Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Development Engineer jobs in Illinois are actively hiring, with strong demand concentrated in advanced manufacturing, defense systems, automotive engineering, and industrial automation, covering positions from entry-level associates through senior principal engineers. Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford anchor most of the hiring, with major employers like Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Boeing maintaining deep engineering operations across the state. The most in-demand specialties include product development, process engineering, and mechanical systems design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Development Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles61
Top employerMolex
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring26
Work type39% Remote
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 61+ Development Engineer jobs

Expedia Group
Software Development Engineer II
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Expedia Group
Added 4d ago
Software Development Engineer II
Expedia Group
Chicago, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
$111k - $178k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Numat
Fabric Process Development Engineer
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Numat
Added 5d ago
Fabric Process Development Engineer
Numat
Chicago, Illinois
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
11-50

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Kimley-Horn
Civil Engineer - Land Development
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Kimley-Horn
Added 5d ago
Civil Engineer - Land Development
Kimley-Horn
Chicago, Illinois
Construction Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
$95k - $130k/yr
On-Site
5,001-10,000

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SIG Group
Senior Engineer, Product Development
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SIG Group
Added 6d ago
Senior Engineer, Product Development
SIG Group
Northlake, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Success
Sales
$95k - $110k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
5,001-10,000

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Amphenol
Product Development / Mechanical Design Engineer - High Speed Connectors
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Amphenol
Added 6d ago
Product Development / Mechanical Design Engineer - High Speed Connectors
Amphenol
Schaumburg, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$85k - $140k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

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See All 61 Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Development Engineer Jobs

Development Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Schaumburg
9 jobs
Lisle
5 jobs
Niles
5 jobs
Decatur
2 jobs
Mossville
2 jobs
Woodstock
2 jobs
Northfield
2 jobs
Bolingbrook
2 jobs

Development Engineer Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Molex
Molex6 open roles
Amphenol
Amphenol6 open roles
Shure
Shure5 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Insurance
  • Manufacturing
  • Fashion & Apparel
  • Chemicals & Materials

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in development engineer jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering from an ABET-accredited program
  • Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA for product design and documentation
  • Proficiency in design verification, prototype testing, and iterative product development processes
  • Familiarity with GD&T standards, engineering drawings, and manufacturing tolerances
  • Knowledge of ISO or IATF quality management systems relevant to Illinois manufacturing sectors
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills for working with production, quality, and supply chain teams

Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a development engineer in Illinois?

Most development engineer roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, industrial, or a closely related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program. Illinois does not require a state license for most private-sector development engineering roles, but engineers who sign off on public projects may pursue Professional Engineer licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Building a portfolio of design or development projects strengthens candidacy considerably.

How much do development engineers make in Illinois?

Development engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $121,560 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $79,120 for the lowest 10% to over $176,110 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire development engineers in Illinois?

Employers hiring development engineers in Illinois right now include Molex, Amphenol, and Shure, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of manufacturing headquarters, defense contractors, and medtech companies means demand for development engineers is distributed across both the Chicago metro and downstate industrial corridors.

Which Illinois cities have the most development engineer jobs?

Chicago, Schaumburg, and Lisle have the most development engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago drives volume through its dense concentration of corporate headquarters, aerospace suppliers, and medical device firms, while Peoria reflects Caterpillar's large engineering workforce and Rockford supports a robust industrial machinery and aerospace component manufacturing base.

Are there remote development engineer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since development engineering typically involves hands-on prototyping, lab work, or factory collaboration. About 78% of development engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote arrangements most often found in software-integrated product development or systems engineering roles that don't require physical lab access.

How can I get hired as a development engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a co-op, internship, or new-graduate program at one of Illinois's large manufacturing or engineering employers. Caterpillar in Peoria, Abbott in Lake County, and Boeing in the Chicago suburbs all run structured new-grad engineering programs. Candidates with no direct experience can also move laterally from quality technician, manufacturing engineer, or test engineering roles. Completing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and building a hands-on project portfolio give applicants a measurable edge over candidates with academic credentials alone.

Where can I find and apply to development engineer jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to development engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 61 Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Development Engineer Jobs