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Engineering Team Lead

Illinois Tool Works
Carol Stream, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 19 May 2026
💰 $125,000/yr($110,000/yr$125,000/yr)

About the role

Job Description:

The Engineering Team Leader is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, and execution of the North American Applications and Engineering team. This role ensures the timely and accurate delivery application review and custom quotations, engineered solutions through to order completion, aligning closely with Sales, Operations, and global Engineering teams. The position bridges commercial and technical execution, ensuring solutions are customer-focused, manufacturable, and delivered efficiently, while supporting continuous improvement and standardization.

Responsibilities:

  • Team Leadership & Execution
    • Lead, coach, and develop a team of Applications and Design Engineers to deliver high-quality outputs
    • Assign and prioritize workload across quoting, design, and order processing activities
    • Ensure balanced resource allocation to meet fluctuating sales and production demand
    • Drive accountability through clear expectations, KPIs, and regular performance reviews
  • Applications (Pre-Sales & Order Processing)
    • Oversee the creation of accurate, competitive, and timely custom quotations
    • Ensure strong alignment between:
      • Customer requirements
      • Commercial strategy
      • Technical feasibility
    • Support Regional Sales Managers in complex or strategic opportunities with process like:
      • Bid package/ URS reviews
      • Customer product performance testing
    • Ensure seamless transition from quote → order → execution
    • Drive consistency and standardization in quoting tools, and documentation
    • Support Regional Sales Managers in complex, strategic, or highly customized application opportunities, including participation in the Global Technical Enquiries process
  • Engineering
    • Oversee & contribute to the design of custom equipment for production
    • Ensure designs are:
      • Fit for purpose
      • Cost-effective
      • Aligned with manufacturing capabilities (DFM focus)
    • Collaborate closely with:
      • Production
      • Manufacturing Engineering/ Quality
      • Supply Chain
    • Support resolution of design-related issues during production and installation
    • Participate in the global Product Change Notification (PCN) process and ensure applicable regional changes are reviewed, communicated, and implemented
    • Collaborate with global teams (UK/CZ) where required to support alignment on technical solutions, standards, and product changes
  • Cross-Functional Alignment
    • Act as the primary interface between Engineering, Sales, and Operations
    • Ensure engineering outputs align with:
      • Production capacity
      • Lead times
      • Supply chain constraints
    • Support production and service teams in resolving technical challenges
    • Collaborate with global teams (UK/CZ) where required
  • Process Improvement & Standardization
    • Identify and implement improvements to:
      • Quoting efficiency
      • Design processes
      • Order execution workflows
    • Drive standardization and modularization of solutions where possible
    • Support ITW principles (80/20, Front-to-Back, In-lining)
    • Develop and track relevant KPIs (e.g., quote turnaround time, engineering cycle time, error rates)
  • Quality & Compliance
    • Ensure all engineering outputs meet:
      • Internal standards
      • Regulatory requirements (e.g., CE, UL where applicable)
    • Support resolution of non-conformances related to design or application
    • Promote a right-first-time engineering culture

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the position holder is expected to support related business, operational, and continuous improvement activities as reasonably directed by leadership.

Key Interfaces:

  • Internal:
    • Applied Technology & Engineering, Product Support & Service, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, Customer Relations, Human Resources
  • External:
    • Customers, Vendors, Suppliers

Requirements:

Essential:

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
  • Minimum 7 years of relevant applications, mechanical or electrical design experience
  • Minimum 2 years of notable experience as a leader or senior role
  • Project management
  • Strong understanding of:
    • Custom equipment design, mechanically and/or electrically
    • Manufacturing methods
  • Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferable) and ERP/MRP systems
  • Proven ability to manage competing priorities
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

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Company

Illinois Tool Works

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