Engineering Director Jobs in Illinois

Engineering Director jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with the market concentrated in advanced manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and life sciences at levels from emerging leaders through senior executives overseeing large engineering organizations. Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford anchor most of the hiring, where established employers like Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Boeing maintain significant engineering leadership footprints. The most in-demand specialties include mechanical systems, software engineering leadership, and civil and infrastructure engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles80
Top employerAbbVie
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring26
Work type51% Hybrid
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 80+ Engineering Director jobs

Advocate Aurora Health
Associate Director of Clinical Engineering-Imaging Operations (IL)
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Advocate Aurora Health
New 15h ago
Associate Director of Clinical Engineering-Imaging Operations (IL)
Advocate Aurora Health
Park Ridge, Illinois
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Project Management
$59 - $88.5/hr
Associate's degree in computer science
10,000+

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Teradyne
Director, Software Engineering
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Teradyne
Added 1d ago
Director, Software Engineering
Teradyne
Deer Park, Illinois
Account Management
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
$235k - $375k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
5,001-10,000

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CBRE
Datacenter Design Engineering Director
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CBRE
Added 1d ago
Datacenter Design Engineering Director
CBRE
Chicago, Illinois
Strategy & Corporate Development
Project & Program Management
Human Resources
Consulting & Professional Services
Business Strategy
Project Management
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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CBRE
Global Director, Engineering & Technical Operations (Industrial, Logistics & Defense)
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CBRE
Added 1d ago
Global Director, Engineering & Technical Operations (Industrial, Logistics & Defense)
CBRE
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Business Strategy
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Partnerships & Business Development
$220k - $240k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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A
Director of Engineering
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A
Added 2d ago
Director of Engineering
Ameriscan Designs, Inc
Bellwood, Illinois
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
$115k - $130k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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See All 80 Engineering Director Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Engineering Director Jobs

Engineering Director Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

North Chicago
12 jobs
Oak Brook
3 jobs
Lake Forest
3 jobs
Schaumburg
2 jobs
Warrenville
2 jobs
Dixon
1 job
Aurora
1 job
Geneva
1 job

Engineering Director Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

  • AbbVie
    AbbVie12
  • Novolex
    Novolex3
  • CBRE
    CBRE2
  • CVS Health
    CVS Health2
  • Vizient
    Vizient2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Food & Beverage
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Energy

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in engineering director jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program required by most Illinois employers
  • Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience including at least five in leadership
  • Proven ability to manage cross-functional engineering teams of fifteen or more engineers
  • Experience leading product development or capital infrastructure programs in Illinois-based industries
  • Familiarity with Illinois regulatory environments including IEPA compliance for manufacturing directors
  • Professional Engineer license issued or recognized in Illinois preferred for civil and structural roles

Engineering Director Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a engineering director in Illinois?

Most engineering directors in Illinois reach the role by combining an ABET-accredited engineering degree with a decade or more of progressive technical and leadership experience. For civil, structural, and environmental engineering leadership roles, holding or being eligible for a Professional Engineer license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation strengthens candidacy significantly. Employers in manufacturing and technology typically prioritize demonstrated team leadership and program delivery over formal credentials alone.

How much do engineering directors make in Illinois?

Engineering directors in Illinois earn a median of about $163,610 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $112,090 for the lowest 10% to over $231,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire engineering directors in Illinois?

Employers hiring engineering directors in Illinois right now include AbbVie, Novolex, and CBRE, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base and growing technology sector mean openings appear consistently across industries from heavy equipment and aerospace to medical devices and enterprise software.

Which Illinois cities have the most engineering director jobs?

Chicago, North Chicago, and Oak Brook have the most engineering director openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of corporate headquarters, technology firms, and infrastructure projects, while Peoria and Rockford generate steady demand through anchor manufacturers like Caterpillar and major aerospace and industrial suppliers that rely on experienced engineering leadership year-round.

Are there remote engineering director jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical fields because engineering directors in Illinois frequently oversee on-site teams, facilities, and manufacturing operations requiring physical presence. About 71% of engineering director openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with remote arrangements most often found in software engineering leadership and enterprise technology roles rather than manufacturing or infrastructure.

How can I get hired as a engineering director in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic path is moving into a senior engineer or engineering manager role first, then building toward director-level responsibilities over time. Large Illinois employers like Caterpillar, Exelon, and major Chicago-area engineering consultancies regularly hire engineering managers and team leads who can grow into director positions. Earning a Professional Engineer license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or completing a part-time MBA at a Chicago-area university strengthens a promotion case considerably.

Where can I find and apply to engineering director jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to engineering director jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and metro areas. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to each one.

See All 80 Engineering Director Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Engineering Director Jobs