Project Engineer-Manufacturing & Automation

Project Engineer – Manufacturing & Automation

Location: Antioch, IL

Compensation: $80,000–$90,000 base salary plus bonus opportunity

Industry: Aluminum Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

An established manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Project Engineer to improve equipment performance, expand automation, and increase efficiency in a high-volume production environment.

This position owns projects from identifying the problem and evaluating solutions through testing, implementation, and documenting results. Approximately 90% of the role involves production-floor equipment evaluation, troubleshooting, and improvement implementation. Basic mechanical design and prototyping account for approximately 5–10%.

The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to work independently and collaborate with Production, Maintenance, equipment manufacturers, and outside suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead equipment improvement, automation, and continuous improvement projects from concept through implementation.


• Identify opportunities to reduce manual labor, improve material flow, reduce scrap, and increase equipment reliability and productivity.


• Improve presses and thermoforming equipment through automated part handling, stacking, and other process enhancements.


• Evaluate and integrate sensors, vision systems, and automated quality inspection or sampling technologies.


• Troubleshoot underperforming equipment alongside Maintenance and Production, identify root causes, and test potential solutions.


• Develop and validate improvements through offline testing, prototyping, and production trials.


• Evaluate machine functions and coordinate equipment modifications, upgrades, or rebuilds to improve performance.


• Work with equipment OEMs, component suppliers, and outside integrators to evaluate and implement solutions.


• Use CAD and, when appropriate, 3D printing to develop basic fixtures, sensor mounts, and prototype components.


• Create or update work instructions and communicate process changes to affected teams.


• Document project objectives, testing results, cost savings, and operational improvements; present findings to plant leadership.

Required Qualifications

• 2–5 years of engineering experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, with a focus on project engineering, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, industrial engineering, capital projects, or continuous improvement.


• Experience independently leading equipment upgrades, manufacturing efficiency initiatives, or cost savings projects through implementation.


• Strong mechanical aptitude and an understanding of how production machinery operates.


• Hands-on experience troubleshooting equipment and resolving production process issues.


• Ability to gather input from operators and maintenance technicians, identify root causes, test solutions, and implement improvements.


• Strong communication, documentation, and project coordination skills.


• Willingness to spend most of the workday on the production floor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.


• Experience with high-speed presses, thermoforming equipment, or packaging operations.


• Experience with industrial automation, sensors, vision systems, automated material handling, or labor-reduction projects.


• Working knowledge of SolidWorks or AutoCAD for basic 2D and 3D mechanical design.


• Experience coordinating with equipment OEMs, suppliers, and outside integrators.


• Familiarity with 3D printing, fixture design, and prototype testing.

Scheduling Requirement

Candidates must be comfortable with an annual PTO blackout period from September 1 through December 1.