Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, with strong demand concentrated in defense and aerospace, automotive systems, industrial automation, and medical devices, and openings that run from entry-level firmware roles through principal and staff engineers. Chicago, Rockford, and the Route 128-equivalent corridor stretching through Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates are the primary hiring hubs, where anchor employers like Motorola Solutions, Caterpillar, and Abbott have maintained deep embedded engineering teams for decades. The most in-demand specialties are real-time operating systems, RTOS firmware, CAN and communication protocol stacks, and safety-critical software under IEC 62304 or DO-178C standards. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Location
Champaign, Illinois
Employment Type
Intern
Location Type
Hybrid
Department
Technology and InnovationElectronic Design
Compensation
- Champaign, IL$35 – $40 per hour
The posted salary represents the lowest and highest ranges RV Tech reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position. Any posted salary range pertains only to the estimated starting pay for the role. Actual starting pay is based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, skillset, qualifications, specific competencies, relevant education, and location.
About Us
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.
Candidates should be available from January 11, 2027 to August 13, 2027.
Role Summary
As a Software Engineering Intern, you will support the Infotainment Platform Enablement team focused on next-generation infotainment platforms. The team enables early hardware bring-up develops manufacturing validation software, and builds system-level workload emulation and diagnostics frameworks to de-risk high compute automotive platforms well ahead of production. This role offers hands-on exposure to embedded systems, hardware-software integration, vehicle workload emulation, and large-scale diagnostics telemetry systems running on cutting-edge compute platforms.
Responsibilities
Contribute to the design and implementation of a Software Application Framework for infotainment and validation systems
Support hardware bring-up and validation of Electrical Control Units (ECUs)
Develop test utilities and manufacturing software in C/C++ and Python
Assist in emulating vehicle workloads to validate system behavior and power/performance characteristics
Debug hardware and software integration issues across subsystems (camera, display, audio, connectivity, sensors)
Collect, analyze, and visualize diagnostics telemetry data to support root cause analysis
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver scalable solutions
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Currently enrolled in a full-time degree program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Strong programming skills in C/C++ and/or Python
Understanding of embedded systems fundamentals
Must be located in Champaign, IL and able to work out of our office in the Research Park.
Preferred Qualifications:
Exposure to embedded platform architecture (GPU, PCIe, camera pipelines, high-speed interfaces)
Prior experience with high-compute platforms such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, or equivalent SoCs
Coursework or internship experience involving:
Camera / Display / Audio subsystems
WiFi / Bluetooth / networking interfaces
Linux-based embedded systems
Experience with telemetry, data processing, or analytics tools (e.g., Databricks or equivalent data platforms) is a plus
Total Rewards
We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.
Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.
In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers).
Equal Opportunity
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.
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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.
See All 46 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEmbedded Software Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Software Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman10

- RFA Engineering4
- Caterpillar3

- Motorola Solutions2

- Medela Medizintechnik GmbH & Co. Handels KG2M
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 software engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Proficiency in C and C++ for bare-metal or RTOS-based embedded development
- Experience with microcontrollers and microprocessors such as ARM Cortex or TI MSP platforms
- Familiarity with communication protocols including CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet
- Exposure to debugging tools like JTAG, oscilloscopes, or logic analyzers in a lab setting
- Experience with version control systems and cross-platform build environments such as Git and CMake
Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a embedded software engineer in Illinois?
Embedded software engineering in Illinois does not require a state-issued license, but most employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering from an accredited program. Illinois graduates often enter through co-op or internship pipelines at defense contractors, medical device firms, and industrial automation companies. Earning a Certified Embedded Systems Engineer designation through the IEEE Computer Society strengthens a candidate's profile considerably in Illinois's safety-critical and regulated industries.
How much do embedded software engineers make in Illinois?
Embedded software engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $132,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,980 for the lowest 10% to over $194,740 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire embedded software engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring embedded software engineers in Illinois right now include Northrop Grumman, RFA Engineering, and Caterpillar, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of defense primes, medical device manufacturers, and industrial automation companies means embedded openings tend to cluster around firms with long-standing engineering campuses in the Chicago metro and the Rockford corridor.
Which Illinois cities have the most embedded software engineer jobs?
Rolling Meadows, Mossville, and Chillicothe have the most embedded software engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago anchors demand through its dense cluster of defense contractors and medical device firms, while suburban hubs like Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates reflect large campus footprints from companies like Motorola Solutions, and Rockford draws openings from aerospace and heavy-equipment manufacturers embedded in that region's industrial base.
Are there remote embedded software engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Embedded software engineering is inherently hardware-dependent, so most roles require lab access, hardware bring-up, or on-site debugging at some stage. About 38% of embedded software engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in firmware architecture, BSP development, or software integration work where the hardware phase is already complete.
How can I get hired as a embedded software engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate or associate engineer role at one of Illinois's large defense or medical device employers, which run structured onboarding programs for candidates without professional experience. Caterpillar and Motorola Solutions both hire new graduates into embedded and firmware teams through campus pipelines. Building a portfolio of personal microcontroller projects, contributing to open-source embedded firmware, or completing an IEEE Certified Embedded Systems Engineer prep course signals readiness to Illinois hiring managers who screen entry-level candidates heavily on demonstrated hands-on initiative.
Where can I find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across the state's defense, medical device, industrial, and automotive sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 46 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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