Fastener Process Engineer (Cold Heading & Metal Forming)

Job Description

Job Description

Fastener Process Engineer — Rockford, IL

Picture your day starting on the production floor. A cold header needs fine-tuning, a customer print just hit your inbox, and quality is reviewing a dimensional trend. You step in, translate the print into a practical setup, rally with production and quality, and guide the best manufacturing path forward. That’s the rhythm of this role—bridging customer expectations with real-world, shop-floor execution for fasteners.

In this position, you’ll be the go-to engineer for optimizing cold heading and metal forming processes, dialing-in tooling, and championing continuous improvement that reduces scrap, downtime, and variability. You’ll collaborate across sales, quality, and operations to launch new parts, validate processes, and ensure every run aligns to ISO 9001:2015 and safety standards.

What you’ll tackle

• Engineer, evaluate, and refine cold heading, forming, and manufacturing workflows for greater throughput, capability, and repeatability
• Partner with customers, sales, and internal teams to interpret prints, answer technical questions, solve product issues, and propose design-for-manufacturability tweaks
• Work hands-on on the floor to troubleshoot process and tooling concerns; support setup instructions and best practices
• Specify and order tooling; author setup procedures, process documentation, and improvement plans
• Determine optimal methods for new and revised fastener products and support validation activities
• Leverage production data to cut scrap, reduce downtime, and eliminate process-driven quality escapes
• Support new product introduction, process qualification, and targeted CI projects
• Maintain compliance with safety, quality, and ISO 9001:2015 requirements

What you bring

• 2–5 years of fastener engineering experience — required
• Hands-on expertise in cold heading and metal forming — required
• CAD proficiency — required ; AutoCAD LT/Light — preferred
• Associate’s degree in Engineering or related field — preferred; significant fastener manufacturing experience may substitute for formal education
• Strength in troubleshooting and cross-functional collaboration within the fastener manufacturing industry

Tools and technologies you’ll use

• Cold Heading Machines
• Thread Rolling Machines
• CAD Software (AutoCAD)
• Cold forming technologies

Compensation, schedule, and location

• Pay: $80,000–$100,000 per year, commensurate with experience
• Type: Full-time, 1st shift, on-site
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Location: Rockford, IL

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• And more

About Hughes Recruiting & Consulting
Hughes Recruiting & Consulting is a full-service HR firm based in Freeport, IL, with 11 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We’re growing, professional, and people-first—matching great talent with great teams. Put us to work finding your next role.

Apply today to level up your fastener manufacturing career.

Please Note:

This role does not offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.