Research And Development Process Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

LJC is seeking an experienced Process Engineer to support the planning, design, and delivery of life sciences manufacturing facilities across a range of therapeutic and production modalities. This role focuses on defining process requirements, equipment needs, and operational workflows that inform facility planning and engineering design for regulated manufacturing environments.

The Process Engineer works closely with clients, process architects, utilities engineers, mechanical engineers, and construction teams to translate manufacturing processes into clear, coordinated design solutions. While experience across multiple modalities is valued, candidates with deep expertise in a specific modality are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead or support process definition and design efforts for life sciences manufacturing facilities from early planning through construction support.
• Define process flows, unit operations, equipment requirements, and space needs to support regulated manufacturing operations.
• Develop process narratives, block flow diagrams, and equipment layouts that inform architectural and engineering design.
• Collaborate with clients to understand manufacturing objectives, capacity requirements, product mix, and operational constraints.
• Work closely with process architects and project teams to translate process requirements into compliant, efficient, and flexible facility layouts.
• Coordinate with critical utilities, mechanical, electrical, automation, and architectural teams to align process needs with supporting systems and infrastructure.
• Support front-end project efforts by contributing to proposals, technical narratives, and early planning concepts.
• Participate in client meetings, technical workshops, and planning sessions related to process definition, capacity planning, and operational strategy.
• Support compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including GMP/GxP expectations and relevant industry guidelines.
• Review process-related design deliverables to ensure alignment with defined process requirements and overall project objectives.
• Participate in multidisciplinary coordination reviews to resolve process-related design challenges.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, manufacturing platforms, and best practices across life sciences modalities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in life sciences manufacturing process engineering within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or advanced therapy environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting at least one major life sciences manufacturing modality, such as:
• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
• Fill–finish (aseptic or non-aseptic)
• Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies
• mRNA
• Vaccines
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API)
• Oral solid dosage (OSD)
• Exposure to additional modalities, platforms, or production technologies is preferred but not required.
• Strong understanding of regulated manufacturing processes, unit operations, and equipment typical of life sciences facilities.
• Experience translating process requirements into facility design inputs, equipment layouts, and engineering criteria.
• Familiarity with GMP/GxP environments and regulatory expectations.
• Experience working in a design-build or fast-track project delivery environment preferred.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage in client-facing technical discussions and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, architectural, and construction teams.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure preferred but not required.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco and LJC?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.

• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).

• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders – Data Center Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!
  

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $135,000 - $185,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).