Project Manager – Machine Tool Manufacturing
Chicago / Elgin Area | Capital Equipment | Engineered-to-Order Systems
Why This Role
1. Base compensation up to $110,000
2. 3 weeks PTO + 11 paid holidays
3. 401(k): 100% company match up to 5%, fully vested after one year
4. Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA
5. Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, life insurance
6. Stable global manufacturer with long-term customers and complex projects
7. Hands-on, technically grounded PM role (not PMO / admin-heavy)
Company Overview (Confidential)
We are partnered with a global manufacturer of precision industrial equipment with approximately $225M in annual revenue and 700+ employees across manufacturing and sales locations in the United States, Switzerland, and China.
The organization designs and delivers custom, engineered-to-order machine systems for customers that demand high accuracy, reliability, and long-term technical support.
Position Overview
The Project Manager is responsible for managing capital equipment projects end-to-end, from order kickoff through build, delivery, and installation. This role requires close coordination with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and customers.
Project Managers who are most successful in this environment typically bring prior hands-on machine experience (assembly, applications, manufacturing engineering, or field service), which enables them to anticipate issues, communicate effectively, and drive projects forward.
Location note:
This role is expected to be Chicago-area based, with regular presence at the Elgin facility. Hybrid flexibility may exist, but proximity is important for success.
Key Responsibilities
Project Planning & Coordination
8. Develop and maintain project plans using MS Project, aligned to quoted scope, timelines, and deliverables
9. Coordinate with engineering, operations, supply chain, and sales to align schedules and priorities
10. Track budgets, milestones, risks, and resource allocation
Client Engagement
11. Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle
12. Provide regular status updates, schedule reviews, and milestone communications
13. Ensure customer requirements and expectations are clearly defined and met
Project Execution
14. Oversee production, assembly, testing, and delivery of complex machine tool systems
15. Ensure adherence to technical specifications, quality standards, and performance requirements
16. Identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies
17. Support FAT/SAT activities and final customer acceptance
Team Leadership
18. Lead cross-functional project teams in a matrixed environment
19. Foster collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and support teams
20. Promote accountability, clear communication, and execution discipline
Background & Experience (Intentionally Flexible)
21. Prior experience in machine tools, capital equipment, or complex industrial machinery
22. Hands-on technical background strongly preferred (machine assembly, applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, field service, or similar)
23. Project management experience in custom or engineered-to-order environments
24. Comfortable working directly with customers and cross-functional teams
25. Proficiency with MS Project or similar project planning tools
There is no strict minimum education requirement. Practical experience and technical credibility are more important than formal credentials.
Travel Expectations
Travel varies significantly by project and customer:
26. Some PMs travel regularly (e.g., weekly regional trips)
27. Others may have minimal or no travel over several months
28. Travel requirements are project-driven, not fixed