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Catalyst Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

ML Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

Catalyst Labs is a leading talent agency specializing in Applied AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. They are seeking an ML Engineer to design, build, and deploy production-grade ML systems ...

Tech Lead, Data & Inference Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Catalyst Labs is a leading talent agency specializing in Applied AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. They are seeking a Tech Lead, Data & Inference Engineer to lead the design and development of ...

Field Service Engineer

Tinley Park, IL ยท On-site

$36.05 - $40.86/hr

Associate Degree in electronics or engineering discipline, and/or military equivalent training ... Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Catalyst MedTech or any of our subsidiaries ...

Administer and support core network hardware and software including Cisco Catalyst (9200/9300) and ... Collaborate with network engineers, infrastructure teams, and field technicians to coordinate and ...

Support new unit start-up and catalyst reload activities, determine and coordinate work scope and ... Proven expertise in chemical engineering principles and practices * Strong problem-solving and ...

Principal Chemical Engineer

Des Plaines, IL ยท On-site

$162K - $203K/yr

As a Principal Chemical Engineer here at Honeywell, you will play a key role in a team of chemical ... and operating with UOP catalyst, with a primary focus on naphtha reforming and naphtha ...

Sr. Network Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Maintain Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Nexus and Meraki environments * Implement 802.1X, Cisco ISE, RADIUS ... Mentor junior engineers and participate in technical leadership Required Technical Skills

New

The Network Engineer within RCCB IT Operations is responsible for designing, implementing ... Cisco Catalyst Wireless (9800 series controllers and APs) Cisco Meraki wireless environments Cisco ...

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Showing results 1-20

Catalyst Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$23.3K

$73.7K

$143.9K

How much do catalyst engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for catalyst engineer in Illinois is $73,682.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,119.00 and $96,961.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Catalyst Engineer vs Chemical Process Engineer?

AspectCatalyst EngineerChemical Process Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemical Engineering, specialized knowledge in catalysisBachelor's or Master's in Chemical Engineering, broader process design skills
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, R&D centers, industrial plants focusing on catalyst developmentRefineries, chemical plants, manufacturing facilities overseeing entire processes
Industry UsagePrimarily in petrochemicals, refining, and specialty chemicalsAcross various chemical manufacturing sectors
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

While both roles require a background in chemical engineering, Catalyst Engineers focus on developing and optimizing catalysts used in chemical reactions, often working in R&D and laboratory settings. Chemical Process Engineers oversee entire chemical processes, ensuring efficiency and safety in production facilities. The roles overlap in industry and credentials but differ in scope and daily responsibilities.

What projects does a catalyst engineer typically work on, and how do they interact with other teams?

Catalyst Engineers often work on developing and optimizing chemical catalysts for processes such as refining, petrochemicals, or emission control. Their projects may include designing new catalyst formulations, scaling up laboratory results, and troubleshooting plant performance. They collaborate closely with R&D scientists, process engineers, and manufacturing teams to ensure catalysts meet production goals and regulatory standards. Regular cross-functional meetings and site visits are common, making teamwork and clear communication essential aspects of the role.

What is a catalyst engineer?

Catalyst Engineers are specialized chemical engineers who design, develop, and optimize catalysts used in various industrial processes, such as refining, petrochemicals, and environmental applications. They work on improving catalyst performance, longevity, and efficiency to enhance chemical reactions while reducing costs and environmental impact. Their responsibilities often include researching new catalyst materials, conducting laboratory experiments, scaling up processes, and troubleshooting issues in industrial plants. Catalyst Engineers collaborate closely with chemists, process engineers, and production teams to ensure optimal catalyst operation in large-scale chemical manufacturing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a catalyst engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Catalyst Engineer, you need a strong background in chemical engineering, catalysis, and reaction engineering, typically supported by a relevant degree and experience in process industries. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, process simulation software, and safety protocols is essential, and some roles may require certifications in hazardous materials handling or Six Sigma. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are vital soft skills for optimizing catalyst performance and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for developing efficient catalytic processes that drive innovation, safety, and productivity in chemical manufacturing.
Infographic showing various Catalyst Engineer job openings in Illinois as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,682 per year, or $35.4 per hour.

ML Engineer

Catalyst Labs

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Catalyst Labs is a leading talent agency specializing in Applied AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. They are seeking an ML Engineer to design, build, and deploy production-grade ML systems, focusing on audio data and real-time audio understanding, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive innovation in AI applications.
Responsibilities:
โ€ข Design, build, and deploy production-grade ML systems with end-to-end ownership of the model lifecycle from conception to deployment and maintenance.
โ€ข Architect and deliver AI-powered solutions enabling natural speech interaction and real-time audio understanding.
โ€ข Develop and optimize ML models focused on audio data to extract business-critical insights from previously unstructured voice data.
โ€ข Build agents capable of operating natively on real-world audio inputs.
โ€ข Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the foundations of the AI stack, improve tooling, and drive innovation in LLM and audio ML applications.
โ€ข Work directly with customers to identify needs, gather feedback, and deliver impactful real-world solutions.
โ€ข Handle the entire AI lifecycle, including data acquisition, preprocessing, model training, deployment, inference, and monitoring in production environments.
โ€ข Participate in continuous improvement of the ML infrastructure and processes for scalability and performance.
Qualifications:
Required:
โ€ข Bachelorโ€™s or Masterโ€™s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
โ€ข 1-6 years of professional experience in ML engineering.
โ€ข Strong programming skills in Python (TypeScript experience is a plus).
โ€ข Hands-on experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
โ€ข Familiarity with cloud environments and infrastructure (preferably AWS).
โ€ข Strong understanding of data pipeline design, real-time inference, and model monitoring.
โ€ข Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage directly with customers and stakeholders.
โ€ข Proven experience building and deploying ML models into production environments.
โ€ข Demonstrated ability to own the full model lifecycle from data ingestion and model development to deployment and monitoring.
โ€ข Experience with audio-focused ML projects or similar domains involving unstructured data.
โ€ข Proficiency in building scalable data pipelines for model training and evaluation.
โ€ข Solid grasp of ML systems architecture, feature engineering, evaluation strategies, and deployment best practices.
Preferred:
โ€ข Familiarity with FastAPI, OpenAI APIs, Baseten, LiteLLM, LiveKit, PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3 is a plus.
Company:
Welcome to Catalyst Labs โ€“ Powering Catalytic Growth At Catalyst Labs, catalytic growth isn't just a concept, it's our driving force. Founded in , the company is headquartered in London, GB, , with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.