Careers

Entry-Level Machine Operator

Pay: $16.50 – $18.00 per hour | Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 1st or 2nd shift | Location: Elgin, Illinois | Shift differential: 5% for 2nd shift

Start your manufacturing career with Elgin Industries. We are hiring entry-level Machine Operators who are dependable, safety-focused, and ready to learn. No advanced machine operation experience is required, bring a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to be trained.

Shift options
• 1st Shift: Monday – Thursday, 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• 2nd Shift: Monday – Thursday, 4:30 PM – 3:00 AM

What you’ll do
• Load and operate assigned machinery and equipment.
• Follow work instructions at each assigned workstation.
• Monitor production processes and alert the team when adjustments are needed.
• Perform visual and quality inspections using tools such as micrometers and calipers.
• Identify defective parts and properly handle non-conforming materials.
• Maintain production and quality records.
• Cross-train on additional equipment and processes as needed.

What we’re looking for
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to follow instructions, work safely, and stay focused on quality.
• Dependable attendance and willingness to learn manufacturing processes.

Benefits: See the Benefits & Perks at Elgin Industries section for details about our competitive employee benefits package.
Apply today to build hands-on skills with a stable manufacturing company.

Elgin Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.

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Machine Operator / Setup

Pay: $20.00 – $26.00 per hour | Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 1st or 2nd shift | Location: Elgin, Illinois | Shift differential: 5% for 2nd shift

Elgin Industries is hiring a Machine Operator / Setup team member to set up and maintain equipment, coordinate production activity, and support efficient work cell operations. This role is ideal for someone with setup experience who can make machine adjustments, support production flow, and maintain strong quality and safety standards.

What you’ll do
• Set up equipment and make machine adjustments to support efficient production.
• Operate assigned machinery and monitor production processes.
• Read and follow work instructions, prints, and quality requirements.
• Perform quality checks using precision measuring instruments.
• Monitor raw material needs and support workflow within the work cell.
• Safely handle scrap and non-conforming material.
• Maintain a clean, organized work area using 5S practices.
• Assist with training and support other departments as needed.

What we’re looking for
• Machine setup or skilled machine operation experience in manufacturing.
• Ability to make adjustments and troubleshoot basic production issues.
• Ability to use measuring tools such as micrometers and calipers.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and dependable attendance.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.

Benefits: See the Benefits & Perks at Elgin Industries section for details about our competitive employee benefits package.
Apply today if you’re an experienced setup operator looking for a steady schedule and growth opportunity.

Elgin Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.

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Metallography Lab Assistant I

Pay: $17.00 – $19.00 per hour | Job type: Full-time | Location: Elgin, Illinois | Work location: In person

Elgin Industries is hiring a Metallography Lab Assistant I to support Quality lab operations. This entry-level role is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, safety-focused, and interested in learning laboratory testing and sample preparation in a manufacturing environment. Training will be provided.

Why join Elgin Industries? You’ll gain hands-on lab experience with a stable U.S. manufacturer known for quality, teamwork, and long-term manufacturing excellence.

What you’ll do
• Follow established safety protocols and laboratory procedures.
• Perform surface hardness testing.
• Section, mount, and polish heat-treat samples for analysis.
• Assist with basic equipment checks, calibration, and lab upkeep.
• Support experienced lab staff with routine testing and sample preparation.
• May assist with tension, compression, cleanliness, and titration testing.
• Keep the work area clean, organized, and maintained using 5S practices.

What we’re looking for
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• No prior laboratory experience required; training will be provided.
• Mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn lab processes and equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to complete repetitive tasks accurately.
• Basic math, measurement, and recordkeeping skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits: See the Benefits & Perks at Elgin Industries section for details about our competitive employee benefits package.
Apply today if you’re ready to learn, grow, and support quality work in a hands-on lab environment.

Elgin Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.

