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Entry Level Fea Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Sustaining Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$94K - $116K/yr

Specification documents, design analysis (tolerance, FEA, FMEA) * Test documentation, product cost ... Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) * Entry level to 3 years work experience.

Sustaining Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$94K - $116K/yr

Specification documents, design analysis (tolerance, FEA, FMEA) * Test documentation, product cost ... Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) * Entry level to 3 years work experience.

Sustaining Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$94K - $116K/yr

Specification documents, design analysis (tolerance, FEA, FMEA) * Test documentation, product cost ... Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) * Entry level to 3 years work experience.

Mechanical Engineer I

Schaumburg, IL · Hybrid

$66K - $95K/yr

... (entry-level candidates encouraged to apply) * Strong proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks ... Exposure to engineering analysis methods (FEA or hand calculations preferred) * Strong willingness ...

Entry Level Fea information

What is an entry level FEA job?

Entry Level FEA jobs refer to positions for beginners in the field of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). These roles typically involve assisting with simulation, modeling, and analysis of engineering structures using FEA software. Entry level FEA engineers work under supervision to help solve design problems, validate prototypes, and optimize products. Candidates usually need a background in engineering and some familiarity with FEA tools such as ANSYS or Abaqus.

What types of projects can an entry level FEA (Finite Element Analysis) engineer expect to work on in their first year?

As an Entry Level FEA Engineer, you can expect to support senior engineers by performing simulations and analyses on components or assemblies, typically under supervision. Common projects may include stress analysis, thermal analysis, or vibration studies for mechanical parts in industries like automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing. You'll likely be responsible for preprocessing tasks such as meshing, boundary condition setup, and reporting results. Collaboration with design engineers and regular feedback sessions are typical, helping you build technical and teamwork skills essential for career growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level FEA (Finite Element Analysis) engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level FEA Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering fundamentals, mathematics, and a relevant degree such as mechanical or aerospace engineering. Familiarity with FEA software like ANSYS, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation, along with knowledge of CAD systems, is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for accurately analyzing complex structures, collaborating with teams, and ensuring high-quality engineering solutions.

What is the difference between Entry Level Fea vs Entry Level Mechanical Engineer?

AspectEntry Level FeaEntry Level Mechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsAssociate degree or relevant certification, basic knowledge of FEA softwareBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, foundational engineering knowledge
Work EnvironmentDesign firms, manufacturing companies, engineering consultanciesManufacturing, product design, R&D departments
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in engineering analysis roles across industriesBroader engineering roles, including design and development

Entry Level Fea specialists focus on performing finite element analysis to evaluate product performance, often requiring specific software skills. Entry Level Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope, including design, testing, and development tasks. While both roles may work in similar environments, Fea roles are more analysis-specific, whereas Mechanical Engineering roles encompass a wider range of engineering functions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Fea jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Fea jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Entry Level Fea jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Entry Level Fea job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Fea job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 75% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineer FEA 80k

Scale Search Group

Rockford, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Ingersoll Cutting Tool Company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of both standard and special indexable cutting tools for a complete range of metal removal applications. In addition to innovative solutions for high-performance milling and the project-focused engineering of special cutting tool solutions, we offer a full range of metal removal technology for all industries.

 This range of cutting tools is continuously expanded: End mills, shell mills, face mills, slotting cutters, form milling cutters, indexable drills, solid carbide, adaptions, and indexable inserts.

 For Ingersoll, the expansion of our drilling and solid carbide tools product range is a further step toward becoming your single-source supplier for cutting operations. Both of these product lines are state-of-the-art.

 With a complete line of turning and engraving tools we can now offer our customers a new family of products, expanding our capabilities as a full-range supplier.

 The development and production of special-purpose tooling according to customer-specific requirements is one of Ingersoll Cutting Tools‘ primary skill sets. Our know-how and experience, combined with our own demand for quality, functionality and innovation, guarantees our customers the optimum cutting tool solution – for individual machining tasks in all industries.

 The close cooperation with our customers during the development of technically demanding solutions for machining challenges forms the basis of long and durable partnerships. Our customers have come to trust our professional qualifications and experience and profit from the reliability and quality of our cutting tools.

Job Description

Position Description

Position titleSoftware Engineer - FEA Reports to: Manager – Composite Software Department: Composites Division

Summary

The Software Engineer – FEA for the Composites Division will become part of a development team that develops software dedicated to the design and manufacturing of composite structures for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, aerospace vehicles. Rank and salary dependent on background/experience.

Duties

Design, analysis, programming, debugging, and modification of software for composite applications focused on the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) along with other composite design tools Investigate application engineering tasks and prepare design specifications, analysis, and recommendations Support the “manufacturing process integration” for composite parts Provide customer support for software deployment and maintenance Ensure products and services provided by the company meet the highest standards Become very knowledgeable of the entire hardware & software infrastructure for automated machine tools and robotics equipment Working closely with other departments to meet the division's goals. Meet deadlines and company goals. Demonstrate continuous improvement philosophy

Qualifications

Qualifications

Programming knowledge and skills in C++ required

Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) – use and/or programming Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision making skills

Solid math background with vectors, 3D geometry, transformations, etc.

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Flexible work attitude and excellent team player

Must be a U.S. Citizen or hold a valid green card

Experience

Recent industry or academic experience in Software Development

Any experience related to Manufacturing, Industrial Machinery, or customer support for Software Applications is a plus

Education

BA / BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Alternatively: BS degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering with sufficient experience in a software development environment

Graduate degree is a plus
Computer Skills

Experience in using standard Office applications, e.g. Word, Excel

Experience with any of the following is a plus:Microsoft Visual Studio / C++Microsoft Widows based development environment Qt3D graphics programming Image processing / vision applications Source Control Systems

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.