Design Engineer, Commercial Foodservice Equipment (Onsite)

H.T. Prof Executive Search; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

10 paid holidays

Job summary

H. T. PROF Group is seeking a Design Engineer in Chicago to own the commercial cooking equipment line from concept through production. You will report to the COO and lead product design with drafting and lab support, while patent activity is part of the role.

The position requires 5+ years in product design for mechanical/electrical systems, CAD proficiency, and hands-on laboratory testing. Onsite work in Northwest Chicago with relocation not covered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of product design experience; Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience with products combining mechanical AND electrical systems.
• Designed real parts for real fabrication: sheet metal forming, welding, manual and CNC machining.
• Comfortable running your own laboratory testing.
• Combustion experience and UL 197 / NSF familiarity are a bonus, not a requirement.

Responsibilities

• Develop new products and improve the existing line
• Run complete testing, including extended lab programs on your own designs
• Drive cost reduction into both new and current products
• Coordinate manufacturing launches alongside production and sales
• Document inventions to support patent applications
• Write engineering and laboratory test reports

Skills

CAD

Prototype development

Lab testing

Mechanical design

Electrical integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Sheet metal forming

Welding

CNC machining

Manual machining

Job description

Apply

Location Chicago, IL
No Remote

Type Direct Hire

ID GA173-2757193

Posted Aug 23, 2026

An 85-year-old, family-owned Chicago manufacturer is looking for a Design Engineer to own its commercial cooking equipment line.

Own is the word. You would take products from concept through CAD, prototype, lab testing, agency approval and into production — reporting directly to the COO. In a company this size that means the person running the business sees your work, and decisions do not take six weeks.

You would not be doing it alone. There is drafting support and lab support, so you are the engineer — not also the draftsman and the test technician.

A new product roadmap is launching now, with several new products planned per year. Patent work is part of the job.

What you would do

Develop new products and improve the existing line

Run complete testing, including extended lab programs on your own designs

Drive cost reduction into both new and current products

Coordinate manufacturing launches alongside production and sales

Document inventions to support patent applications

Write engineering and laboratory test reports

What you need

5+ years of product design experience; Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent

Experience with products combining mechanical AND electrical systems — this is the requirement that matters most

Designed real parts for real fabrication: sheet metal forming, welding, manual and CNC machining

Comfortable running your own laboratory testing

Combustion experience and UL 197 / NSF familiarity are a bonus, not a requirement

Details

$120,000–$130,000 depending on experience

Standard hours are 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, fully onsite in Northwest Chicago. There is some flexibility on start time — as early as 7:00 a.m.

401(k), medical, dental and vision, PTO and 10 paid holidays

Relocation: No relocation expenses covered. Candidates should be within 1-1.5 hour drive of NW Chicago.