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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Embedded Systems Engineer - Controls
Why should you join OTTO Engineering?
- At OTTO, we don't just manufacture products - we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off-highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks.
- As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!
- Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company's profits to celebrate our collective success.
- As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success.
- We are proudly American!
Specifically, we are seeking experience with …
- C/C++
- Extensive CAN experience including SAE J1939 and CANopen
- PCB/PCBA development
- Hardware, firmware, and CAN network integration
- Supporting rugged, industrial, off-highway, military, transportation, or other harsh-environment products
- External software or engineering development partners
- Developing prototypes, proof-of-concept systems, or early-stage technology demonstrations
Our Embedded Systems Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, and support of embedded electronic systems used in OTTO products. This role requires strong hands-on experience with embedded firmware, board-level electronics, and CAN-based communications, with particular emphasis on SAE J1939 and CANopen. The engineer will support new product development, prototype and proof-of-concept work, customer support, and complex troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, and CAN networks. This position will also serve as a key technical resource for transferring existing embedded and CAN knowledge into OTTO's future technology organization.
The Embedded Systems Engineer will:
- Design and develop embedded electronic and firmware systems for new and existing products.
- Develop embedded firmware primarily in C and C++.
- Design, implement, and troubleshoot CAN communications, including SAE J1939 and CANopen.
- Analyze CAN traffic, message timing, network behavior, and customer integration issues using CAN diagnostic tools.
- Develop and support board-level electronics, including schematics, PCB/PCBA design, processor selection, and prototyping.
- Debug complex issues across hardware, firmware, communications, and customer systems.
- Support new product development from concept and prototype through validation and production release.
- Develop proof-of-concept systems and technology demonstrations for future products, customers, and trade shows.
- Serve as a technical resource for customer CAN issues and coordinate with external software development partners when required.
- Document key system architecture, CAN implementation details, design decisions, and troubleshooting methods; mentor less-experienced engineers as needed.
- Assists with other related duties as required or assigned.
About you - What you'll bring to the table:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5-10 years of embedded systems engineering experience with demonstrated senior-level technical responsibility.
- Strong hands-on embedded C and C++ development experience.
- Extensive hands-on CAN experience is required.
- Strong practical experience with SAE J1939 and CANopen is required or strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot CAN networks using protocol analyzers, bus traces, diagnostic tools, and embedded debuggers.
- Strong understanding of embedded electronics and hardware/software integration, including the ability to read and review schematics.
- Experience with PCB/PCBA development, microcontrollers/processors, and hardware debugging.
- Experience developing embedded products from architecture through production release.
- Strong system-level troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing problem-solving skills.
What OTTO offers for this specific position:
The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at-level experience.
Target base salary hiring range: $90,000 to $115,000, based on qualifications and experience.- Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it's fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO's profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
- Vacation: 80 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.
OTTO's Benefits:
Health:
Medical Insurance-
o HMO Plan
o Standard PPO Plan
o Enhanced PPO Plan
o High Deducible PPO Plan
o FSA, LFSA, and HSA
Dental Insurance-
o Base Plan
o Buy-Up Plan
Vision Insurance
401(k) with a company match
Life insurance:
o Life/AD&D
o Voluntary Life/AD&D
o Short-Term Disability
o Long-Term Disability
10 paid holidays
Company picnic
Holiday party
AND numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and hiring the best qualified candidates in a fair and equitable manner. To manage our applicant volume, we utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) equipped with AI-driven screening capabilities which we may use to evaluate initial alignment with role requirements. These tools assist our human hiring team but do not replace human judgement. All results are reviewed by our human hiring team to ensure an objective evaluation for every candidate; no automated final decisions are made.
To review all of OTTO's available opportunities, please visit our career page by clicking on the link below:
https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/ (https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/)
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran
Federal Notices
Federal EEOC - Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf)
NLRB Notice (https://www.nlrb.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/node-251/employee-rights-under-the-nlra-poster-two-page-85-x-11-version-pdf-2022.pdf)
E-Verify (https://8765373.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8765373/HR/E-Verify_Participation_Poster%20(002).pdf)
Request for Assistance / Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.
If you need an alternative method for applying, please contact OTTO Engineering via telephone at 847-428-7171 or email at HRDepartment @ ottoexcellence.com
These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests; please do not inquire as to the status of an application.
OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; any submissions will not be honored.
Embedded Systems Engineer - Controls
Why should you join OTTO Engineering?
- At OTTO, we don't just manufacture products - we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off-highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks.
- As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!
- Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company's profits to celebrate our collective success.
- As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success.
- We are proudly American!
Specifically, we are seeking experience with …
- C/C++
- Extensive CAN experience including SAE J1939 and CANopen
- PCB/PCBA development
- Hardware, firmware, and CAN network integration
- Supporting rugged, industrial, off-highway, military, transportation, or other harsh-environment products
- External software or engineering development partners
- Developing prototypes, proof-of-concept systems, or early-stage technology demonstrations
Our Embedded Systems Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, and support of embedded electronic systems used in OTTO products. This role requires strong hands-on experience with embedded firmware, board-level electronics, and CAN-based communications, with particular emphasis on SAE J1939 and CANopen. The engineer will support new product development, prototype and proof-of-concept work, customer support, and complex troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, and CAN networks. This position will also serve as a key technical resource for transferring existing embedded and CAN knowledge into OTTO's future technology organization.
The Embedded Systems Engineer will:
- Design and develop embedded electronic and firmware systems for new and existing products.
- Develop embedded firmware primarily in C and C++.
- Design, implement, and troubleshoot CAN communications, including SAE J1939 and CANopen.
- Analyze CAN traffic, message timing, network behavior, and customer integration issues using CAN diagnostic tools.
- Develop and support board-level electronics, including schematics, PCB/PCBA design, processor selection, and prototyping.
- Debug complex issues across hardware, firmware, communications, and customer systems.
- Support new product development from concept and prototype through validation and production release.
- Develop proof-of-concept systems and technology demonstrations for future products, customers, and trade shows.
- Serve as a technical resource for customer CAN issues and coordinate with external software development partners when required.
- Document key system architecture, CAN implementation details, design decisions, and troubleshooting methods; mentor less-experienced engineers as needed.
- Assists with other related duties as required or assigned.
About you - What you'll bring to the table:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5-10 years of embedded systems engineering experience with demonstrated senior-level technical responsibility.
- Strong hands-on embedded C and C++ development experience.
- Extensive hands-on CAN experience is required.
- Strong practical experience with SAE J1939 and CANopen is required or strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot CAN networks using protocol analyzers, bus traces, diagnostic tools, and embedded debuggers.
- Strong understanding of embedded electronics and hardware/software integration, including the ability to read and review schematics.
- Experience with PCB/PCBA development, microcontrollers/processors, and hardware debugging.
- Experience developing embedded products from architecture through production release.
- Strong system-level troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing problem-solving skills.
What OTTO offers for this specific position:
The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at-level experience.
Target base salary hiring range: $90,000 to $115,000, based on qualifications and experience.- Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it's fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO's profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
- Vacation: 80 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.
OTTO's Benefits:
Health:
Medical Insurance-
o HMO Plan
o Standard PPO Plan
o Enhanced PPO Plan
o High Deducible PPO Plan
o FSA, LFSA, and HSA
Dental Insurance-
o Base Plan
o Buy-Up Plan
Vision Insurance
401(k) with a company match
Life insurance:
o Life/AD&D
o Voluntary Life/AD&D
o Short-Term Disability
o Long-Term Disability
10 paid holidays
Company picnic
Holiday party
AND numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and hiring the best qualified candidates in a fair and equitable manner. To manage our applicant volume, we utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) equipped with AI-driven screening capabilities which we may use to evaluate initial alignment with role requirements. These tools assist our human hiring team but do not replace human judgement. All results are reviewed by our human hiring team to ensure an objective evaluation for every candidate; no automated final decisions are made.
To review all of OTTO's available opportunities, please visit our career page by clicking on the link below:
https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/ (https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/)
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran
Federal Notices
Federal EEOC - Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf)
NLRB Notice (https://www.nlrb.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/node-251/employee-rights-under-the-nlra-poster-two-page-85-x-11-version-pdf-2022.pdf)
E-Verify (https://8765373.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8765373/HR/E-Verify_Participation_Poster%20(002).pdf)
Request for Assistance / Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.
If you need an alternative method for applying, please contact OTTO Engineering via telephone at 847-428-7171 or email at HRDepartment @ ottoexcellence.com
These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests; please do not inquire as to the status of an application.
OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; any submissions will not be honored.
See All 8 Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEmbedded Systems Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Systems Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
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 Northrop Grumman, Shure, and Watchfire Signs, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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?
Rolling Meadows, Niles, 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 November 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
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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