Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Control Systems Engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in advanced manufacturing, food and beverage processing, utilities, and industrial automation, drawing candidates at every level from entry-level automation technicians through senior principal engineers. Chicago, Rockford, and the Peoria metro are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by established employers like Rockwell Automation, Caterpillar, and Abbott Laboratories. PLC programming, SCADA integration, and safety instrumented systems are the most in-demand specialties across Illinois facilities. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Career Area:
EngineeringJob Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
About Advanced Power Technologies:
Advanced Power Technologies (APT) defines and delivers Caterpillar’s next generation of power system technologies. The organization leads product strategy, long term technology roadmaps, and lifecycle leadership for advanced power, electrification, electronic controls, software, and energy solutions across the entire range of Power and Energy applications.
APT integrates hardware, software, and digital services to deliver scalable, reliable, and future‑ready power solutions. Partnering closely with product groups, engineering, and global delivery teams, APT balances near‑term business execution with long‑term technology leadership—enabling best in class electronics quality, fast response to market changes, differentiated customer value through vertical integration, improved uptime, and sustainable power systems across Caterpillar’s Power and Energy product portfolio.
Job Summary:
What You Will Do:
- Lead L3 electrification subsystem control programs for motors, generators, and DC/DC converters, ensuring alignment with product plans, technical requirements, and business priorities.
- Manage release content, schedules, budgets, and delivery commitments for assigned electrification subsystem programs.
- Coordinate cross-functional execution across controls, software, systems, components, product groups, validation, and program teams to deliver integrated subsystem solutions.
- Develop, review, and support release of controls and/or software content for electrification applications.
- Identify and manage program risks, technical issues, resource needs, and tradeoffs to maintain delivery commitments.
- Provide technical guidance and decision support to ensure L3 subsystem controls and software solutions meet performance, quality, safety, and reliability expectations.
- Develop controls or software for the programs that are being executed.
What You Will Have:
Communicating Complex Concepts: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Conceptual Thinking: Knowledge of thinking and reasoning at a conceptual level; ability to identify the critical ideas and interdependencies among system elements that impact performance.
Embedded Systems: Knowledge of embedded systems and their applications; ability to develop embedded systems with varying levels of complexity to control the operations of the machine it is embedded within.
Requirements Analysis: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
Education: Requires a degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
Top Candidates Will Also Have:
- Experience in embedded systems
- Knowledge or experience in electric drive systems
- Controls or software development experience
- MatLab / Simulink experience
- C programming language experience
Summary Pay Range:
$128,470.00 - $192,710.00Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.
Benefits:
Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
401(k) savings plans*
Health Savings Account (HSA)*
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
Health Lifestyle Programs*
Employee Assistance Program*
Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
Career Development*
Incentive bonus*
Disability benefits
Life Insurance
Parental leave
Adoption benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
- These benefits also apply to part-time employees
Relocation is available for this position. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
September 25, 2026 - October 9, 2026Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.
See All 15 Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Control Systems Engineer JobsControl Systems Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Control Systems Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in control systems engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, or a closely related field
- Proficiency with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi
- Experience designing or maintaining SCADA and HMI systems in an industrial environment
- Familiarity with ISA or IEC 61511 functional safety standards for process industries
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and control panel drawings
- Strong troubleshooting skills for automated production lines or utility control systems
Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a control systems engineer in Illinois?
A bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or controls engineering is the standard starting point for control systems engineer roles in Illinois. Illinois does not require a state-issued license specifically for control systems engineers, though many employers value a Professional Engineer license issued through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for senior or consulting roles. Certifications such as the ISA Certified Automation Professional and vendor-specific PLC credentials strengthen candidacy significantly with Illinois industrial employers.
How much do control systems engineers make in Illinois?
Control systems engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $111,930 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,920 for the lowest 10% to over $168,770 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire control systems engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring control systems engineers in Illinois right now include Caterpillar, Novaspect, and Knapp, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of food processing plants, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and heavy industrial facilities means demand is spread across both large multinationals and regional engineering contractors throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most control systems engineer jobs?
Chicago, Mossville, and Schaumburg have the most control systems engineer openings in Illinois right now. Chicago and its suburbs drive the largest share of listings thanks to the region's manufacturing corridors, utility infrastructure, and engineering firm headquarters, while Peoria and Rockford reflect strong demand from heavy equipment makers and aerospace suppliers rooted in those metros.
Are there remote control systems engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 100% of control systems engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most controls work. The portions of the role most likely to be performed remotely include off-site programming, system design documentation, and project engineering support for installations managed by on-site technicians.
How can I get hired as a control systems engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting automation technician or junior controls engineer roles at Illinois manufacturers, which typically require an associate degree or technical certificate rather than a four-year degree. Large employers like Caterpillar and Abbott run co-op and new-graduate programs at their Illinois facilities. Building hands-on PLC experience through vocational programs at Illinois community colleges, obtaining a basic ISA certification, and applying to project support roles at systems integrators are all concrete ways to open the door without prior industry experience.
Where can I find and apply to control systems engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to control systems engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 15 Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Control Systems Engineer Jobs