Civil Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Civil Engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently in demand, with strong hiring concentrated in transportation infrastructure, water systems, structural projects, and municipal development at levels from entry-level project engineer through senior principal. Chicago leads the market by a wide margin, with secondary hiring clusters in Rockford and the Quad Cities, and major employers including AECOM, IDOT, and Burns & McDonnell maintaining long-term staffing needs throughout the state. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois are transportation and highway engineering, water resources, and structural design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Civil Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 135+ Civil Engineer jobs
Job Number:
419170Description
BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on November 27, 2026.
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND
1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
The Chicago Department of Transportation is seeking two (2) Civil Engineer III’s to perform under supervision, professional civil engineering work of moderate complexity related to the construction, maintenance and design of various infrastructure projects, and performs related duties as required.
Essential Duties:
- Serves as a key staff member supporting the design and implementation of safety, operational, and state of good repair upgrades for over 1,000 miles of arterial roadways, 3,000 traffic signals, and more than 300 bridge and viaduct structures including 37 operable movable bridges.
- Assists in developing project scopes, budgets, and schedules.
- Prepares and/or reviews engineering plans, specifications, calculations, and cost estimates for bridge or roadway projects.
- Reviews Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports and documents including Bridge Condition Reports (BCR), Project Development Reports (PDRs), Type Size and Location (TSL) plans
-
Oversees scope, schedule and budget of design engineering consultants performing Phase I and
Phase II design engineering. - Oversees design review meetings.
- Prepares for and attends community meetings to present proposed projects.
- Coordinates with utilities and other City agencies throughout the design process to coordinate work, avoid conflicts and obtain approvals.
-
Coordinates projects with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and other regulatory agencies throughout the design process to obtain
project approval. - Prepares reports on the status and costs of bridge, roadway, and other infrastructure projects.
- Reviews invoices and payment vouchers related to bridge or highway projects.
- Assists with project accounting and finance agreements and encumbrances.
- Assists with planning and/or performing routine bridge inspections.
Additional duties may be required for this position
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a directly related field of engineering supplemented by one year of Civil Engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience, provided the minimum degree requirement is met.
NOTE: A valid State of Illinois driver’s license is required.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires bidders and applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected in seniority order.
Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
- Previous experience in the design or construction of bridge and/or roadway projects
- Previous experience with local transportation agencies, e.g., CDOT, IDOT, FHWA, with knowledge of their guidelines
- Previous work experience in preparing and reviewing engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Previous Civil Engineering co-op or Internship related experience
- Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish is a plus
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, Bluebeam Revu, or other Engineering software
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.
The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.
City of Chicago
Job Posting
: Nov 12, 2026, 12:00:00 AM |Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External
: Nov 27, 2026, 11:59:00 PMPay Basis
:YearlyJob Number:
419170Description
BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on November 27, 2026.
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND
1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
The Chicago Department of Transportation is seeking two (2) Civil Engineer III’s to perform under supervision, professional civil engineering work of moderate complexity related to the construction, maintenance and design of various infrastructure projects, and performs related duties as required.
Essential Duties:
- Serves as a key staff member supporting the design and implementation of safety, operational, and state of good repair upgrades for over 1,000 miles of arterial roadways, 3,000 traffic signals, and more than 300 bridge and viaduct structures including 37 operable movable bridges.
- Assists in developing project scopes, budgets, and schedules.
- Prepares and/or reviews engineering plans, specifications, calculations, and cost estimates for bridge or roadway projects.
- Reviews Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports and documents including Bridge Condition Reports (BCR), Project Development Reports (PDRs), Type Size and Location (TSL) plans
-
Oversees scope, schedule and budget of design engineering consultants performing Phase I and
Phase II design engineering. - Oversees design review meetings.
- Prepares for and attends community meetings to present proposed projects.
- Coordinates with utilities and other City agencies throughout the design process to coordinate work, avoid conflicts and obtain approvals.
-
Coordinates projects with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and other regulatory agencies throughout the design process to obtain
project approval. - Prepares reports on the status and costs of bridge, roadway, and other infrastructure projects.
- Reviews invoices and payment vouchers related to bridge or highway projects.
- Assists with project accounting and finance agreements and encumbrances.
- Assists with planning and/or performing routine bridge inspections.
Additional duties may be required for this position
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a directly related field of engineering supplemented by one year of Civil Engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience, provided the minimum degree requirement is met.
NOTE: A valid State of Illinois driver’s license is required.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires bidders and applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected in seniority order.
Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
- Previous experience in the design or construction of bridge and/or roadway projects
- Previous experience with local transportation agencies, e.g., CDOT, IDOT, FHWA, with knowledge of their guidelines
- Previous work experience in preparing and reviewing engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Previous Civil Engineering co-op or Internship related experience
- Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish is a plus
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, Bluebeam Revu, or other Engineering software
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.
The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.
City of Chicago
Job Posting
: Nov 12, 2026, 12:00:00 AM |Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External
: Nov 27, 2026, 11:59:00 PMPay Basis
:YearlySee All 135+ Civil Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Civil Engineer JobsCivil Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- State of Illinois17
- Jobot6
- Burns & McDonnell5
- DB Sterlin Consultants5
- EXP4
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services16
- Staffing & Recruiting6
- Construction & Real Estate5
- Energy2
- Chemicals & Materials1
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in civil engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Active Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited program
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or comparable design and drafting software
- Experience with Illinois Department of Transportation project standards and submittal processes
- Familiarity with local municipality permitting, grading, and stormwater management requirements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with clients, contractors, and public agencies
Civil Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a civil engineer in Illinois?
To become a licensed civil engineer in Illinois, you earn an accredited bachelor's degree in civil engineering, pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to become an Engineer Intern, accumulate qualifying work experience under a licensed Professional Engineer, then pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Licensure is issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Many Illinois employers require or strongly prefer candidates who hold or are actively pursuing their PE license.
How much do civil engineers make in Illinois?
Civil engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $99,760 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,590 for the lowest 10% to over $157,410 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire civil engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring civil engineers in Illinois right now include State of Illinois, Jobot, and Burns & McDonnell, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's large public infrastructure pipeline and the presence of major engineering consultancies in the Chicago metro mean consistent openings across both public-sector agencies and private design firms throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most civil engineer jobs?
Chicago, Springfield, and Lombard have the most civil engineer openings in Illinois right now. Chicago dominates the distribution given its scale of ongoing transit, water, and vertical construction projects, while smaller metros like Rockford and Springfield generate steady openings tied to municipal infrastructure programs and state agency offices headquartered there.
Are there remote civil engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Civil engineering work is largely site-dependent, so fully remote positions make up a small share of openings. About 69% of civil engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those roles tend to involve design, drafting, or project management tasks that don't require physical site presence.
How can I get hired as a civil engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an engineering intern or junior project engineer role with a firm or public agency that sponsors Engineers in Training. AECOM and IDOT both bring on new graduates for structured early-career programs, and many Illinois counties and municipalities post associate engineer positions that require only an accredited degree and EIT credential. Candidates who complete the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before graduating stand out, and building a portfolio of coursework projects or AutoCAD work gives an edge in interviews.
Where can I find and apply to civil engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to civil engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across firms, agencies, and project types. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly through each listing.
See All 135+ Civil Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Civil Engineer Jobs