Manufacturing Engineering Assistant

Join our team in Forrest, IL!

The Manufacturing Engineering Assistant supports the engineering team by handling day-to-day engineering tasks, allowing engineers to focus on complex projects and customer needs. This role is ideal for a recent high school graduate or early-career professional with basic CAD exposure and a strong interest in manufacturing and steel fabrication. The position offers hands‑on experience with CAD, manufacturing processes, and engineering support in a small, family‑owned company that provides clear opportunities for growth into a full Manufacturing Engineer role.

The Manufacturing Engineering Assistant supports the engineering team by handling day-to-day engineering tasks, allowing engineers to focus on complex projects and customer needs. This role is ideal for a recent high school graduate or early-career professional with basic CAD exposure and a strong interest in manufacturing and steel fabrication. The position offers hands‑on experience with CAD, manufacturing processes, and engineering support in a small, family‑owned company that provides clear opportunities for growth into a full Manufacturing Engineer role.

• Support Manufacturing Engineers with day‑to‑day engineering tasks to help manage workload related to new projects and customers.
• Use CAD software to pull and review files, navigate drawings, and support engineering documentation.
• Review and interpret drawings, including taking measurements and dimensions accurately.
• Assist with creating, updating, and organizing manufacturing process documentation.
• Work with steel material specifications and apply basic fabrication concepts in daily tasks.
• Enter, update, and retrieve data within the ERP system, with training provided as needed.
• Perform general computer‑based tasks to support both engineering and production activities.
• Collaborate with team members in a shop‑focused environment to ensure smooth coordination between engineering and manufacturing.
• Provide general support to the engineering department as workload grows with new customers and projects.

• High school diploma or GED.
• Basic CAD experience, including the ability to use CAD software to navigate and review drawings.
• Ability to read, navigate, and dimension drawings, with a focus on interpretation rather than design creation.
• Comfortable working on a computer daily and performing data entry and general computer‑based tasks.
• Interest in manufacturing, steel fabrication, and engineering support work.
• Ability to work effectively in a team‑oriented, shop‑focused environment.
• Strong attention to detail when taking measurements, dimensions, and working with technical documentation.

• Exposure to manufacturing processes and manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with steel material specifications and basic fabrication concepts.
• Willingness to learn ERP systems and new software tools with provided training.
• Motivation to grow into a Manufacturing Engineer role over time.
• Strong organizational skills to help manage documentation and engineering workload.
• Good communication skills to collaborate with engineers, production staff, and other team members.

The role is based in a very rural area within a clean and well‑maintained facility. The position primarily operates in an office environment, with occasional time spent on the shop floor as needed, though not frequently. The company is a small, family‑owned organization that offers a supportive, team‑oriented, and shop‑focused culture. Employees have access to multiple health insurance plan options for employees and families with a high portion of employee premiums covered, as well as dental, vision, supplemental insurance options, and an employer‑provided life insurance policy.

A Simple IRA is available with a 100% match up to 3%. The company supports professional growth through tuition reimbursement for qualified job‑related classes and provides opportunities for overtime pay. Employees receive six…