Plant Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Plant engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand across manufacturing, food processing, chemicals, and utilities, covering roles from entry-level process technicians to senior facility engineers. Chicago, Rockford, and the Joliet-Aurora corridor are the primary hiring centers, where companies like Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Kraft Heinz maintain substantial engineering operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois include process optimization, utility systems management, and reliability engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles11
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring9
Work type100% On-site
Top industryConsulting
Companies hiring10

Showing 5 of 11+ Plant Engineer jobs

Evonik
Plant Engineer-1
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Evonik
Added 5d ago
Plant Engineer-1
Evonik
Mapleton, Illinois
Business Analyst
Data Science
Project Management
$95k - $158k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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B
Plant Process Engineer
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B
Added 1mo ago
Plant Process Engineer
BioUrja Renewables
Peoria, Illinois
Business Operations
Consulting & Professional Services
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$100k - $120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Allied Universal Technology Services
Outside Plant Engineer - Telecom
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Allied Universal Technology Services
Added 1mo ago
Outside Plant Engineer - Telecom
Allied Universal Technology Services
Glendale Heights, Illinois
Electrical Engineering
Maintenance & Repair
Skilled Trades
$70k - $110k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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CSL Plasma
Utilities Engineer, HVAC, Ammonia & Plant Systems
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CSL Plasma
Added 2mo ago
Utilities Engineer, HVAC, Ammonia & Plant Systems
CSL Plasma
Kankakee, Illinois
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Quality Control
$98k - $124k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Sargent & Lundy
Senior Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear Plant Analysis
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Sargent & Lundy
Added 2mo ago
Senior Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear Plant Analysis
Sargent & Lundy
Chicago, Illinois
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Project Management
$85k - $129k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
1,001-5,000

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See All 11 Plant Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Plant Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
2 jobs
Schaumburg
2 jobs
Elgin
1 job
Aurora
1 job
Peoria
1 job
Greenup
1 job
Kankakee
1 job
Mapleton
1 job
Glendale Heights
1 job

Plant Engineer Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Prime Healthcare Foundation-Southern Regional
Prime Healthcare Foundation-Southern Regional2 open roles
RWE
RWE1 open role
Evapco
Evapco1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Chemicals & Materials

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in plant engineer jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or chemical engineering from an accredited program
  • Professional Engineer license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation preferred for senior roles
  • Three or more years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment
  • Proficiency with computerized maintenance management systems such as SAP PM or Maximo
  • Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA process safety management and Illinois environmental compliance standards
  • Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean or Six Sigma methodologies

Plant Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a plant engineer in Illinois?

Most plant engineer roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering from an ABET-accredited program. For senior or public-sector positions, a Professional Engineer license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is a strong advantage and sometimes required. Candidates typically begin as process or facilities engineers, building experience in plant operations before advancing. Certifications in reliability engineering or Lean Six Sigma improve competitiveness in the Illinois market.

How much do plant engineers make in Illinois?

Plant engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $100,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $73,780 for the lowest 10% to over $155,650 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire plant engineers in Illinois?

Employers hiring plant engineers in Illinois right now include Prime Healthcare Foundation-Southern Regional, RWE, and Evapco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of large food, pharmaceutical, and industrial manufacturing operations means plant engineers here frequently work for companies with multiple facilities across the state.

Which Illinois cities have the most plant engineer jobs?

Chicago, Schaumburg, and Elgin have the most plant engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its density of corporate headquarters and industrial facilities, while Rockford's long-standing machinery and aerospace manufacturing base and the Joliet-Aurora corridor's logistics and chemical processing plants generate consistent demand outside the main metro.

Are there remote plant engineer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of plant engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on, on-site nature of most plant engineering work. The portions of the role most likely to allow remote flexibility include data analysis, reporting, and project engineering tasks that don't require a physical plant presence.

How can I get hired as a plant engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to process or facilities engineer associate roles at large Illinois manufacturers such as food and beverage or pharmaceutical producers, which regularly recruit new graduates. Companies like Abbott and Kraft Heinz run structured rotational engineering programs designed for candidates without direct plant experience. Relevant internships, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certificate, or prior technician or skilled-trades experience also make a strong case to Illinois hiring managers looking to grow engineers internally.

Where can I find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 11 Plant Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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