Manufacturing Engineer (Automation)

Job Title:

Manufacturing Engineer Location:

Buffalo Grove, IL Compensation:

$45-$60/hour

Contract Duration:

Open-ended contract with potential for direct hire

Benefits :

As a contract employee of Sterling, you are eligible to receive a Full Employee Benefits Package that includes paid time off, paid holidays, 3 medical plans to choose from, dental & vision plans, 401(k), and an Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) plan.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer with a strong background in automation machinery, process improvement, and mechanical troubleshooting to support a highly customized production environment. This role will be embedded within a container manufacturing facility supporting a specialized product line, where the production equipment consists of heavily modified and fully custom automation systems. This position is critical to improving uptime, documenting processes, and driving continuous improvement initiatives across a complex and evolving manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, and maintenance procedures for custom automation equipment Perform root cause analysis and hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical and automated systems to resolve production issues Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, efficiency, and throughput Collaborate with internal engineering teams and external OEMs to support equipment upgrades, modifications, and optimization efforts Participate in design reviews and provide feedback on automation systems and tooling improvements Analyze current manufacturing methods and recommend enhancements to processes, layouts, and equipment utilization Support development of preventive and corrective maintenance strategies Assist in PFMEA, control plans, and other process quality documentation as needed Partner cross-functionally with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to ensure manufacturing goals are met

Required Qualifications:

Strong background in manufacturing engineering within highly automated environments Experience working with custom automation machinery and non-standard equipment setups Proven ability in mechanical troubleshooting and root cause analysis Experience developing work instructions, SOPs, and technical documentation Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment design, and process improvement methodologies Ability to interface with OEMs and cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience in high-volume or complex manufacturing environments (e.g., electronics, medical devices, or similar) Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks (ability to review and interpret designs) Experience supporting equipment design reviews or modifications Knowledge of PLCs, robotics, or automated systems is a plus

Work Environment:

Fast-paced manufacturing setting with a mix of legacy and custom-built automation equipment High level of cross-functional collaboration Hands-on involvement on the production floor

Why This Role:

This is an opportunity to step into a highly impactful role where additional engineering support is urgently needed. Without this position, the team's ability to troubleshoot issues and develop critical documentation is significantly constrained. The right candidate will play a key role in stabilizing operations and driving meaningful process improvements, with the potential to convert to a full-time position.