Chicago Engineering Manager Jobs Overview
If you like to take the lead in large projects, you may want to consider a career as an engineering manager. Engineering manager jobs are essential to engineering projects being completed on time, on budget, and to the required specifications. Engineering managers see projects through from an initial plan to a finished product. You'll enjoy this job if you're motivated by the thought of concrete results, such as a building or bridge, at the end of an assignment.
Engineering managers are also called chief engineers, directors of engineers, or principal engineers. These types of engineers usually manage projects involving physical objects, from small electronic components to enormous skyscrapers, and can specialize in mechanical, civil, electrical, or geotechnical engineering.
Engineering management is a very hands-on position involving projects that require supervision due to their complexity, scale, safety risks, or regulatory concerns. Some of their typical job responsibilities include:
- planning, developing, and implementing new designs.
- hiring, training, and managing staff.
- proposing budgets.
- inspecting the work of staff for accuracy and quality.
- supervising work at construction sites.
- coordinating work with other managers, contractors, suppliers, and staff.
- working with local governments or regulatory agencies to ensure compliance to regulations and standards.
- solving technical problems.
You can expand your search for engineering jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Engineering Manager Resume
Your resume should be your first project when you apply for a job. Give it the same level of attention you would to a work project: Plan the structure first, leave no room for errors, give precise details, and showcase a clean design. You can get more advice on how to list your accomplishments and previous projects from our engineering resume tips. For some tips on how to write your cover letter, read the following samples:
How Much Do Engineering Manager Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in engineering manager jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median engineering manager pay in Chicago is $117,920 per year, which is 8% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Engineering Manager Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in engineering manager? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those engineering manager jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.