Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Design Engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in advanced manufacturing, industrial equipment, consumer products, and aerospace sectors, serving candidates from entry-level to principal engineer. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria anchor most of the hiring, where established employers like Caterpillar, Abbott, and Motorola Solutions maintain significant engineering operations. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois are mechanical design, product development, and CAD-driven systems engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle and medical.
Molex is seeking an experienced Sr. Product Design Engineer to join our Copper Solutions I/O team responsible for the design of our industry leading high-speed connector and cable systems for exponentially growing data storage systems, telecommunication and hyperscale customers. This is a dynamic group of highly skilled professionals that will provide an opportunity for constant learning and innovation. This role will be leading projects from ideas to high volume production. These creative, high-tech leading-edge components are critical for the data superhighways existence we use every day changing the world. The successful applicant will have the ability to appropriately plan and see assignments through to completion with minimal direction, provide leadership to other team members; develop timing, meet project schedules, manage risks, accurately quote design, and systematically solve problems of a complex scope.
The primary location for this position is the Lisle Design Center in Chicago area.
What You Will Do
- Be a team member in a global organization designing and developing leading edge new products and components for the high-speed cable and connector industry.
- Design and develop new interconnect products, including high speed connectors, connector cable assemblies, and miscellaneous related mechanical hardware for datacom and telecom applications such as hubs, servers, switches, routers, HBA servers, and RAIDS.
- Interface with cross functional team members in our signal integrity team, manufacturing integration team, program management, sales organization, state of the art test laboratories, high tech R&D model shop, manufacturing and senior leadership teams.
- Collaborate to develop cost competitive and creative designs with signal integrity, and manufacturing team that are efficient at manufacture while meeting our high-performance market requirements.
- Develop product and application specifications documents for testing that meet our customer requirements.
- Present concepts and detailed requirements internally and to customers to obtain support for development of major new products.
- Support Manufacturing and Quality Assurance during product launches and have travel opportunities to visit our manufacturing sites and meet the global team.
- Create relationships with senior leadership, cross functional team members and peers through team building activities and growth opportunities operating as One Molex Team
- Help lead the organization in identification, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies and methodologies to enable next generation products, improve costs, quality and New Product Development (NPD) processes.
- Provide leadership, support, and guide less experienced team members on multiple NPD projects.
- Responsible for follow-up, documentation, publishing, and expediting all action items of a new product program.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 5+ years of experience in mechanical product design and development with proven technical leadership
- Experience creating prototypes and simulations
- Expert use of Tolerance Analyses
- Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Design experience with products manufactured using some of the following processes: progressive die stamping, injection molding, die casting and insert molding
- Experience with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)
- Experience with advanced parametric 3D CAD systems
What Will Put You Ahead
- Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering field
- Siemens NX experience
- Design experience with high-speed, high-density connectors, cable assemblies, and interconnect products
- Design experience with products manufactured utilizing electroplating and automated assembly
- Good understanding and practical knowledge of Six Sigma quality development tools and principles (DOE, FMEA, etc.)
- Understanding and application of sound project management techniques managing projects to timelines, due dates and deadlines
- Design experience with products manufactured using some of the following processes: progressive die stamping, injection molding, die casting and insert molding
- Knowledge of regulatory agency testing requirements (e.g., UL/CSA, EIA, Telcordia requirements).
For this role, we anticipate paying $100,000 - $130,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
#LI-RL1
Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle and medical.
Molex is seeking an experienced Sr. Product Design Engineer to join our Copper Solutions I/O team responsible for the design of our industry leading high-speed connector and cable systems for exponentially growing data storage systems, telecommunication and hyperscale customers. This is a dynamic group of highly skilled professionals that will provide an opportunity for constant learning and innovation. This role will be leading projects from ideas to high volume production. These creative, high-tech leading-edge components are critical for the data superhighways existence we use every day changing the world. The successful applicant will have the ability to appropriately plan and see assignments through to completion with minimal direction, provide leadership to other team members; develop timing, meet project schedules, manage risks, accurately quote design, and systematically solve problems of a complex scope.
The primary location for this position is the Lisle Design Center in Chicago area.
What You Will Do
- Be a team member in a global organization designing and developing leading edge new products and components for the high-speed cable and connector industry.
