Machine Shop Manager

Job Title: Machining Manager (Hands‑On Leadership) – High‑Growth Manufacturing

Confidential Opportunity – Greater Itasca, IL Area

A rapidly growing, multi‑division industrial manufacturer is seeking a Machining Manager to lead and strengthen its machine shop operations. This is a newly created, high‑impact role due to significant company growth and increased production demand—particularly within large‑scale industrial equipment and data center infrastructure projects.

This organization has been an industry leader for over 100 years and is currently experiencing explosive growth, with revenue scaling significantly year‑over‑year and major expansion plans underway (including facility expansion and increased production capacity). If you’re looking for a stable company with real upward momentum and the ability to make a measurable impact, this is it.

• Lead and manage daily operations of the machining department (team of 5 machinists)
• Drive production schedules, ensuring jobs are completed on time and within quality standards
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks to improve workflow and throughput
• Coordinate with engineering, purchasing, and production teams to keep projects on track
• Make make‑vs‑buy decisions and manage subcontracting when needed
• Ensure materials, tooling, and resources are properly allocated and staged
• Maintain compliance with safety, quality, and operational standards
• Train, mentor, and develop machinists to improve team performance and retention
• Stay hands‑on with machine setup, tooling adjustments, and process optimization

• 5+ years of supervisory experience in a machining or manufacturing environment (OEM or equipment manufacturing preferred)
• Strong hands‑on machining background (Mazak experience highly preferred)
• Experience with setups, tooling, offsets, and shop floor troubleshooting
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Proficiency with inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, bore gauges, etc.)
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of developing teams and improving performance
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally in a fast‑paced production environment

• Experience with make vs. buy decisions and subcontracting
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement exposure
• Experience training machinists or building shop floor processes
• Familiarity with material handling equipment (forklifts, cranes, etc.)

• Massive growth – significant backlog and major expansion underway
• High‑impact role – directly addressing a key production bottleneck
• Stability + longevity – company has been around for over 100 years
• Overtime available – consistent extra hours for additional earnings
• Leadership visibility – direct collaboration with plant leadership

• Pay: up to $38/hr + consistent overtime (10-20+ hrs/week)
• Schedule: 1st shift (6:00 AM – 2:30 PM)
• Employment Type: Contract-to-hire (potential for direct hire)
• Location: Greater Itasca, IL area

If you’re a hands‑on machining leader who enjoys being on the floor, solving problems, and building strong teams in a growing environment, this is a strong opportunity to step into a role where you can make an immediate impact.