Electrical Engineer Student Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Electrical Engineer Opportunity – Custom Industrial Equipment | St. Charles, IL

A growing custom industrial equipment manufacturer in the western suburbs of Chicago is looking to add an Electrical Engineer to its engineering team. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys hands-on design, custom equipment, and understanding how things work rather than designing high-volume, repetitive products.

The company is experiencing significant growth and making major investments in its facility, equipment, technology, and people. This is a chance to join a collaborative engineering environment where your work will directly impact the design and development of highly customized industrial equipment.

The Opportunity

As an Electrical Engineer, you will take ownership of the electrical design for custom industrial equipment from initial customer requirements through final production release.

You'll work closely with mechanical engineers, production, and other members of the engineering team to develop electrical systems that integrate with motors, hydraulics, controls, safety components, and other machine elements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design complete electrical control systems for custom industrial equipment.
• Create electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and Bills of Materials.
• Select and size motors, VFDs, transformers, breakers, relays/contactors, sensors, switches, and safety components.
• Integrate electrical controls with hydraulic power units, motors, valves, limit switches, and operator controls.
• Customize and design electrical systems for multiple engineered-to-order projects simultaneously.
• Support the development of new products and improvements to existing equipment.
• Work with mechanical designs and utilize 2D/3D CAD and SolidWorks as needed.
• Collaborate with engineering, fabrication, machining, welding, and production teams to bring designs into reality.
• Research and learn new technologies and components when developing solutions for unique customer requirements.

What They're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 2–4+ years of electrical design experience.
• Experience creating electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• SolidWorks and/or 2D/3D CAD experience.
• Understanding of electrical components such as motors, VFDs, transformers, relays, switches, and safety components.
• PLC/controls exposure is a plus.
• Experience with industrial equipment, machinery, automation, or other electro-mechanical products is highly valued.
• Exposure to machining, welding, fabrication, hydraulics, or pneumatics is a plus.

The Right Personality

This company is looking for someone who genuinely enjoys engineering and wants to understand the why behind their designs.

The ideal candidate is:

• Technically curious and naturally driven to learn.
• A hands-on problem solver who enjoys figuring things out.
• Someone who takes initiative and wants to expand their technical skill set.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, blue-collar manufacturing environment.
• Interested in custom, engineered-to-order products rather than repetitive, high-volume manufacturing.

Engineers with hands-on hobbies, automotive experience, student design projects, Formula SAE experience, or other examples of building and working with mechanical/electrical systems are encouraged to apply.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• $75K–$95K base salary for candidates in the 2–4 year range
• Electrical engineering candidates can potentially reach $105K+, with additional flexibility for an exceptional candidate.
• Significant company growth and investment underway.
• Major investments in new equipment and technology.
• Planned facility expansion.
• Transitioning toward an employee-owned (ESOP) structure.
• Collaborative engineering team with strong hands-on manufacturing exposure.
• Opportunity to work on custom equipment rather than high-volume/repetitive products.
• Strong opportunity to grow your technical responsibilities as the engineering team continues to develop.
• Stable company with decades of experience in its industry.

Location: St. Charles, IL

Schedule: 40 hours/week; overtime as needed

Employment Type: Direct Hire

If you're an Electrical Engineer who enjoys custom machine design, hands-on problem solving, and seeing your designs come to life on the manufacturing floor, this could be an excellent opportunity to explore.