Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Mechanical design engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand from entry-level drafters through senior design leads across manufacturing, industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, and defense sectors. The heaviest hiring concentrates in the Chicago metro, Rockford, and the Peoria corridor, where established employers like Caterpillar, Deere and Company, and Abbott have long maintained significant engineering operations. The most in-demand specialties include precision machining design, CAD-driven product development, and systems integration for industrial automation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 35+ Mechanical Design Engineer jobs
ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Design Engineer II
Decatur, IL | Full-Time, Exempt
LOCATION
Decatur, IL
DEPARTMENT
Engineering
REPORTS TO
Customer Program Manager
TYPE
Full-Time, Exempt
ABOUT ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Align Production Systems (APS) is an engineer-to-order capital equipment manufacturer specializing in automated guided vehicles, welding positioners, turntables, transporters, and custom material handling solutions for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Our Decatur, Illinois facility is our manufacturing hub. We run Monday through Friday, first shift only — no weekends, no holidays, no rotating schedules.
THE ROLE
The Design Engineer II owns the design and release of custom material handling equipment from concept through manufacturing handoff. This role also carries specific technical accountability for hydraulic system design and laser nesting operations, and serves as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur manufacturing floor.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Design Engineering & Release
- Mechanical design on ETO projects through release to manufacturing
- Develop complete engineering packages: 3D models, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and BOMs
- Manage detail and drafting; own the release process for all assigned projects
- Coordinate with the Decatur manufacturing team to ensure a clean handoff
Hydraulic System Design
- Design hydraulic systems including circuit layout, component selection, and schematic development
- Select and specify valves, cylinders, pumps, manifolds, and hose assemblies
- Serve as the engineering team's hydraulics resource for new design and post-delivery field support
On-Site Manufacturing Support
- Serve as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur floor in partnership with Manufacturing Engineer and Plant Leadership
- Resolve floor-level technical questions, in-process decisions, and build clarifications in real time
- Host factory acceptance testing with customer interface
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Design engineering experience in an engineer-to-order or custom manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated hydraulic system design experience: circuit design, component selection, and troubleshooting
- Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD platform
- Experience with engineering release processes — drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing-ready documentation
- Working knowledge of fabrication processes: laser cutting, forming, welding, and machining
Preferred
- Familiarity with AGVs, transporters, positioners, or heavy material handling equipment
- Experience with Acumatica ERP or similar manufacturing platforms
ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Design Engineer II
Decatur, IL | Full-Time, Exempt
LOCATION
Decatur, IL
DEPARTMENT
Engineering
REPORTS TO
Customer Program Manager
TYPE
Full-Time, Exempt
ABOUT ALIGN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Align Production Systems (APS) is an engineer-to-order capital equipment manufacturer specializing in automated guided vehicles, welding positioners, turntables, transporters, and custom material handling solutions for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Our Decatur, Illinois facility is our manufacturing hub. We run Monday through Friday, first shift only — no weekends, no holidays, no rotating schedules.
THE ROLE
The Design Engineer II owns the design and release of custom material handling equipment from concept through manufacturing handoff. This role also carries specific technical accountability for hydraulic system design and laser nesting operations, and serves as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur manufacturing floor.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Design Engineering & Release
- Mechanical design on ETO projects through release to manufacturing
- Develop complete engineering packages: 3D models, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and BOMs
- Manage detail and drafting; own the release process for all assigned projects
- Coordinate with the Decatur manufacturing team to ensure a clean handoff
Hydraulic System Design
- Design hydraulic systems including circuit layout, component selection, and schematic development
- Select and specify valves, cylinders, pumps, manifolds, and hose assemblies
- Serve as the engineering team's hydraulics resource for new design and post-delivery field support
On-Site Manufacturing Support
- Serve as the primary on-site engineering presence for the Decatur floor in partnership with Manufacturing Engineer and Plant Leadership
- Resolve floor-level technical questions, in-process decisions, and build clarifications in real time
- Host factory acceptance testing with customer interface
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Design engineering experience in an engineer-to-order or custom manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated hydraulic system design experience: circuit design, component selection, and troubleshooting
- Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD platform
- Experience with engineering release processes — drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing-ready documentation
- Working knowledge of fabrication processes: laser cutting, forming, welding, and machining
Preferred
- Familiarity with AGVs, transporters, positioners, or heavy material handling equipment
- Experience with Acumatica ERP or similar manufacturing platforms
See All 35 Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsMechanical Design Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mechanical Design Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mechanical design engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA for design work
- Experience with GD&T principles and engineering drawing standards for manufacturing
- Familiarity with FEA tools and simulation software for structural and thermal analysis
- Knowledge of Illinois manufacturing environments including tolerancing and materials selection
- Strong collaboration skills for cross-functional teams in product development cycles
Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mechanical design engineer in Illinois?
The standard path begins with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from an accredited program. Illinois does not require mechanical design engineers in private industry to hold a Professional Engineer license, but earning a PE license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation strengthens advancement prospects, particularly for roles involving public safety or consulting. Most Illinois employers expect CAD proficiency and relevant internship or co-op experience before hiring at the full design engineer level.
How much do mechanical design engineers make in Illinois?
Mechanical design engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $102,680 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $72,150 for the lowest 10% to over $160,160 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire mechanical design engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring mechanical design engineers in Illinois right now include Amphenol, Honeywell, and INTEGRIS Engineering, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base, particularly in heavy equipment, medical devices, and industrial automation, means hiring activity tends to be steady across both large corporations and mid-size suppliers throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most mechanical design engineer jobs?
Schaumburg, Chicago, and Peoria have the most mechanical design engineer openings in Illinois. The Chicago metro drives the largest share through its concentration of manufacturing headquarters, medical device firms, and defense contractors, while Rockford's long-standing precision machining industry and Peoria's ties to Caterpillar's global equipment operations sustain consistent demand in those markets as well.
Are there remote mechanical design engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Mechanical design engineering is heavily hands-on, with most roles requiring access to labs, shop floors, prototypes, or CAD workstations tied to secure networks. About 62% of mechanical design engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions typically cover design review, documentation, or CAD modeling tasks that don't require physical presence.
How can I get hired as a mechanical design engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an engineering co-op or internship completed before graduation, since major Illinois employers like Caterpillar, Deere and Company, and Baxter International run structured programs that regularly convert participants to full-time roles. New graduates without internship experience often enter through manufacturing engineer associate or design technician positions, using that exposure to move into design roles within one to two years. A strong SolidWorks or AutoCAD portfolio and an EIT designation from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation improve competitiveness considerably.
Where can I find and apply to mechanical design engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to mechanical design engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level, location preference, and specialty area, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 35 Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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