VP Engineering
Zebra Technologies · Lincolnshire, IL
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $265k–$397k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 20+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level manufacturing role at Zebra Technologies (industrial) in Lincolnshire, IL. Ecosystem & Solutions Development: Lead the strategic shift from horizontal products to purpose-built vertical solutions across hardware, firmware, and software.
- They ask for
- 20+ years · degree required
- Base pay
- $265k–$397k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $98k–$146k. This one lists $265k–$397k.
Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 48 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 47 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 175% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (20+ vs 5+)
Typical $96k–$145k, from 19 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 46%
- Automation 44%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 38%
- Lean 35%
- New product launch 27%
- Tooling 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Zebra Technologies
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Justin → (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
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 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.
This plant: Zebra Technologies in Lincolnshire
No other open roles at this site right now · 1 person we found in manufacturing roles at Zebra Technologies.
Full description from Zebra TechnologiesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Strategic & Technical Leadership: Shape and communicate a compelling technical vision and long-term strategic direction for the Print & Encode engineering organization. Define where to invest to ensure competitive advantage, balancing core business needs with the pursuit of new growth opportunities
- ◆Ecosystem & Solutions Development: Lead the strategic shift from horizontal products to purpose-built vertical solutions across hardware, firmware, and software. Drive the development of fully connected ecosystems that integrate printers, scanners, smart supplies, and unifying software to solve key customer challenges in manufacturing, transportation & logistics, healthcare and retail verticals.
- ◆Innovation & Roadmap Execution: Contribute to the end-to-end product strategy, from roadmap definition and technology to full lifecycle management. Ensure the development of unique, innovative solutions by leveraging the organization's technical capabilities, deep customer relationships, and strategic JDM/ODM partnerships.
- ◆Operational Excellence & Growth: Provide leadership, strategic direction, and operational guidance for the global product development team. Use strong organizational leadership skills to lead, motivate, and inspire multiple teams of engineers to deliver high-quality hardware, software, and solutions, driving accountability for performance, budget, and schedule.
- ◆Talent & Culture Leadership: Build a world-class, high-performance engineering organization by recruiting, retaining, and developing top talent with both hardware-centric and digital/solution-led profiles. Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and agile culture where teams are empowered to think creatively, collaborate effectively across functions, and deliver exceptional results.
- ◆Cross-Functional Collaboration: Interface closely with Product Management, customer-facing teams, and other AVS leaders to understand emerging trends and customer requirements. Act as a primary technical evangelist for the business, engaging directly with key customers, channel partners, and industry stakeholders.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's degree in an appropriate engineering discipline required.
- ✓Bachelor’s degree + 20 years’ experience
- ✓15+ years of experience in engineering leadership with 10+ years’ experience leading an engineering team
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Master’s degree preferred.
- ✓Master’s degree + 18 years’ experience
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Overview
At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges.
Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve.
You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about—locally and globally.
Come make an impact every day at Zebra.
What We're Looking For
The Vice President of Engineering for Print & Encode is responsible for the overall vision, execution, and long-term success of the Print & Encode engineering organization. This leader will direct product development activities for the Print & Encode business unit, delivering innovative products that meet or exceed quality, reliability, dependability, durability standards, development schedules, and budgets. This leader will drive the business forward by championing customer-centric innovation, evolving the portfolio from standalone products to fully connected, data-driven ecosystems, and executing growth strategies aligned with the broader Asset Visibility Solutions (AVS) business unit. This involves directing the end-to-end lifecycle of the portfolio—from technology incubation and development to go-to-market collaboration—while also capitalizing on new revenue streams and strategic partnerships.
The ideal candidate is a commercially astute, technically credible, and inspirational leader with a proven track record of scaling global engineering teams, developing world-class talent, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and impact.
Key Skills and Competencies
- •Exposure working across multi-disciplinary teams
- •Experience managing teams in a global footprint
- •Experience in managing multi-million+ budgets and engineering business / operational plans, including ROI-driven planning and cost-benefit analysis
Conozca sus Derechos
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRightsSp_10_20.pdf
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at workplace.accommodations@zebra.com .
Pay Range
$264,720.00 - $397,080.00 Annual