Principal Mechanical Engineer

Fermilab; Batavia (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid time off

Life insurance

Short and Long-term disability

Retirement benefits

Onsite day care

Job summary

Fermilab is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer in Batavia, IL to lead and contribute to major, high‑level engineering projects. You will oversee design, procurement, manufacture, installation, test, and initial operations, ensuring compliance with DOE orders and safety standards.

The role may supervise a team and engage with subcontractors on complex programs. Requires ABET-accredited degree with 8+ years’ experience, or a Master’s/PhD with 6+ years; AutoCAD is required and Revit is a plus;

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited engineering degree with 8+ years’ experience, or a Master's/PhD with 6+ years.
• Experience with AutoCAD is required; Revit is a plus.
• Professional Engineer licensure in Illinois is desired.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data and perform engineering calculations.
• Develop specifications, designs, and documents for major, complex projects.
• Plan and lead large projects from inception to completion.
• Provide technical direction to draftsmen, designers, engineers, and technicians; may supervise sub-contractors.
• Identify problems and analyze alternatives.
• Participate in procurement, manufacture, installation, testing, and operation.
• Assist in cost estimates and budget monitoring.
• Review and approve work to meet specs, cost and time constraints.
• Contribute to lab-wide engineering policies and standards.
• May supervise a team including hiring, performance reviews, and training.
• Perform other duties as assigned and ensure EH&S compliance.

Skills

Engineering analysis

Project planning

Technical leadership

Engineering calculations

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Master's or PhD in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

The expected hiring range for this position is: $124,800.00-$164,200.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the Role

The Fermilab Infrastructure Services Division (ISD) is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer. This individual is responsible for major, complex, high-level engineering projects requiring engineering creativity in developing innovative concepts and techniques. The Principal Mechanical Engineer leads and contributes to projects in areas such as design, design review, procurement, manufacture, installation, test, and initial operations of a project with extensive & diversified engineering requirements in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, requirements and standards, and all Department of Energy (DOE) orders. This role may oversee sub-contractors or supervise/ manage an engineering group/department.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Analyze data and perform engineering calculations.
• Develop specifications, designs, and documents for major and technically complex, high-level, and highly visible engineering projects and design solutions. Work involves a variety of complex and advanced engineering techniques.
• Plan and/or lead large or complex projects from inception to completion and bring them to operating status. Estimate manpower, schedules work, coordinate and direct technicians.
• Provide technical direction to draftsmen, designers, engineering associates, technicians, or less senior engineers. Coordinate and/or supervise technicians and other engineers and sub-contractors. May manage the activities of engineering groups or departments.
• Identify problems or tasks requiring engineering solutions and provide a thorough analysis of alternatives.
• Participate in procurement, as well as manufacture, installation, testing, and operation.
• Assist or lead in the development of cost estimates, as well as the monitoring and/or management of budgetary obligations.
• Review and approve work before hardware and financial resources are committed, ensuring conformance to specifications and cost/time constraints.
• Enhance the national and international presence of projects or the lab through participation in and collaboration on project reviews, as well as participation in technical conferences and publication.
• Serve on safety panels, review committees, and other subcommittees as assigned. May serve as chair of subcommittee(s) or division/section committees.
• Contribute to setting lab-wide engineering policies, safety standards or technical standards.
• May provide supervision or leadership of a team including hiring, promotions, performance reviews, training, disciplinary actions, team exits, and other duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Abide by and is responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.

Essential Skills and Competencies

Bachelor’s in an applicable Engineering discipline from an ABET accredited institution with 8+ years of engineering experience, or a Master’s or PhD in an applicable Engineering discipline from an ABET accredited institution with 6+ years of engineering experience.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• In-depth knowledge and proficiency in application of theories, concepts, principles, and methodology for the engineering discipline.
• Possess extensive project planning skills in developing specifications and documents for major and technically complex, high-level, and highly visible engineering projects and engineering design solutions.
• Ability to perform a variety of complex and advanced engineering techniques.
• Experience with AutoCAD required, and/or Revit is a plus.
• Professional Engineer licensure in the State of Illinois is desired.

Work Arrangement

Onsite: This is an onsite role, and the candidate must be able to work from our Batavia office.

Benefits/Perks

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Onsite day care

Equal Opportunity Statement

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.