The next time you’re driving down the highway or pass a business park full of what might seem like boring rectangular buildings, take a few minutes to wonder what might be going on inside. Wisconsin is home to thousands of manufacturers that make a wide range of products, from pizza to motorcycle engines to gummy bears.
For every one of those companies, there are also dozens or even hundreds of smaller suppliers that help make the final product. These companies all need employees and offer a chance to build a great career. Take a look at the descriptions below to get a better idea of some locally made products and recent job openings at these companies.
Motorcycle Engines
Harley-Davison | Milwaukee
Harley is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. Its Menomonee Falls factory is home to its powertrain operations where the Big Twin, Milwaukee-Eight and Sportster powertrains are made. The facility produces engines and transmissions for the final assembly plants in York, Pennsylvania. Harley also has a plant in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where it makes and paints parts.
Jobs at Harley-Davidson
Machine Repair: This role supports production operations, ensuring machine safety and efficiency on the ground floor. High school diploma or GED required and previous mechanic experience preferred. This is a full-time position that pays $44.84 per hour.
Maintenance Electrician: Maintenance electricians work with more than 2,000 assets including CNCs, robotics and programmable logic controllers. They work in a fast-paced environment that requires complex troubleshooting. High school degree or GED required. Two years of experience with CNCs or three years of experience with PLCs, such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Fanuc and HMI, is required. This is a full-time position with a pay rate of $49.99 per hour.
Pool Cues
McDermott | Menomonee Falls
McDermott is a producer of 12 highly acclaimed brands of pool cues. The company’s product is finely crafted using woods from around the world in its process that includes more than 150 procedures. Known for their quality construction, exotic woods, intricate inlays and limitless customization options, the products can cost from $90 to
upwards of $2,000.
Jobs at McDermott
Production Assembler: This role is responsible for building and assembling parts of the product. Will work with various manufacturing tools at McDermott’s production facility. High school degree or GED required.
Lip Balm
Carmex | Franklin
The company behind Carmex medicated lip balm, started in Alfred Woelbing’s kitchen in 1937. Now, after more than eight decades in business, Carma Labs ships lip care products to all 50 states and 60 countries worldwide.
Jobs at Carmex
Operations Assistant: This position is responsible for the efficient management of equipment maintenance, work orders, parts ordering and inventory. Associate degree or experience in operations support within a manufacturing environment preferred.
Purchasing Associate: Responsible for monitoring and ensuring sufficient supply of purchased materials, identifying potential shortages, and ordering specific raw material commodities. Uses software to collect data, analyze and track purchasing. Associate degree or relevant experience preferred.
Mining Equipment
Komatsu | Milwaukee
Founded in 1921, Komatsu is a manufacturing company specializing in construction and mining equipment. The company’s Milwaukee campus manufactures components for mining machines, including electric rope shovels, draglines, blasthole drills and hybrid shovels.
Jobs at Komatsu
Welder: A welder examines drawings to determine welding requirements such as weld location and size, post-weld finishing operations, preheat and interpass requirements and type of welding consumables needed.
Machine Repair and Electrical: A machine repair tech is responsible for maintaining, repairing or rebuilding mechanical machinery and equipment as needed. May perform basic electrical work with the supervision of an electrician. Dismantles machine or equipment partially or completely and marking parts as required for facilitating reassembly. The starting wage is $32.98 per hour.
Pizza
Palermo’s | Milwaukee
Palermo’s is behind a variety of frozen pizza products including Screamin’ Sicilian, Connie’s, Urban Pie and Surfer Boy Pizza. Palermo’s main manufacturing facility is in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, not far from American Family Field. The company is expanding with new production operations in Jefferson and a plant planned in West Milwaukee. The Menomonee Valley operation includes an on-site bakery, robotic packaging equipment and a 24-hour receiving facility. All full-time positions are eligible for 20 free pizzas a month.
Jobs at Palermo’s
Quality Assurance Auditor: Supports the production team by ensuring quality control policies are being followed. Participates in audits to improve efficiency of quality systems. Preferred candidates will have experience providing quality assurance within the food industry. Up to $5,000 sign-on bonus for select positions.
Product Merchandiser: The merchandiser assists Palermo’s retail partners in putting back stock, setting and maintaining displays to meet standards, and reporting opportunities and obstacles to senior account managers. This role is also responsible for building positive working relationships with store personnel. High school diploma or in progress acceptable.
Gummy Bears
Haribo of America | Pleasant Prairie
Hans Riegel founded Haribo in Bonn, Germany in 1920. The company opened its first U.S. office in 1982. Today, Haribo gummy bears are available in more than 120 countries around the world and the company produces at 17 locations worldwide, employing more than 7,000 people. The company’s first North American manufacturing facility opened in Pleasant Prairie in 2023.
Jobs at Haribo
Operator: Responsible for running and maintaining production and packaging equipment. Operates tanks, vats, boilers and kettles to prepare products. Ensures the machine is supplied with correct material needed to run, and completes documentation. High school diploma and three years of progressive manufacturing or packaging experience required.
Quality Specialist: Responsible for the daily management and support of quality in operations and for strategic planning. Supports the implementation of food safety programs to ensure a food-safe product. Monitors quality complaints and works with operation teams to reduce complaints. Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, chemistry, food science, public health or related field required. Minimum of two years of experience in quality in a factory environment preferred.
Generators
Generac | Town of Genesee
Founded in 1959, Generac provides advanced backup and prime power systems for home and industrial applications, solar and battery storage solutions and engine and battery powered tools and equipment. The company has additional manufacturing facilities in Whitewater, Berlin, Jefferson, Oshkosh and Eagle.
Jobs at Generac
Engineering Technician: Responsible for the planning, implementation and performance of advanced electrical, mechanical, audio and environmental tests of current and new product designs. Fabricates and leads assembly of test equipment and prototype products per blueprint specifications. Analyzes test data and prepares formal and informal test reports. High school diploma and five years of relevant work experience required.
Fabrication Machine Operator: Works under the direction of area supervisor to manufacture parts per plant specification utilizing fabrication equipment. Interprets drawings, schematics and machine specifications. Experience on equipment and automation consistent with metal fabrication, paint and assembly operation preferred. High school diploma required.
Pliers
Snap-on | Kenosha
Snap-on designs, manufactures and ships high-end tools and equipment for professional users including those in the automotive, construction, mining, marine, aviation and aerospace industries. In its Milwaukee facility, Snap-on manufactures sockets, extension bars, pliers, screwdriver blades and bits.
Jobs at Snap-on
CNC Machinist: A CNC machinist is responsible for troubleshooting and maintaining machinery operations. They will oversee machinery operations, submit data documentation and use safe operating procedures. Strong mechanical aptitude and desire to use hands required. High school diploma and one to three years of experience in a manufacturing environment preferred. Wage is $24.33 per hour.
Electrician: Electricians work with prints and drawings and analyze circuitry problems. They will disconnect, replace and reconnect electric motors from fractional HP up to 50 HP. Install conduit for installing and replacing equipment, may involve working on ladders and lift platforms. Experience in electrician work needed. Wage range is $33.71 to $34.46 per hour.