Manufacturing Engineer Job at Sterling Engineering in Niles

A client of Sterling Engineering, a global manufacturer of engineered automotive and transportation components, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to play a key role in supporting and improving high-volume production operations. This position offers the opportunity to make a visible impact by optimizing processes, improving equipment performance, enhancing quality, and reducing costs within a structured, team-oriented manufacturing environment.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys being on the manufacturing floor, collaborating across departments, and leading continuous improvement efforts in a safety- and quality-driven operation.

Salary: $90,000–$110,000

Why Work Here?

• Stability & Scale: Join a long-established, highly respected manufacturing organization with a global footprint and steady demand tied to essential transportation and mobility markets.
• Strong Engineering Culture: Be part of an engineering-driven environment where data-based decisions, process discipline, and continuous improvement are encouraged and supported.
• Clear Career Growth: Take advantage of clearly defined engineering career paths with opportunities to advance into senior engineering, technical specialist, or operations leadership roles.
• Hands-On Impact: Engineers work closely with production, allowing you to see your ideas move from concept to implementation on the manufacturing floor.
• Investment in Technology: Ongoing investments in automation, advanced equipment, and process improvements provide exposure to modern manufacturing technologies.
• Collaborative Environment: Work daily with operations, quality, maintenance, and tooling teams in a collaborative, problem-solving culture.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Enjoy a strong compensation package including comprehensive benefits, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and a safety-focused workplace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing processes to increase efficiency, quality, and throughput
• Support production by troubleshooting process, equipment, and quality issues to minimize downtime
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
• Analyze production data and KPIs to identify cost-reduction and performance-improvement opportunities
• Collaborate with quality, maintenance, tooling, and operations teams to resolve manufacturing challenges
• Support new product launches, process changes, and equipment installations
• Create and maintain standard work instructions, process documentation, and routings
• Participate in PFMEA, control plans, and root cause analysis (RCA) activities
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to improve manufacturability and process capability

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• 2–5 years of manufacturing engineering experience in a high-volume production environment
• Automotive or industrial manufacturing experience preferred
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools