Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Embedded Systems Engineer jobs in Illinois are consistently in demand, with the state's deep manufacturing, defense, and automation sectors driving openings from entry-level firmware roles through senior systems architects. Chicago, the greater Rockford corridor, and the Peoria metro anchor most of the hiring, with companies like Motorola Solutions, Abbott, and Caterpillar maintaining long-standing embedded engineering teams across the state. The most sought-after specialties are real-time operating systems, automotive embedded software, and medical device firmware. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles8
Top employerShure
Top cityNiles, IL
Cities hiring6
Work type100% Hybrid
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 8+ Embedded Systems Engineer 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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Diversified Services Network
(1113733) Senior Embedded Systems Validation Engineer
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Diversified Services Network
Added 1w ago
(1113733) Senior Embedded Systems Validation Engineer
Diversified Services Network
Mossville, Illinois
Backend Engineering
Data Science
Software Engineering
$65k - $76k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

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Watchfire Signs
Software Engineer (Embedded Systems, Linux)
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Watchfire Signs
Added 3w ago
Software Engineer (Embedded Systems, Linux)
Watchfire Signs
Danville, Illinois
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
201-500

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Shure
Engineer Sr, Embedded Systems Development
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Shure
Added 1mo ago
Engineer Sr, Embedded Systems Development
Shure
Niles, Illinois
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
$116k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Shure
Embedded Systems Development Engineer
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Shure
Added 1mo ago
Embedded Systems Development Engineer
Shure
Niles, Illinois
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$116k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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See All 8 Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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

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Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Niles
2 jobs
Rolling Meadows
2 jobs
Danville
1 job
Champaign
1 job
Mossville
1 job
Schaumburg
1 job

Embedded Systems Engineer Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

Shure
Shure2 open roles
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman2 open roles
Watchfire Signs
Watchfire Signs1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Illinois Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
  • Proficiency in C and C++ programming for embedded and real-time systems
  • Experience with microcontrollers such as ARM Cortex, PIC, or STM32 architectures
  • Familiarity with RTOS platforms including FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or QNX
  • Knowledge of communication protocols including CAN, SPI, I2C, and UART
  • Experience with hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG

Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a embedded systems engineer in Illinois?

Most Illinois employers require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field, and embedded systems engineering carries no state-issued license in Illinois. Graduates who pursue an FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) credential through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation strengthen their candidacy for roles at regulated industries like medical devices or defense contractors. Building a portfolio of documented embedded projects and contributing to open-source firmware work accelerates hiring considerably.

How much do embedded systems engineers make in Illinois?

Embedded systems engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $133,220 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,420 for the lowest 10% to over $210,100 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire embedded systems engineers in Illinois?

Employers hiring embedded systems engineers in Illinois right now include Shure, Northrop Grumman, and Watchfire Signs, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of medical device manufacturers around the Chicago suburbs, defense contractors near Rockford, and heavy equipment makers in the Peoria area means demand is spread across multiple established industry clusters.

Which Illinois cities have the most embedded systems engineer jobs?

Niles, Rolling Meadows, and Danville have the most embedded systems engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago and its northwest suburbs dominate due to the concentration of medical technology firms, telecommunications companies, and corporate engineering centers, while Rockford's aerospace and defense manufacturing base and Peoria's heavy equipment industry, led by Caterpillar, account for strong demand outside the metro.

Are there remote embedded systems engineer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Embedded systems engineering is inherently hands-on, requiring access to physical hardware, lab equipment, and prototype boards, which limits full remote arrangements. About 100% of embedded systems engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with most flexibility found in software-heavy portions of the role such as firmware architecture, code review, and simulation work.

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

The most realistic entry path is through an associate hardware or firmware engineer posting at an Illinois medical device or industrial automation company, where structured new-graduate programs are most common. Abbott and Motorola Solutions have historically brought on entry-level embedded candidates in the Chicago area, and Caterpillar runs rotational engineering programs out of its Peoria headquarters. Candidates who can demonstrate hands-on work through senior capstone projects, personal microcontroller builds, or contributions to open-source embedded repositories consistently edge out those with coursework alone.

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

You can find and apply to embedded systems engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each one.

See All 8 Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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