Materials And Process Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

As an S&C Electric team member, you'll work on projects that have real-world impact. You'll help transform the grid for resilient and reliable power worldwide. S&C has more than a 100-year history of innovation and has been 100% employee-owned since 2012. We continue this legacy as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in the electrical industry. You will advance a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electrical grid. Our products help the grid adapt to severe weather and transition to clean energy. We're big enough to be a respected industry leader but small enough for you to impact our company directly. Our commitment gives you opportunities to impact on and off the job positively.
Join S&C to make an impact on tomorrow's energy challenges and become an employee-owner!
Hours

• 8:00 am-5:00 pm (Monday-Friday)
• Flexible Start Time

Compensation
At S&C, we are dedicated to providing competitive and equitable compensation for all our team members, and we are committed to transparency in our pay practices. The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $97,758-$116,285.18. Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C's annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.
Join Our Team as a Process Engineer!
Are you passionate about Process Engineering? The Process Engineer provides intermediate to advanced-level engineering support to the analytical laboratory, with a primary focus on metallurgical analysis, materials characterization, and lab process improvement. This role supports manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality, and quality assurance by conducting and interpreting metallurgical evaluations, troubleshooting material and process-related issues, improving laboratory methods, and ensuring timely, accurate technical results. The position applies strong problem-solving, data analysis, and materials engineering knowledge to strengthen product quality, support root cause investigations, and drive continuous improvement in analytical lab operations.
Key Responsibilities:

• Metallurgical Analysis: Perform and support metallurgical evaluations of raw materials, purchased components, in-process materials, and finished products using appropriate laboratory methods, including sample preparation, optical microscopy, hardness testing, microstructural evaluation, coating/plating assessment, and failure analysis techniques.
• Materials Characterization & Interpretation: Analyze metallic materials, heat-treated components, welds, coatings, and plated surfaces to determine conformance to specifications, identify abnormal conditions, and provide clear technical interpretations that support quality and engineering decisions.
• Root Cause & Corrective Action Support: Support investigations related to material defects, component failures, supplier quality concerns, production stops, and customer or manufacturing issues by applying metallurgical analysis, structured problem-solving, and sound engineering judgment.
• Lab Process Improvement: Improve analytical laboratory processes, test methods, sample preparation practices, turn-around time, data quality, and workflow efficiency through standardization, troubleshooting, method refinement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Data Collection & Reporting: Collect, review, analyze, and summarize metallurgical and materials test data. Prepare clear technical reports that document test methods, observations, results, conclusions, and recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Standards & Documentation: Develop, review, and maintain laboratory procedures, work instructions, inspection criteria, test methods, and material evaluation guidelines to ensure consistency, repeatability, and compliance with applicable internal and industry standards.
• Equipment & Method Support: Support selection, qualification, troubleshooting, and improvement of analytical lab equipment and methods used for metallurgical and materials evaluation. Partner with maintenance, vendors, and internal teams to sustain equipment reliability and capability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality, quality assurance, purchasing, and operations teams to resolve material and process concerns, support new product or supplier qualification, and provide practical technical guidance.
• Compliance: Understand and comply with all applicable Company policies, safety requirements, laboratory practices, and quality system expectations.

Additional Functions:

• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Attend in-person or virtual meetings as requested or required.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with others.
• Serve as a lead for metals team, providing technical support and prioritization planning of incoming requests.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

What you'll need to succeed:

• 3-5 years of experience in metallurgical analysis, materials engineering, analytical laboratory operations, quality engineering, or a related technical engineering role.
• Well-versed in metallurgical principles, including microstructure, heat treatment, mechanical properties, corrosion, fracture behavior, welding metallurgy, coatings, plating, and common metallic material families
• Experience with metallographic sample preparation, sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, etching, optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, hardness testing, dimensional or coating evaluation, fracture analysis, and interpretation of metallurgical results.
• Experience operating metals analysis equipment such as carbon/sulfur analyzer, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, hardness tester, micro-hardness tester.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, purchase specifications, inspection plans, test requirements, and industry standards.
• Good problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate material or process issues, identify likely causes, recommend practical corrective actions, and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong technical writing skills, including the ability to prepare concise laboratory reports, investigation summaries, test method documentation, and recommendations for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced lab environment while supporting production, engineering development work, supplier investigations, and quality-related requests.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate respectfully across manufacturing, engineering, quality, supplier quality, purchasing, and operations teams.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools used to summarize laboratory results, identify trends, and support decisions.
• Commitment to laboratory safety, quality, continuous improvement, accuracy, and timely support of business needs.

