Manufacturing Engineer - Chicago, IL

Switchcraft Inc.

Full-Time

Experienced Non-Manager

Switchcraft is a Chicago-based manufacturer of highly engineered connectors and cable assemblies, serving industrial, medical, agricultural, and safety markets. We're a small, technically driven team.

We're bringing on Manufacturing Engineer to serve as a dedicated technical resource for our production operations. In the near term, you'll be embedded on the production floor, resolving manufacturing issues and building deep process knowledge across our product lines and manufacturing methods. Over time, the role expands into structured IE work: time studies, ERP data ownership, capacity planning inputs, and NPI support. A successful candidate who demonstrates strong technical judgment and the ability to work across functions will find growth opportunities both in the depth of this role and in where it can lead.

Location: Jefferson Park, IL (Chicago)

Shift: 100% ON SITE 7:30 am - 4 pm M-F

Pay: $80,000- $85,000

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Manufacturing Engineering (Primary Focus)
  
  
  
  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact when production team identifies manufacturing issues, quality concerns, or deviations from work instructions - investigate root causes and provide clear direction to resolve.
  • Interpret and work from engineering drawings and prints to evaluate fit, form, and function concerns in production.
  • Maintain working knowledge of Switchcraft's core manufacturing processes, including:
    
    
    
    • Manual hand assembly and fixture-based operations
    • Cable cutting and wire preparation
    • Crimping processes and equipment
    • Molding, stamping, and epoxy application
    
    
    
    
  • Partner with Production and Quality to document recurring issues, support root cause analysis, and drive sustainable corrective actions.
  • Partner with Sustaining Engineering to troubleshoot tooling and fixture performance issues; assess whether tools are functioning as intended and coordinate corrective action when modifications or redesigns are needed.
  • Support the maintenance and accuracy of work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  
  
  
  
• Industrial/Process Engineering (On-going, growing over time)
  
  
  
  • Identify opportunities for process efficiency and cost reduction as familiarity with operations deepens; contribute to continuous improvement initiatives over time.
  • Analyze and validate process routings, ensuring our ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics) reflects the actual steps and sequence of production.
  • Conduct time studies and process observations to capture accurate labor content and cycle times for production operations.
  • Maintain and update ERP data including process routings, labor standards, and run times to support accurate capacity planning and product costing; drive alignment between the two.
  • Support the NPI team during new product launches by performing time studies, documenting process flows, and entering initial routing data - ensuring production readiness before handoff.
  
  
  
  
• Quality Systems & Documentation (Ongoing responsibility, foundational to the role)
  
  
  
  • Support the documentation of production processes in a manner consistent with ISO9001 standards and best practices.
  • Develop familiarity with Switchcraft's quality management system and contribute to audit readiness activities.
  • Complete training to serve as an internal auditor; prior auditing experience is not required.
  
  
  
  

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and prints.
• Familiarity with electromechanical assembly processes; experience with cable assembly, crimping, or over-molding is preferred.
• Ability to work independently on the production floor, communicate findings clearly, and influence peers and production staff without direct authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment; proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated attention to quality standards in a production environment; understands the relationship between process discipline and product outcome.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3 - 6 years of experience in a manufacturing environment in a technical support capacity (IE, ME, process engineering, or equivalent).
• Preferred experience in an ISO9001 or equivalent QMS environment.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean/Six Sigma tools) a plus.

Benefits

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Short Term/Long Term Disability

Commuter benefits

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

FSA-Dependent Care

Health Savings Account (HSA)

401k

Educational Assistance (Tuition Assistance)

Referral Program

Parental Leave

Healthy Rewards

EOE M/F/Disabled/Vet

This company is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, gender, disability or protected veteran status.