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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What we offer
Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high-quality development programs, we not only offer performance-based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.
Click on the link below to learn what our employees have to say about Evonik:
https ://careers.evonik.com/en/about/meet-the-team/
The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations, troubleshooting equipment and process issues, and supporting the safety, reliability, and efficiency of production. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering to execute improvement and capital projects, support process safety initiatives, maintain technical documentation, and identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, plant availability, and overall operational effectiveness.
$RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for providing plant support related to process troubleshooting, new product introductions, process safety management systems, CAPEX, and OEE.
- Acting as project manager or project responsible for plant related projects, both large and small up to $500,000 value.
- Position has full technical responsibility for the care and condition of plants in cooperation with operations.
- Assures the defined technical availability of the production plants according to the production requirements, and in conformance to changing requirements in respect to economics, safety and care for the environment.
- Works with other departments such including site engineering, external engineering contractors, and maintenance to plan and secure the resources necessary to execute process trials and projects.
- Uses experienced engineering judgment, creativity and foresight to initiate studies, projects and new developments and to anticipate and solve unprecedented problems with a focus on long term technical solutions.
- Provides plant specific technical expertise in the areas of process engineering on equipment innovations and on state-of-the-art process and project techniques.
- Support and participate in audits and engage in improvement activities such as 5S, KPIs, Root Cause analysis, etc
- Ensures regulatory compliance of technical installations, maintenance practices and the technical documentation.
REQUIREMENTS
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering with 3+ years of engineering experience (preferred in a chemical or oil & gas manufacturing environment)
- Experience with OSHA CFR 1910.119 PSM and EPA RMP regulations and compliance is a plus
- Working knowledge with SAP, Emerson Delta-V, ASPEN IP21 is a plus Skills & Competencies
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills; comfortable working with operations, maintenance, engineering,
- quality, and safety teams in a plant environment.
- Ability to work independently with strong initiative and self-starting skills.
- Ability to manage a heavy workload, establish priorities, and adjust based on site and business needs.
- Strong planning, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office 365
Summary Compensation & Benefits:
Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. (Specific rate to be determined, but not limited to, geographic location, education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data).
Pay Range: $94,600-$157,700
Evonik offers a comprehensive benefit package, subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. Benefits included, but not limited to:
Medical, dental, and vision benefits
Paid time off plan
401(k) savings plans
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
Disability benefits
Life Insurance
Parental leave
Tuition Reimbursement
The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity ( EEO ) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.
Your Application
To ensure that your application is proceeded as quickly as possible and to protect the environment, please apply online via our careers portal . Further information about Evonik as Employer can be found at www.evonik.com/en/careers.html .
Please address your application to the Talent Acquisition Manager, stating your earliest possible starting date and your salary expectations.
Your Talent Acquisition Manager:
Emma Martinez [C]Company is
Evonik CorporationSee All 11 Plant Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Plant Engineer JobsPlant Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Plant 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
- 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
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