- Design and develop new interconnect products, including high speed connectors, connector cable assemblies, and miscellaneous related mechanical hardware for datacom and telecom applications such as hubs, servers, switches, routers, HBA servers, and RAIDS.
- Interface with cross functional team members in our signal integrity team, manufacturing integration team, program management, sales organization, state of the art test laboratories, high tech R&D model shop, manufacturing and senior leadership teams.
- Collaborate to develop cost competitive and creative designs with signal integrity, and manufacturing team that are efficient at manufacture while meeting our high-performance market requirements.
- Develop product and application specifications documents for testing that meet our customer requirements.
- Present concepts and detailed requirements internally and to customers to obtain support for development of major new products.
- Support Manufacturing and Quality Assurance during product launches and have travel opportunities to visit our manufacturing sites and meet the global team.
- Create relationships with senior leadership, cross functional team members and peers through team building activities and growth opportunities operating as One Molex Team
- Help lead the organization in identification, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies and methodologies to enable next generation products, improve costs, quality and New Product Development (NPD) processes.
- Provide leadership, support, and guide less experienced team members on multiple NPD projects.
- Responsible for follow-up, documentation, publishing, and expediting all action items of a new product program.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 5+ years of experience in mechanical product design and development with proven technical leadership
- Experience creating prototypes and simulations
- Expert use of Tolerance Analyses
- Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Design experience with products manufactured using some of the following processes: progressive die stamping, injection molding, die casting and insert molding
- Experience with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)
- Experience with advanced parametric 3D CAD systems
What Will Put You Ahead
- Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering field
- Siemens NX experience
- Design experience with high-speed, high-density connectors, cable assemblies, and interconnect products
- Design experience with products manufactured utilizing electroplating and automated assembly
- Good understanding and practical knowledge of Six Sigma quality development tools and principles (DOE, FMEA, etc.)
- Understanding and application of sound project management techniques managing projects to timelines, due dates and deadlines
- Design experience with products manufactured using some of the following processes: progressive die stamping, injection molding, die casting and insert molding
- Knowledge of regulatory agency testing requirements (e.g., UL/CSA, EIA, Telcordia requirements).
For this role, we anticipate paying $100,000 - $130,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
#LI-RL1
See All 99 Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or related engineering field required
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA
- Experience with GD&T, engineering drawings, and manufacturing tolerability standards
- Familiarity with product lifecycle management and design-to-manufacturing workflows
- Strong collaboration skills for cross-functional teams including production and quality
- Experience with FEA tools or simulation software for design validation preferred
Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design engineer in Illinois?
Most design engineer roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or a closely related engineering discipline. Illinois employers in manufacturing and product development typically look for CAD proficiency and internship or co-op experience gained through programs at universities like the University of Illinois, Purdue Northwest, or Illinois Institute of Technology. While Illinois does not require a state license for most design engineer positions, those who move into consulting or sign off on public-facing structures may pursue Professional Engineer registration through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Which companies hire design engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring design engineers in Illinois right now include Amazon, Eaton, and Molex, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base and concentration of Fortune 500 industrial and medical device companies means design engineering roles appear across a wide range of employer sizes and sectors.
Which Illinois cities have the most design engineer jobs?
Chicago, Lisle, and Rockford have the most design engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago and its surrounding suburbs drive the bulk of listings through a dense cluster of manufacturing, medical device, and consumer products headquarters, while Peoria reflects Caterpillar's large engineering workforce and Rockford's aerospace and precision machining industries support sustained design engineering demand outside the main metro.
Are there remote design engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're limited. Design engineering often requires hands-on access to prototypes, manufacturing floors, and lab equipment, which keeps most Illinois roles on-site or hybrid. About 55% of design engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and when remote work does appear it tends to be in early-stage CAD modeling, documentation, or design review roles rather than positions requiring physical builds or tooling oversight.
How can I get hired as a design engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a co-op, internship, or new-graduate rotational program through large Illinois manufacturers before or immediately after graduation. Caterpillar, Abbott, and Illinois Tool Works each run structured early-career engineering programs that place candidates into design-adjacent roles. Candidates without direct design experience often enter through quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical support positions and transition into design roles after gaining product knowledge. A strong CAD portfolio and coursework in GD&T or product development will give an edge in the Illinois market.
Where can I find and apply to design engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to design engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 99 Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Engineer Jobs