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Control Room Operator – 3rd Shift

Pay starting: $21.00 per hour, commensurate with experience and capability | Schedule: 3rd shift, Monday – Friday, 11:00 PM – 7:30 AM, with two paid 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute paid lunch | Location: Elgin, Illinois

Elgin Industries is looking for a Control Room Operator to join our dynamic 3rd shift team in Elgin, Illinois. For more than 100 years, Elgin Industries has been one of the transportation industry’s premier manufacturers of engine and chassis components, trusted by leading engine and vehicle manufacturers for best-cost, best-quality product solutions. Still family run and driven by innovation, Elgin proudly engineers and manufactures world-class products right here in the U.S.A.

As a Control Room Operator, you will operate modern distributive control systems for heat treat furnaces used for hardening, carburizing, annealing, and tempering steel. This role also supports secondary operations such as shot blasting, tumbling, racking, straightening, preparing loads, and washing parts.

What you’ll do
• Operate our modern, state-of-the-art distributive control system over all heat treat furnaces.
• Direct up to three furnace handlers and provide guidance to support safe, efficient production.
• Provide forklift support to furnace handlers as needed.
• Process heat treat requirements through close interaction with the Heat Treat Supervisor.
• Perform furnace control verifications using batch reports and infrared gas analyzers.
• Handle related paperwork, documentation, and sign-offs accurately.
• Operate forklifts and overhead cranes safely as needed.
• Assist furnace handlers, perform preventive and minor maintenance, and fill in for absent employees when needed.

What we’re looking for
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating instructions, maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Basic math skills, including adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to work safely around moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, loud noise, and occasional exposure to chemicals, extreme cold, and extreme heat.
• Ability to stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hands, talk, hear, and perform hands-on production tasks throughout the shift.
• Ability to regularly lift or move up to 10 lbs., frequently lift or move up to 25 lbs., and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. and/or move over 50 lbs.
• Must have required vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Benefits: See the Benefits & Perks at Elgin Industries section for details about our competitive employee benefits package.
Apply today if you’re ready to support high-quality heat treat operations on 3rd shift with a stable manufacturing team.

Elgin Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.

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Maintenance Technician

Pay: $26.00-$34.00 per hour, based on experience, technical skill level, and ability to troubleshoot equipment independently

Job Summary
We are seeking a hands-on Maintenance Technician to support troubleshooting, repairing production equipment, performing scheduled preventive maintenance, supporting installations and equipment setup, and helping maintain a safe and efficient facility.

The ideal candidate has strong mechanical troubleshooting skills, experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and the ability to respond effectively to machine breakdowns with limited supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform preventive maintenance on a variety type of production and support equipment
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues
• Respond to equipment breakdowns and production stoppages in a timely manner
• Repair or replace motors, sensors, switches, relays, valves, pumps, chains, bearings, belts, hoses, and related components
• Read blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams to identify and resolve equipment issues
• Maintain manual shop equipment such as presses, grinders, saws, drill presses, and hoists
• Support basic electrical maintenance including motors, starters, contactors, overloads, relays, breakers, and disconnects
• Support conveyor repair, machine adjustments, installations, and startup activities
• Document work performed, parts used, and recurring issues in maintenance logs
• Follow process, procedures and all plant safety requirements
• Communicate equipment status, downtime causes, and repair needs to supervisors and production personnel
• Help identify spare parts needs and support maintenance inventory control

Required Qualifications
• 3-5+ years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment preferred
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills
• Working knowledge of electrical systems appropriate to the role
• Experience with hydraulics, pneumatics, and preventive maintenance programs
• Ability to read technical diagrams, schematics, and blueprints
• Experience responding to production downtime and troubleshooting equipment independently
• Ability to safely use hand tools, power tools, and maintenance equipment
• Commitment to safe work practices, including lockout/tagout

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience supporting production equipment, conveyors, or automated manufacturing systems
• PLC troubleshooting exposure
• Welding, fabrication, or machining experience

Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, sit, climb, knee, reach, lift and other physical movement throughout the shift
• Ability to lift and move objects up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work around moving equipment and in a manufacturing environment while wearing required PPE
• Visual requirements include close vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to focus

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme heat, and risk of electric shock. The noise level is usually loud.

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Elgin Industries is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.