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Associate Chemical Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline * Strong communicator ... We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire ...

Principal Process Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$101 - $152/hr

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline * Strong communicator ... We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire ...

Associate Engineer

Libertyville, IL · On-site

$65 - $80/hr

The Associate Engineer performs work in various departments to learn the activities and gain basic ... Bachelor's degree in engineering (preferably Mechanical, Chemical, Structural, Electrical ...

New

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline * Strong communicator ... of our associates and their families.Click here to see our benefits. If you are viewing this ...

Principal Process Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline * Strong communicator ... of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. If you are viewing this ...

Associate or bachelor's degree in chemistry or engineering preferred. * High school diploma accepted with relevant industry experience as a chemical operator, batch mixer, or compounder. * Experience ...

Bachelor's degree in plastics technology or chemical engineering with course work in injection molding is strongly preferred. * Associate's degree or certification program with 2+ years of relevant ...

Process Engineer

Batavia, IL · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Bachelor's degree in plastics technology or chemical engineering with course work in injection molding is strongly preferred. * Associate's degree or certification program with 2+ years of relevant ...

Process Engineer

Batavia, IL · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Bachelor's degree in plastics technology or chemical engineering with course work in injection molding is strongly preferred. * Associate's degree or certification program with 2+ years of relevant ...

Showing results 21-40

Associate Chemical Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$41.2K

$90.1K

$144.2K

How much do associate chemical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate chemical engineer in Chicago, IL is $90,124.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,500.00 and $109,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate chemical engineer?

An Associate Chemical Engineer is an entry-level engineering professional who assists in designing, developing, and optimizing chemical processes in industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, and manufacturing. They support senior engineers in conducting experiments, analyzing data, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Their role may also include troubleshooting production issues and improving efficiency in chemical manufacturing. Typically, they work in laboratories, production plants, or research facilities. This position serves as a foundation for career growth in chemical engineering, leading to more advanced roles with experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate chemical engineer?

To thrive as an Associate Chemical Engineer, you generally need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field, along with a solid understanding of chemical processes, analytical techniques, and process optimization. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Aspen Plus, MATLAB, or AutoCAD, and knowledge of safety regulations or certifications like EIT (Engineer-in-Training) are highly advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective teamwork, and clear communication skills help drive project success and ensure safety compliance. Mastery of these skills enables you to efficiently contribute to project development, troubleshoot issues, and work productively within multidisciplinary teams.

What are the typical career advancement opportunities for an associate chemical engineer?

Associate Chemical Engineers often start by supporting senior engineers and handling project-based tasks, but with experience, they can move into roles such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, or Project Manager. Advancement typically comes with demonstrating strong technical skills, leadership qualities, and a solid understanding of manufacturing or R&D processes. Many companies also encourage professional development through training, mentorship, and opportunities to work on diverse projects. Gaining industry certifications or pursuing an advanced degree can further enhance your prospects for promotion and specialization within the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Associate Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Associate Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Associate Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Chemical Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Associate Chemical Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Associate Chemical Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Chemical Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,124 per year, or $43.3 per hour.

Principal Process Engineer

Ecolab Inc.

Chicago, IL

$101K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Ecolab rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 211 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 102 rated chemical manufacturers


Job description

Ecolab is looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer with a strong background in industrial manufacturing at our Clearing, IL manufacturing facility. Clearing is the flagship manufacturing plant for our Global Water division, leading efforts in quality, water sustainability, and production.

This is a great opportunity to demonstrate Process Engineering and leadership skills across a wide variety of unit ops. This highly visible role enables the right candidate to impact multi-level of the organization delivering long term value.

What You Will Do:

  • Lead process engineering efforts and provide Colloidal and Latex manufacturing guidance to operations team. This will include close collaboration with production management and operations personnel.
  • Become Subject matter expert (SME) in Colloidal silica Manufacturing process to support continuous improvement in safety, quality and productivity work streams. Serve as back up support for escalated process engineering troubleshooting effort.
  • Leverage technical knowledge to up skill operations personals with goal to create autonomous teams with ability to analyze process input and decide on appropriate trouble shooting steps.
  • Support and help lead efforts to strengthen a world-class PSM safety culture.
  • Lead Process engineering input to continuous improvement and capital projects focused on safety, product quality, and process efficiencies
  • Plant contact for new product introduction scale-up efforts
  • Support efforts to develop more robust SPC capabilities
  • Working knowledge of DCS and PLC basic principles. Facilitate implementation of process visualization software and integration with current control systems
  • Create and maintain documentation of SOPs and manufacturing procedures
  • Work with different quality and engineering functions to implement best practices across all manufacturing processes

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline
  • Strong communicator and collaborator with experience working across multiple functions
  • 7 years of experience in chemical manufacturing environment.
  • Experience working in a PSM facility
  • Experience with MS Office suite
  • No immigration sponsorship is available for this position

Preferred Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in complex manufacturing environment
  • Experience with DCS or industrial process control experience including PLC and HMI programming
  • Successfully managed and participated in multifunctional project teams
  • Familiarity and expertise with resin, filtration technology or polymer manufacturing.

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

The pay range for this position is $101,400.00 - $152,100.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here. 


Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.


Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website. 


Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
At Ecolab, we believe the best teams are inclusive. We are on a journey to create a workplace where every associate can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.

In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through Affirmative Action (AA).

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.


What Ecolab employees say

Pay

Benefits

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Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


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About Ecolab

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Saint Paul, MN, US

Year founded

1923