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.

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Overview

Open roles59
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityRolling Meadows, IL
Cities hiring23
Work type52% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 59+ Embedded jobs

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Embedded Systems Software Engineering Intern at UIUC Research Park (January - August 2027)
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Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Added 2d ago
Embedded Systems Software Engineering Intern at UIUC Research Park (January - August 2027)
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Champaign, Illinois
Embedded Systems Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Technical Program Management
$35 - $40/hr
Hybrid

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Northrop Grumman
Software/Principal Embedded Software Engineer
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2d ago
Software/Principal Embedded Software Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Embedded Systems Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Technical Program Management
$88k - $131k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Gentex
Embedded Software Engineer
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Gentex
Added 3d ago
Embedded Software Engineer
Gentex
Ottawa, Illinois
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

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Northrop Grumman
Manager Embedded Software Engineering 2 - Active TS/SCI - Rolling Meadows
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Northrop Grumman
Added 3d ago
Manager Embedded Software Engineering 2 - Active TS/SCI - Rolling Meadows
Northrop Grumman
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Program Management
Project Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$154k - $231k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE
PT Coordinator - Embedded Course Support (ECS)
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ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE
Added 4d ago
PT Coordinator - Embedded Course Support (ECS)
ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE
East Peoria, Illinois
Administrative & Office Support
Office Management
Project Management
$23.08 - $25.97/hr
Associate's degree in education
1,001-5,000

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See All 59 Embedded Jobs in Illinois

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Embedded Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Rolling Meadows
10 jobs
Chicago
8 jobs
Mossville
7 jobs
Chillicothe
5 jobs
Niles
4 jobs
Peoria
4 jobs
Schaumburg
3 jobs
McHenry
2 jobs
Oak Brook
2 jobs

Embedded Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman10
  • RFA Engineering
    RFA Engineering4
  • Shure
    Shure3
  • Caterpillar
    Caterpillar3
  • Motorola Solutions
    Motorola Solutions3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Technology & Software
  • 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, RFA Engineering, and Shure, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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?

Rolling Meadows, Chicago, and Mossville 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 48% of embedded openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 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 59 Embedded Jobs in Illinois

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

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