Engineering Facilities Manager

The role

We are seeking a strategic, hands‑on Engineer Facility Manager to lead all engineering, maintenance, and facilities operations across our manufacturing site. This role is accountable for ensuring equipment reliability, optimizing processes, and maintaining facility infrastructure to support safe, efficient, and high‑quality production. The ideal candidate is an innovative, data‑driven leader with a passion for operational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and technical growth.

This position is based on-site at our Chicago, IL facility and reports to the Plant Manager as part of the Plant Operations team.

What You’ll Do

Overall Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for Engineering, Maintenance, Facilities, ensuring all manufacturing equipment, tooling, processes, and site facilities are effectively maintained and optimized.
• Lead all activities related to facilities management, including building systems, grounds, utilities, and janitorial services.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a Safety-First culture by ensuring all engineering and maintenance activities comply with safety standards and by driving continuous reduction and elimination of accidents and incidents in line with company objectives.
• Ensure full compliance with company emergency evacuation guidelines and all applicable regulatory requirements.

Department Management

• Manage departmental staffing, performance, budgets, KOIs, and resource planning to meet or exceed organizational expectations.
• Oversee quoting activities, ensuring accurate and timely cost estimates.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations and establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for all team members.
• Build and strengthen engineering and maintenance capability by developing skills, fostering teamwork, and driving effective communication across teams and departments.

Maintenance & Operations

• Ensure the execution of all preventive maintenance activities, manual operations drills, and equipment readiness routines.
• Maintain the technical skill base required to support facility operations and ongoing production needs.

Launch Readiness & Program Execution

• Lead cross‑functional teams through the Launch Readiness process as defined in BOS procedures.
  • Schedule and facilitate meetings with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Controls Engineering, Materials, Quality, Program Management, and Product Engineering.
  • Review all deliverables in detail, verify progress through physical validation, and escalate or support as needed to drive accountability and ensure readiness.
  • Provide coaching, guidance, and hands-on leadership to remove barriers and ensure successful program execution.
• Ensure full departmental engagement in new program development, including process design, tooling, capital planning, equipment setup/debug, and validation to meet customer specifications, cycle times, and quality requirements.

Engineering Change Management (ECM)

• Oversee Engineering Change Management for new and existing programs, ensuring alignment on quoting, costing, planning, and execution of changes.

Product & Process Development

• Drive product and process development activities to ensure production feasibility within ergonomics, safety, timing, budget, cost, performance, and quality requirements.
• Strengthen Launch Readiness through lessons learned and continuous improvement integration.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead or participate in CI initiatives to enhance efficiency, reliability, throughput, and cost performance across the plant.
• Keep team members informed on emerging technologies, tools, and best practices that improve project execution and operational performance.

Documentation & Additional Duties

• Ensure proper documentation of all engineering, maintenance, and facilities activities.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by management.

Who you are

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience in an automotive manufacturing environment with progressive leadership responsibilities. Preferably within Just-In-Time (JIT) assembly and sequencing operations.
• Experience with direct oversight of a CMMS and its performance.
• Proven Engineering Management experience, including strong working knowledge of AIAG Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC).
• Strong mechanical aptitude and technical problem‑solving skills.
• Proficient in AutoCAD, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project, with solid general computer literacy.
• Skilled in motion/time study methodologies, including MOPATs, MOST, and/or Timer‑Pro.
• Hands‑on experience with industrial automation, including robotics, conveyors, DC fastening systems, and automated equipment.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop teams and drive results.

Health, Safety, Physical & Travel Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and move freely throughout office and manufacturing
• Capable of performing standard computer-based work for extended periods.
• Occasional travel required 20%.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Life at Dakkota

Our success is rooted in meaningful relationships and a culture that feels like family. We champion compassion, respect, and work-life balance, while supporting each team member’s personal and professional growth. Through ongoing development, competitive pay, and a comprehensive benefits package, we empower our people to thrive both at work and in life.

The pay range for this role is $110,000 – $130,000 per year. This role is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay. The pay range listed for this position represents a good-faith estimate of potential compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, and location. This range is subject to change in the future and does not guarantee a specific salary.

Our benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan for eligible employees.

Explore everything we have to offer at Dakkota Careers!

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