Materials Engineer, Chemical Engineer

Southern Arkansas University; Wheeling (IL); On-site; USD 44,083 - 48,216; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Health insurance participation

401(k) plan with company copay

Career counseling

Relocation package available

Job summary

A cutting-edge battery materials company in Wheeling, Illinois is seeking college graduates in Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Candidates will engage in industrial laboratory operations, focusing on graphite and carbon. The role requires knowledge in chemical and materials sciences, with strong laboratory skills preferred. The entry-level pay ranges from $32.00 to $35.00 per hour, along with comprehensive benefits. US citizenship or permanent residency is required for application.

Qualifications

• Graduating in or before June 2026 in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of chemical and materials science concepts.
• Wet lab research experience preferred.
• Interest in carbonaceous materials manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Support industrial laboratory and pilot plant operations.
• Engage in R&D projects related to graphite and carbon.

Skills

Knowledge of chemical concepts

Laboratory skills

Technical writing skills

Computer literacy

Teamwork skills

Education

BS, BA, BSE in Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Scientific instrumentation software

CAD modeling

Job description

Are you fascinated by energy? Do you thrive in a hands‑on, small team environment working on the future of materials science, nanotechnology, and electrochemistry? Can you see yourself at a company where both cutting‑edge R&D and dynamic manufacturing are taking place every day?

American Energy Technologies Co. (AETC) is a small business located in the greater Chicago area, operating since 2009. AETC supplies the battery community with internally developed and manufactured products including specialty Lithium primary batteries, a line of thermally and electrically conductive graphite dispersions and paints, spherical graphite for anodes in lithium‑ion batteries, and a variety of battery parts for the R&D equipment market. The company is actively engaged with industrial R&D consulting and process development, serving more than forty domestic and international customers. AETC is presently building a large‑scale battery materials manufacturing facility in Wheeling, IL (production of battery carbons and graphites for batteries).

The company currently has ~20 employees and maintains a number of cooperative technology development agreements with leading universities and national laboratories in the United States and abroad.

Below is AETC’s mission statement: American Energy Technologies Co. is a privately held manufacturing company. We create value through innovation in the areas of sustainable energy and industrial graphite and carbon by operating on the technological juncture between new materials development, electrochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, nano‑materials, and engineering. We efficiently take our developments to the marketplace using advanced niche marketing, aided by our commitment to superior product quality, consistency, and sustainability. Building on our own expertise, along with that of strategic partnerships, we strive to deliver cutting‑edge products; build customer‑partner relationships; and foster the professional development of our employees – the most valuable intangible assets we have.

Currently, we are hiring college graduates who have hands‑on experience of working in chemical / powder laboratory settings interested in building their professional expertise with industrial laboratory / pilot plant chemical engineering operations in the domains of graphite and carbon, batteries, and industrial synthesis / process development for Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering roles.

AETC is seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• BS, BA, BSE, or further education in engineering, materials science, chemistry, or a related field (graduating in or before June 2026). Candidates who have already graduated may start immediately, and current students are expected to begin work soon after graduation.
• Strong knowledge of chemical, materials science, and industrial processing concepts
• Laboratory skills (wet lab research preferred)
• Interest in manufacturing and processing of carbonaceous materials
• Exceptional technical writing skills
• Ability to work independently, in a team, and as a project manager
• Computer literacy, including fluency in Microsoft Office, scientific instrumentation software, CAD modeling (preferred but not required)

Successful candidates, upon becoming full‑time employees, will receive an entry‑level base gross hourly pay of $32.00 / hr to $35.00 /hr (depending on demonstrated qualifications during the interview process) and will be eligible to receive all legally mandated benefits, such as Social Security and workers' compensation insurance, as well as company‑provided benefits that include, but are not limited to: paid breaks; employee vacation benefits /Paid Time Off (PTO) / Volunteer / Flexible Time Off (VTO), federal / state / personal holidays benefits, eligibleleave of absence benefits, eligible auto mileage and business expenses reimbursement; eligible health insurance program participation with company copay, eligible 401(k) plan benefit with company copay, career counseling; safety program participation; travel allowances (where eligible and abiding to the travel policy); uniform; disability accommodation; company‑provided trainings and company arranged educational classes, suggestion program rewards, access to company‑provided communication devices, tool & equipment assistance, certain IL Category 1b priority eligibility employee benefits, etc. Furthermore, at its discretion, the company may choose to assign a bonus to an employee at the end of the year. In addition, the Company will be offering a relocation package for legitimate business expenses that an out‑of‑state candidate would incur while relocating to Illinois.

Since a portion of our work involves projects with the Department of Defense, US citizenship / permanent residency is a requirement for consideration of employment.

American Energy Technologies Co. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.