Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Backend Software Engineer jobs in Illinois are among the most active in the Midwest, with sustained demand from fintech firms, enterprise software companies, healthcare technology platforms, and major logistics and e-commerce operations at every level from entry-level to principal engineer. Chicago drives the bulk of hiring, with notable concentrations in the suburbs of Naperville and Schaumburg, where large technology and financial services employers maintain engineering hubs. Companies like Allstate, Morningstar, and Uptake have long-standing backend engineering teams in the state, and the most sought-after specialties include distributed systems, cloud-native API development, and data pipeline engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Date: Sep 25, 2026
Location: CHICAGO, IL, US, 60661-4555
Company: Grainger Businesses
Work Location Type: Hybrid
Req Number 334425
About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.
Compensation
The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $112,900.00 - $188,100.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 10% or $, based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.
Rewards and Benefits
With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
- 23 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
- 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
- Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
For additional information and details regarding Grainger’s benefits, please click on the link below:
https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire
Grainger Benefits
The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.
The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above.
Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.
You will work as a Senior Engineer on a Customer Order team. The team is responsible for largely three things:
The cart customers interact with on, eventually, all channels at Grainger. Currently this is limited to our main Grainger.com experience.
Provide internal capabilities to calculate the cost of an Order to a customer. This means resolving interesting Freight, Pricing and Tax considerations for our customers.
Lastly, we manage the payment and invoicing capabilities to ensure people can securely access their payment information.
To give you a picture of our scale, we can see 100,000s orders per day and each one of those has at least one cart, one payment method, and one order calculation. We are a critical component of the customer’s experience and require a team that build solutions that scale.
- Build applications and develop product design solutions in partnership with engineers, architects, and analysts leading to scalable and maintainable software solutions
- Utilize (Frontend/Backend/Full Stack) specialized skills based on specific platform or domain as required
- Implement continuous delivery activities (CICD) and drive engineering best practices
- Support team activities and pair with peers to work on stories
- Coach and mentor junior engineers
- Consistently practice sensible defaults
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required
- 3+ years experience with modern software engineering; designing, building, and deploying scalable software applications required
- Understanding of distributed system design
- Experience analyzing and interpreting complex problems and processes
- Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and DevOps practices
- Familiarity with building HTTP API
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
Date: Sep 25, 2026
Location: CHICAGO, IL, US, 60661-4555
Company: Grainger Businesses
Work Location Type: Hybrid
Req Number 334425
About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.
Compensation
The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $112,900.00 - $188,100.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 10% or $, based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.
Rewards and Benefits
With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
- 23 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
- 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
- Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
For additional information and details regarding Grainger’s benefits, please click on the link below:
https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire
Grainger Benefits
The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.
The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above.
Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.
You will work as a Senior Engineer on a Customer Order team. The team is responsible for largely three things:
The cart customers interact with on, eventually, all channels at Grainger. Currently this is limited to our main Grainger.com experience.
Provide internal capabilities to calculate the cost of an Order to a customer. This means resolving interesting Freight, Pricing and Tax considerations for our customers.
Lastly, we manage the payment and invoicing capabilities to ensure people can securely access their payment information.
To give you a picture of our scale, we can see 100,000s orders per day and each one of those has at least one cart, one payment method, and one order calculation. We are a critical component of the customer’s experience and require a team that build solutions that scale.
- Build applications and develop product design solutions in partnership with engineers, architects, and analysts leading to scalable and maintainable software solutions
- Utilize (Frontend/Backend/Full Stack) specialized skills based on specific platform or domain as required
- Implement continuous delivery activities (CICD) and drive engineering best practices
- Support team activities and pair with peers to work on stories
- Coach and mentor junior engineers
- Consistently practice sensible defaults
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required
- 3+ years experience with modern software engineering; designing, building, and deploying scalable software applications required
- Understanding of distributed system design
- Experience analyzing and interpreting complex problems and processes
- Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and DevOps practices
- Familiarity with building HTTP API
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
See All 13 Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsBackend Software Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Backend Software Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in backend software engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Java, Python, Go, or Node.js
- Experience designing and maintaining RESTful APIs and microservices architectures
- Demonstrated knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL and MongoDB
- Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud and CI/CD pipelines
- Strong understanding of system design, scalability principles, and code review practices
Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a backend software engineer in Illinois?
Backend software engineering has no state-issued license in Illinois, so the path centers on education and demonstrated skill. Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or information systems, though strong candidates from bootcamps or associate programs are considered when paired with a solid portfolio. Building projects in languages like Java, Python, or Go and deploying them using cloud tools strengthens any application significantly.
How much do backend software engineers make in Illinois?
Backend software engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $132,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,980 for the lowest 10% to over $194,740 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire backend software engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring backend software engineers in Illinois right now include SMARTZ, Comcast, and FIS, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's strong fintech, healthcare technology, and enterprise software sectors mean backend engineering roles appear consistently across both large legacy institutions and growth-stage companies headquartered in and around Chicago.
Which Illinois cities have the most backend software engineer jobs?
The cities with the most backend software engineer openings in Illinois are Chicago, Champaign, and Vernon Hills. Chicago dominates because of its dense concentration of financial services firms, health-tech companies, and technology consultancies, while suburban markets like Naperville and Schaumburg draw openings from the large corporate campuses and enterprise technology employers based along the I-88 corridor west of the city.
Are there remote backend software engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 75% of backend software engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how well the role's day-to-day work translates to distributed teams. The portions most likely to be fully remote are pure backend and API roles at product companies, while on-site expectations tend to be higher at financial services firms with strict data-security requirements.
How can I get hired as a backend software engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing an associate or junior software engineer role and building from there. Large Illinois-based employers like Allstate and Morningstar run structured new-graduate and early-career programs that accept candidates with limited professional experience. Adjacent roles in QA engineering, DevOps support, or technical support at a software company are common stepping stones. A portfolio of deployed backend projects, a GitHub profile with active contributions, and familiarity with cloud fundamentals give candidates without a traditional background a concrete edge in Illinois screening processes.
Where can I find and apply to backend software engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to backend software engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and target location, and apply directly to each one that matches.
See All 13 Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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