Management Associate - Engineering
The Management Associate - Engineering role at Confidential Client is an entry-level position designed to accelerate professional development through 12-24 months of rotational training in mechanical maintenance and operations. The role involves supervising production crews, applying engineering principles to improve equipment reliability and product quality, and participating in maintenance planning and capital projects within a 24/7 manufacturing environment. This position emphasizes leadership development, problem-solving, and process improvement in a heavily unionized setting.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Position Summary
Confidential Client (via Careertakes) is seeking a Management Associate - Engineering for a Mechanical Maintenance rotational program based in Granite City, IL. This is an entry-level, 12–24 month development program designed for recent college graduates to build technical and leadership skills through classroom and hands-on training in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Do
The Management Associate will participate in rotational assignments and hands-on training to develop operational, technical, and leadership capabilities. Key responsibilities include:
- Apply engineering and business principles and structured problem-solving techniques in a manufacturing environment to maximize operating efficiency.
- Supervise, direct, and coordinate experienced technicians to maintain production continuity and safety in a unionized setting.
- Perform equipment failure analysis, recommend and implement design modifications to reduce maintenance and improve reliability and product quality.
- Review and support proposed equipment replacements or upgrades, including participation in capital projects and cost analysis.
- Work with consultants and vendors to ensure process requirements, applicable standards, and codes are met.
- Participate in maintenance planning to minimize downtime and support process and facilities improvement initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Engineering Technology.
- Graduation from an accredited college or university within the last three years at time of hire.
- Less than three years of professional work experience.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Willingness and ability to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Prior internship experience is a plus.
Preferred Skills
- Demonstrated academic achievement and strong technical aptitude.
- Analytical problem-solver with a high level of attention to detail and customer focus.
- Track record of team, project, or people leadership in work or extracurricular settings.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-starter: resourceful, tenacious, curious, independent, and high energy.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks; think and act strategically and tactically.
- Commitment to personal and professional growth and continuous process improvement.
Compensation & Employment Type
- Base salary range: $75,000 - $80,000 (good-faith estimate; final offer will depend on candidate experience and qualifications).
- Employment type: Full-time / Contractor (program may be structured as a training/contract period depending on assignment).
- Location: Granite City, IL — on-site at the facility. The operation runs 24/7.
Work Schedule & Environment
- This role requires rotating schedules and availability for weekend and holiday assignments.
- You will receive structured classroom and hands-on training in safety, quality, communication, leadership, teamwork, and technical process and equipment skills.
- The environment is manufacturing/industrial and operates continuously; adherence to safety protocols and a collaborative approach with unionized teams is required.
Why Apply (For Recent Graduates)
- Fast-tracked development with 12–24 months of cross-functional training.
- Hands-on exposure to mechanical maintenance, capital projects, and process improvement in a large-scale operations setting.
- Opportunity to develop leadership and technical skills that prepare you for advanced roles within operations or supporting disciplines.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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