Embedded Jobs in Illinois
Embedded jobs in Illinois are active across the state's deep manufacturing, defense, and industrial automation sectors, with demand at every level from junior firmware engineers to senior embedded architects. Chicago's North Shore tech corridor, Rockford's advanced manufacturing cluster, and the Peoria region anchor most of the hiring, where companies like Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Abbott Laboratories maintain large embedded engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties include real-time operating systems, automotive-grade firmware, and IoT edge development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Embedded JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 60+ Embedded jobs











Company Overview
At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future.
Department Overview
Our Applied Technology organization puts some of Motorola Solutions' brightest minds on unique, highly challenging projects. Based on decades of experience with our customers, we apply leading-edge technologies to support security and safety throughout the world. We engineer our products from start to finish and manufacture them in-house. We're known for low volume and high capability with focused specialization in areas including software-defined radios, advanced antenna solutions, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, signals intelligence and more. We can't tell you much more about what we do, but we can tell you it's amazing.
Job Description
Candidates for this position are software engineering students who want real-world development experience on products being delivered to our customers. You will be involved in the development of software for one or more projects involving our Software Defined Radio (SDR) or custom RF communication system. You will be part of a small (1-6 person), multi-disciplinary team that has full responsibility for product development from requirements gathering to final product delivery. You may be involved in all areas of development (i.e. requirements analysis, high and low level design, coding, documentation, and testing and validation). Our products are developed to very high standards of quality and reliability and you will have the opportunity to learn the department’s software process during all development activities.
Candidates with an active security clearance are encouraged to apply.
You should be skilled in C, C++, or Java. Strong preference will be given to candidates also familiar with working in a Linux development environment. GIT skills are also a plus.
Ideal candidates have experience working with communications protocols, operating system internals, Linux and/or Android development, or driver development.
This position is for embedded software work, and therefore is not a good match for developers wishing to focus on .NET, C#, Rails, or other high level application/web technologies.
You must possess knowledge in (or an interest in) microprocessor-based hardware design. Working in a small project team, your tasks will often involve hands-on interaction with product hardware for developing and debugging.In this position, you will need a willingness to learn one or more wireless communication standards (e.g., GSM, UMTS,CDMA, LTE).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are important. You will present status of your progress to other team members and to management. You may also have the opportunity to interact with our customers.
NOTE: A candidate for full-time employee in our department must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contract. As an intern there will not be a need to apply for security clearance, but if an internship is converted to a full-time position, the candidate must obtain the necessary security clearance.
Basic Requirements
Candidate must be pursuing a Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering or related engineering degree
Candidate graduation date must occur between December 2027 and June 2029
Candidate must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contract. (See note below)
.
Travel Requirements
None
Relocation Provided
None
Position Type
Intern
EEO Statement
Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.
We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this Reasonable Accommodations Form so we can assist you.
See All 60 Embedded Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Embedded JobsEmbedded Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
- Artificial Intelligence
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in embedded jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science recognized by Illinois employers
- Proficiency in C or C++ for bare-metal or RTOS-based embedded development
- Experience with microcontrollers such as ARM Cortex-M, PIC, or AVR platforms
- Familiarity with hardware debugging tools including JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
- Knowledge of communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN bus
- Experience with version control systems and embedded software development life cycles
Embedded Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a embedded in Illinois?
Embedded engineering roles in Illinois do not require a state-issued license, but most employers expect a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science from an ABET-accredited program. Many Illinois universities, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Institute of Technology, offer programs that feed directly into the state's manufacturing and defense employers. Relevant certifications in real-time systems or specific microcontroller platforms strengthen candidacy considerably.
Which companies hire embeddeds in Illinois?
Employers hiring embeddeds in Illinois right now include Northrop Grumman, Caterpillar, and Shure, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of defense contractors, industrial automation firms, and medical device manufacturers means embedded roles appear across a notably broad range of industries compared with most states.
Which Illinois cities have the most embedded jobs?
Mossville, Rolling Meadows, and Chicago account for the most embedded openings in Illinois. Chicago and its northern suburbs drive volume through headquarters and R&D centers for defense and medical device companies, while Rockford's advanced manufacturing base and Peoria's heavy-equipment sector generate consistent embedded demand outside the main metro.
Are there remote embedded jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Embedded development is fundamentally hardware-adjacent, and most Illinois roles require hands-on access to development boards, test equipment, or production lines. About 32% of embedded openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in higher-level firmware architecture or software-defined radio work where lab access is less critical day to day.
How can I get hired as a embedded in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate firmware engineer role at one of Illinois's mid-size industrial automation or medical device firms, where smaller teams offer broad exposure faster than large defense primes. Companies in the Chicago North Shore and Rockford corridors regularly hire new graduates who can demonstrate a portfolio of personal or capstone projects on common microcontroller platforms. Completing a relevant internship through the University of Illinois, Northwestern, or Illinois Tech and earning a certification in an RTOS such as FreeRTOS adds measurable credibility when competing for first roles.
Where can I find and apply to embedded jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to embedded jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Illinois employers. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and location, and apply directly to each position.
See All 60 Embedded Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Embedded Jobs