Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Mechanical engineer jobs in Illinois draw steady demand across manufacturing, infrastructure, defense, and energy sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level design roles through senior systems engineering positions. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria are the state's primary hiring hubs, anchored by established employers such as Caterpillar, Abbott, and Boeing, all of which maintain major engineering operations in Illinois. The most consistently sought specialties include thermal systems, product development, and manufacturing process engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Mechanical Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 254+ Mechanical Engineer jobs
About Us
Inventus Power is a global leader in advanced battery systems that specializes in designing and manufacturing high-quality, reliable, and innovative power systems for a broad range of portable, motive, and stationary applications. We are a US based company headquartered in Woodridge, Illinois and have a global presence that extends across four continents with five manufacturing facilities, three engineering technical centers, a multi-tiered sales service channel, and 3,000+ employees. For over 60 years, Inventus Power has been addressing the rapidly expanding power demands of a changing world through technology and engineered solutions. We continue to invest in our people and processes, while enhancing our products and capabilities in order to create a safer, smarter, and more sustainable battery-powered world.
We are an ITAR facility and hire only U.S. persons who are defined as U.S. citizens or green card holders.
What You’ll Do
The Senior Mechanical Engineer manages complex mechanical projects with minimum supervision and may create new methods or processes to resolve complex problems. This individual will be responsible for the successful development and release to manufacturing of mechanical designs to be utilized in battery pack and charger products for various markets and customers. The projects may have varying levels of complexity and ambiguity thereby requiring that the candidate possess appreciable initiative, originality, ingenuity, and excellent problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate will have excellent mechanical design and analysis skills, mechanical engineering experience, and a great understanding of various manufacturing processes such as injection molding and metal stamping
Responsibilities (Including other duties as assigned)
- Participates in and leads in customer engagements to help clarify mechanical requirements and specifications, with support from the project team
- Work cross-functionally with project management, manufacturing, procurement, and quality teams.
- Develop, test, and validate robust mechanical designs.
- Meet specifications while incorporating creative industrial design ideas/features.
- Perform mechanical component selection/optimization for battery pack enclosures, charging ports/docks, and related interfaces.
- Consider design integrity best practices for ultrasonic/laser welding, snap fit, screws, thermal management, etc.
- Collaborate with system, manufacturing, and test engineers to generate FMEA and DFM reports.
- Minimize mass production issues and control production costs.
- Lead and/or support bring up and debugging of new mechanical prototypes including necessary modifications to components/interfaces.
- Provide reports on performance and conformity to customer requirements.
- Lead and/or support engineering verification testing and required changes to ensure compliance for applicable drop, vibration, shock, ingress protection, and thermal standards.
- Explore new and existing materials and methods to solve design challenges.
- Provide necessary sustaining support to existing products including root cause analysis for any issues that may arise in the field.
- Support and guide less experienced engineers as needed.
- Establish a culture of learning, openness, and accountability.
What You Will Need
- BS in Mechanical Engineering; MS or PhD preferred
- Minimum 5 years of experience with new product introductions from conception all the way through start of mass production in the consumer, telecom, medical, automotive, and/or military industries.
- Fluent in English (spoken and written).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products required.
- 4+ years of experience with MCAD (i.e., SolidWorks/CREO) required, SolidWorks preferred.
- Strong quantitative, design, analytical, and problem-solving skills required.
- Experience with structural and thermal FEA.
- Proficient in GD&T.
- Experience with injection molding and metal stamping/forming.
- Experience with environmental and validation testing of battery packs preferred.
- Experience with designing to functional safety standard ISO26262 a plus.
- Experience with designing to MIL-810 standard a plus.
- Experience with ultrasonic/laser welding preferred.
- Strong knowledge of DFM and DFA design principles.
- Desire to have fun leading the development of quality products in a fast paced and diverse work environment.
Inventus Power is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
See All 254+ Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Engineer JobsMechanical Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mechanical Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sargent & Lundy13
- Constellation Energy10
- Burns & McDonnell9
- RFA Engineering6
- Prairie Engineers, P.C.5
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services13
- Manufacturing10
- Energy8
- Technology & Software6
- Construction & Real Estate6
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mechanical engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline required
- Professional Engineer license issued or recognized in Illinois preferred for senior or supervisory roles
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA for design and modeling tasks
- Experience with GD&T, engineering drawings, and tolerance analysis in a manufacturing environment
- Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies used in Illinois production facilities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with operations and quality teams
Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mechanical engineer in Illinois?
Becoming a mechanical engineer in Illinois starts with earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET-accredited program. For roles requiring a Professional Engineer license, candidates must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, gain qualifying experience, and then pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Many Illinois employers hire engineers without a PE license for design and development roles, where a strong degree and relevant internship experience are the primary requirements.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Illinois?
Mechanical 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 engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring mechanical engineers in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, Constellation Energy, and Burns & McDonnell, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base and presence of global headquarters in the Chicago area mean openings appear across industries from heavy equipment and medical devices to aerospace and consumer products.
Which Illinois cities have the most mechanical engineer jobs?
Chicago, Downers Grove, and Warrenville account for the largest share of mechanical engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago's concentration of corporate headquarters, research facilities, and advanced manufacturing drives the bulk of demand, while Rockford's long-standing precision machining and aerospace supply chain and Peoria's heavy equipment manufacturing, centered on Caterpillar's global operations, sustain consistent hiring in those metros.
Are there remote mechanical engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're relatively limited. About 51% of mechanical engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, lab, and production-floor demands that define much of the role. The parts of the work most suited to remote arrangements are simulation, analysis, and documentation tasks, which some Illinois employers accommodate on a hybrid schedule rather than fully remote.
How can I get hired as a mechanical engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate or associate engineer programs at large Illinois manufacturers such as Caterpillar in Peoria or Abbott in the northern suburbs, both of which run structured rotational programs for candidates without professional experience. Co-op completions, strong SolidWorks or simulation portfolio projects, and an Engineer in Training designation through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation all strengthen an application. Adjacent roles such as manufacturing technician or quality engineer are also common stepping stones into full mechanical engineering positions at Illinois facilities.
Where can I find and apply to mechanical engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to mechanical engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly to the employer through the listing.
See All 254+ Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Engineer Jobs