Preferred

• Experience working in a manufacturing-support analytical laboratory with responsibility for production support, engineering development work, method improvement, and timely technical reporting.

Education/ Certifications & Licenses
Required

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline with relevant metallurgical coursework or laboratory experience.

Preferred

• Familiarity with ASTM, SAE, ISO, ASM, AWS, or other industry standards related to metallurgical testing, materials analysis, coatings, plating, welding, or heat treatment.
• Six Sigma Certification (Green/Black Belt)

Physical Requirements

• Sitting: Frequently you are required to remain in a stationary position and perform desk-based work approximately [5] days per work week.
• Walking: Occasionally required to walk moderate distances, "multiple times each week".
• Manual Dexterity: Frequently required to use hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to prepare samples, operate laboratory equipment, use microscopes, handle small components, and perform computer-based analysis and reporting.
• Ascending / Descending : Occasionally ascending or descending ladders/stairs/scaffolding/ramps/poles.
• Observation / Eyesight: Frequently required to observe details at close range, including microscope work, material surface evaluation, color differentiation, depth perception, and visual identification of metallurgical or coating conditions.
• Communication: Continuously required to talk and hear, or otherwise, in person and by phone/conference calls.
• Travel: Occasionally required to travel to manufacturing areas, supplier locations, training, or other company facilities as business needs require.

Environmental & Hazardous Conditions

• Continuously working indoors in an office, analytical laboratory, and manufacturing-support environment.
• Frequently exposed to laboratory chemicals, etchants, fumes, vapors, dust, oils, greases, sharp materials, heated surfaces, and other materials or conditions associated with metallurgical sample preparation and analytical testing.
• Frequently exposed to moderate noise levels from laboratory equipment, sample preparation equipment, manufacturing areas, and general office or lab activity.
• Occasionally working around energized equipment with the risk of electrocution/scalding/burns/other etc.
• Infrequently exposed to wet, humid, hot, or cold conditions when supporting manufacturing, supplier, or facilities-related investigations.
• Occasionally working with or near laboratory equipment with moving parts, cutting or grinding equipment, mounted samples, sharp objects, and manufacturing equipment while following required safety practices and personal protective equipment requirements.

Disclaimer
This job description is not an exhaustive list of all functions that the team member may be required to perform, and the team member may be required to perform additional functions either temporarily or on an ongoing basis.
The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to change or eliminate this position.
The team member must be able to perform the position's essential functions satisfactorily.
Team Member Acknowledgement
I have read this job description and understand my responsibilities and the job's essential functions. I can perform the essential functions and responsibilities outlined. I understand that this job's responsibilities, duties, and essential functions may change on a temporary or ongoing basis according to the Company's needs or business decisions and that, if so, I may be required to perform additional duties, responsibilities, and functions. If I have questions about duties, responsibilities, and functions, I may discuss them with my supervisor or an appropriate member of the HR team.
About Us
In 1909, S&C Electric Company transformed the delivery of safe, reliable electricity with the invention of the Liquid Power Fuse. Today, as the world faces extreme weather events and the demand for electricity grows, S&C continues to innovate and advance the electrical grid, ensuring reliable and resilient power for homes, communities, and critical infrastructure around the world.
With a diverse, global workforce and core values around integrity, safety, and quality, S&C is a trusted industry leader and top workplace that offers meaningful careers to more than 3,500 team members. As a people-first organization, S&C is committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative workplace where team members advance their careers through robust talent-development programs and involved leadership.
S&C's deeply rooted belief diversity fosters greater creativity, innovation, and success guides the company to advance and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.
S&C provides a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

• Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical & Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, , Health Savings Account (HSA), Group Life Insurance, optional Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, Wellbeing Resources including Employee Assistance Program and Family Forming Benefits (i.e., Adoption and Fertility support)
• Leave Benefits: Vacation Time, Sick Time, Paid Holidays and Company Shutdown days, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Other Leaves, Paid Parental Time and Military Leave

Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (KSOP) offering traditional and Roth 401(k) options and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) component; KSOP participants can receive annual ESOP company contributions of over 11% of eligible earnings (3% Core, up to 3.5% Match, Variable Periodic).
About the Team
On the (Admin, HR, General Management, Strategy, IT, F&A, HSE, S&L) team, we are responsible for several core business functions and collaborate with departments across S&C to collectively achieve S&C's mission. We are key players in facilitating how S&C provides long-term value to our employee owners. Always focused on the big picture of revolutionizing the energy sector, we take pride in the impact we have on S&C by empowering our team members to succeed.