Manager, IT Engineering in Naperville

Overview

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee‑owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

POSITION

PURPOSE:

The Engineering Manager leads the technical execution and people development for one or more product teams. They are responsible for engineering quality, architecture alignment, technical decisions, and coaching engineers.

They partner closely with the Product Manager to ensure the team delivers high‑value, high‑quality solutions efficiently and reliably. The Engineering Manager is the primary people manager for engineers on the team and is accountable for building, developing, and retaining engineering talent.

The Engineering manager is responsible for partnering with the Product Manager to ensure the value is realized. The Engineering Manager actively invests in their own professional growth by staying current with emerging technologies, leadership practices, and organizational priorities. They foster an inclusive, collaborative team culture that promotes psychological safety, continuous learning, and high performance, ensuring the team operates with trust, transparency, and shared accountability.

As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

• Proven leadership and coaching skills with ability to manage performance and develop talent.
• Expertise in Agile delivery, Dev Ops, CI/CD, and cloud‑practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong technical acumen in engineering, architecture, and modern development practices.
• Strategic mindset with ability to connect technical decisions to business outcomes.
• Technology stack experience: IBM i Power Series.
• Openness and ability to learn other technology stacks.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or relevant experience required.
• 10+ years of engineering experience.
• 3+ years of prior people management responsibilities.
• Distribution and Transportation Systems experience.
• Demonstrated success in technical leadership and delivery management.
• Experience influencing technical strategy and driving modernization initiatives.

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.