, Justrite provides a platform where you can collaborate with some of the best professionals in the field, learning from experts and contributing to cutting‑edge solutions. The company's commitment to excellence and innovation ensures that you’ll be part of a team that is making a real impact. With a strong focus on career advancement, Justrite empowers its employees to thrive both personally and professionally, making it an ideal workplace for those looking to grow their careers in a meaningful and rewarding environment.

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to product excellence and making a positive impact in our company, and in our community!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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