Top 10 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Indianapolis for 2025

Indianapolis is increasingly recognized as a key manufacturing hub in 2025. With investments across automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, and advanced materials, the city is drawing major firms and innovation in the production sector. These trends mean that professionals with skills in manufacturing engineering, process optimization, and smart-factory technologies are in particularly high demand. According to recent job-market data, advanced manufacturing roles in Indianapolis are seeing average salaries around $91,763/year.

Here are ten advanced manufacturing roles that are especially in demand in Indianapolis this year — including an overview of the role, salary range and the types of employers hiring.

1. Advanced Manufacturing Engineer

Advanced Manufacturing Engineers design, implement and optimize smart production systems involving automation, robotics, sensors, and data-driven control. In Indianapolis, they work on integrating new manufacturing technologies, improving throughput, and reducing waste.

Salary Range: ~$100,000 – ~$140,000+
Hiring: Firms in automotive, aerospace, electronics and materials manufacturing

2. Process/Continuous Improvement Manager

These professionals lead process improvement efforts (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen), drive productivity, reduce defects and oversee manufacturing operations. Given Indianapolis’ manufacturing ecosystem, these roles support both scale-up and ongoing operational excellence.

Salary Range: ~$95,000 – ~$135,000+
Hiring: Contract manufacturers, OEMs, precision component firms

3. Robotics/Automation Technician / Specialist

Robotics Technicians programme, maintain and repair automation systems, robotic arms, conveyor systems and integrated manufacturing cells. With increasing factory automation in Indianapolis, this role is critical to keeping production lines running smoothly.

Salary Range: ~$70,000 – ~$110,000+
Hiring: Advanced manufacturing plants, automation integrators, start-ups deploying smart factories

4. Additive Manufacturing / 3D-Printing Specialist

Additive manufacturing experts work with 3D-printing technologies, metal or polymer powder beds, and hybrid manufacturing systems to build components that traditional methods cannot. Indianapolis manufacturing firms working on advanced parts increasingly seek this expertise.

Salary Range: ~$80,000 – ~$125,000+
Hiring: Aerospace suppliers, medical device manufacturers, materials firms

5. Quality Assurance / Metrology Engineer

Metrology and QA Engineers ensure that high‐precision manufacturing meets strict tolerances, regulatory requirements and customer specifications. In Indianapolis’ advanced manufacturing context, they often work with automated inspection systems and coordinate with production and engineering teams.

Salary Range: ~$85,000 – ~$130,000+
Hiring: Precision manufacturing, aerospace, medical device firms

6. Manufacturing Data/Systems Engineer (Industry 4.0)

This role bridges manufacturing operations with data analytics, IoT, sensors, and smart-factory platforms. These engineers help deploy digital twin systems, predictive maintenance and real-time production dashboards. Indianapolis companies stepping into “smart manufacturing” are actively hiring for these roles.

Salary Range: ~$95,000 – ~$145,000+
Hiring: Manufacturing firms with digital transformation initiatives, electronics production, industrial equipment

7. Maintenance Engineer / Reliability Engineer

Reliability Engineers focus on equipment uptime, root-cause analysis, maintenance strategies and reliability improvement. In advanced manufacturing plants around Indianapolis, where automation and high-value equipment are used, this role prevents costly downtime.

Salary Range: ~$80,000 – ~$120,000+
Hiring: Plant operations, automotive Tier-1 suppliers, industrial equipment manufacturers

8. Manufacturing Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee entire manufacturing lines or plants, manage workforce, production planning, budgets, and ensure production targets are met. With advanced manufacturing growth in Indianapolis, these leadership roles are vital.

Salary Range: ~$110,000 – ~$160,000+
Hiring: Large scale manufacturing sites, contract manufacturers, advanced materials firms

9. Engineering Technician / Manufacturing Technician (Advanced)

Technicians in advanced manufacturing handle setup, calibration, tooling changes, automated system monitoring and support for higher-level engineers. Their role is increasingly advanced in Indianapolis due to the automation and precision manufacturing demands.

Salary Range: ~$60,000 – ~$90,000+
Hiring: Manufacturing plants employing robotics, precision machining facilities, medical device manufacturing

10. Materials/Process Development Engineer

These engineers develop and optimize manufacturing processes for advanced materials (e.g., composites, advanced metals, additive materials) or specialized manufacturing approaches. Indianapolis’ manufacturing sector, with aerospace and materials innovation, is home to these roles.

Salary Range: ~$90,000 – ~$140,000+
Hiring: Materials suppliers, aerospace component makers, advanced manufacturing labs

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