Engineering Technician – Spring Manufacturing & WAFIOS Equipment
Flex · Illinois
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 10 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Flex (industrial) in Illinois. Hands-on experience with WAFIOS spring coiling machines (FUL, FMU, or equivalent models preferred).
- They ask for
- 8+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, SPC, CAPA, DOE, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $89k–$145k.
Median of the low and high ends of 19 live postings that list pay, out of 38 manufacturing engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 37 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $89k–$134k, from 17 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 53%
- Lean 50%
- ✓ Automation 47%
- New product launch 29%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 29%
- Cost reduction 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CAPA, DOE, FDA / GMP, CNC, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Flex
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- 2
Send a short, curious note
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Write to Lisa → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
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- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from FlexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
Engineering Technician – Spring Manufacturing & WAFIOS Equipment
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Engineering Technician to support the production, setup, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of CNC spring manufacturing processes. This role is responsible for supporting high-volume medical device spring production using WAFIOS spring coiling equipment and associated secondary operations. The Engineering Technician will work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production teams to optimize processes, improve equipment performance, troubleshoot manufacturing issues, and support operator training.
Location: Libertyville, IL
Shift Schedule: 0800a-0430p M-F
Required Qualifications
- ✓8+ years of experience in spring manufacturing, precision manufacturing, or automated production equipment.
- ✓Hands-on experience with WAFIOS spring coiling machines (FUL, FMU, or equivalent models preferred).
- ✓Strong understanding of spring manufacturing principles, including:
- ✓Free length
- ✓Outside diameter (OD)
- ✓Pitch
- ✓Spring rate
- ✓Load testing
- ✓Helix and cast
- ✓Material behavior
- ✓Experience troubleshooting CNC spring coiling equipment and related automation systems.
- ✓Ability to interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, and tooling designs.
- ✓Strong mechanical aptitude and machine setup experience.
- ✓Knowledge of precision measurement equipment and statistical process control methods.
- ✓Experience with preventive maintenance and equipment reliability programs.
- ✓Familiarity with FDA-regulated, medical device, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- ✓Proficiency with PC-controlled manufacturing equipment and machine interfaces.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.
A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.
What a Typical Day Looks Like
- •Set up, adjust, operate, and troubleshoot WAFIOS CNC spring coiling machines including tooling, guides, coiling points, pitch tools, and cutoff systems.
- •Support production of compression, extension, and torsion springs used in medical device applications.
- •Analyze spring characteristics such as free length, outside diameter, pitch, spring rate, squareness, and load requirements.
- •Diagnose and resolve manufacturing issues related to spring geometry, machine setup, tooling wear, material variation, and equipment performance.
- •Perform first-piece inspections and process verifications using calipers, micrometers, optical measurement systems, force testers, and spring load testers.
- •Investigate process deviations and implement corrective actions to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
- •Conduct engineering trials, machine studies, DOE activities, and capability evaluations.
- •Collaborate with engineers to optimize spring designs, manufacturing methods, tooling concepts, and machine settings.
- •Support process validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ and process capability studies.
- •Develop and document machine setup standards, troubleshooting guides, and best practices.
- •Perform preventive maintenance and replacement of worn machine components.
- •Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and servo-controlled machine systems.
- •Analyze production data and equipment performance trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- •Assist with startup, qualification, and commissioning of new spring manufacturing equipment.
- •Train operators, spring makers, and technicians on machine setup, operation, troubleshooting, and inspection procedures.
- •Support root cause investigations and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Technical Skills
- •WAFIOS machine programming and setup
- •Spring tooling adjustments and optimization
- •Mechanical troubleshooting
- •Electrical troubleshooting including:
- •Motor overloads
- •Sensors
- •Fuses
- •Broken wires
- •Fault diagnosis
- •Pneumatic systems
- •Root cause analysis
- •Statistical process control (SPC)
- •Process validation
- •Technical training and mentoring
- •Continuous improvement methodologies
AW20
What you'll receive for the great work you provide
- •Full range of medical, dental, and vision plans
- •Life Insurance
- •Short-term and Long-term Disability
- •Matching 401(k) Contributions
- •Vacation and Paid Sick Time
- •Tuition Reimbursement