diff --git a/makefiles/Makefile.cpp.mk b/makefiles/Makefile.cpp.mk
index e4fe5dfed4..3d405ca29f 100644
--- a/makefiles/Makefile.cpp.mk
+++ b/makefiles/Makefile.cpp.mk
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ OR_TOOLS_LIBS = $(LIB_DIR)/$(LIB_PREFIX)ortools.$L.$(OR_TOOLS_MAJOR)
 endif
 endif
 
+JOBS ?= 4
+
 # Main target
 .PHONY: cc # Build C++ OR-Tools library.
 .PHONY: test_cc # Run all C++ OR-Tools test targets.
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ or-tools-libs: $(OR_TOOLS_LIBS)
 
 # OR Tools unique library.
 $(OR_TOOLS_LIBS): $(THIRD_PARTY_TARGET)
-	cmake --build dependencies --target install --config Release -j 8
+	cmake --build dependencies --target install --config $(BUILD_TYPE) -j $(JOBS)
 	$(TOUCH) $(OR_TOOLS_LIBS)
 
 compile_libraries: $(OR_TOOLS_LIBS)
diff --git a/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.unix.mk b/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.unix.mk
index ef47a0bb8f..181228f104 100644
--- a/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.unix.mk
+++ b/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.unix.mk
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ USE_COINOR ?= ON
 USE_SCIP ?= ON
 USE_GLPK ?= OFF
 PROTOC ?= $(OR_TOOLS_TOP)/bin/protoc
+BUILD_TYPE ?= Release
 
 # Main target.
 .PHONY: third_party # Build OR-Tools Prerequisite
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ dependencies/Makefile: | dependencies
 	-DUSE_COINOR=$(USE_COINOR) \
 	-DUSE_SCIP=$(USE_SCIP) \
 	-DUSE_GLPK=$(USE_GLPK) \
+	-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$(BUILD_TYPE) \
 	-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(OR_ROOT_FULL)
 
 .PHONY: clean_third_party # Clean everything. Remember to also delete archived dependencies, i.e. in the event of download failure, etc.
diff --git a/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.win.mk b/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.win.mk
index 7172db9baf..bd2b5585ce 100644
--- a/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.win.mk
+++ b/makefiles/Makefile.third_party.win.mk
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ PROTOC = "$(OR_TOOLS_TOP)\\bin\\protoc.exe"
 BUILD_PYTHON ?= OFF
 BUILD_JAVA ?= OFF
 BUILD_DOTNET ?= OFF
+BUILD_TYPE ?= Release
 
 # Main target.
 dependencies: