Network Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Network Security Engineer jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in financial services, healthcare IT, and enterprise technology, with openings at every level from entry-level analysts stepping into security roles through senior architects and team leads. Chicago is the dominant hiring hub, with Naperville and Schaumburg also active as major suburban technology corridors. Established employers like Discover Financial, Allstate, and United Airlines have ongoing needs for network security engineers protecting large, complex environments. Cloud security, zero-trust architecture, and network intrusion detection are the specialties appearing most consistently in Illinois postings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Network Security Engineer jobs
Company and Vision
PlanetArt’s vision is to be the leading seller of personalized and make-on-demand products worldwide. We provide consumers with unmatched tools and content and an unparalleled end-to-end customer experience that results in high-quality, meaningful finished products and memorable celebrations of life events.
The company’s brands include the popular FreePrints and FreePrints Photobooks apps and the industry leading SimplytoImpress card and stationery site, as well as Personal Creations, CafePress and ISeeMe! Visit www.planetart.com to learn more about our brands.
We have more than 500 team members across multiple offices, primarily in Calabasas CA, San Diego CA, Woodridge IL, Minneapolis, MN and Pleasanton, CA. We also have team members in two company-owned offices in China, as well as in Europe.
Job Overview
PlanetArt is looking for a Network Security Engineer to support the company’s Security Department. The successful candidate will assess network and server security, monitor security events, and investigate alerts across Cisco technologies, Palo Alto firewalls, Windows and Linux servers, and endpoint security tools. This role requires an understanding of SIEM log collection and monitoring, EDR configuration, and SOC alert triage. The engineer will work with infrastructure teams to address security risks; direct configuration of network devices and firewalls is outside the scope of this position.
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the (office) area as we operate on a hybrid work model (3 days onsite, 2 remote)
What You’ll Do
Key Responsibilities
- Review Cisco and Palo Alto firewall policies, access controls, segmentation, VPNs, and security logs.
- Assess Windows and Linux server hardening, patching, authentication, permissions, and audit logging.
- Verify SIEM collection of firewall, network, server, and endpoint logs; investigate logging gaps.
- Monitor SIEM and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) alerts for suspicious activity.
- Triage alerts: validate detections, distinguish false positives, assess severity, and escalate incidents.
- Correlate network, server, identity, and endpoint events to identify affected systems and timelines.
- Configure EDR policies, detection settings, exclusions, and alerts through approved change procedures.
- Coordinate incident containment and remediation with infrastructure teams; track issues to resolution.
- Document investigations and response procedures; evaluate AI use in analysis and detection.
- Develop, test, and maintain security tools for log analysis, alert triage, and automation.
- Recommend security improvements to the teams responsible for network and server configuration.
Requirements
What You Should Have
Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or equivalent experience.
- 3–5 years of experience in network security, security operations, incident response, or a related role.
- Working knowledge of Cisco technologies and Palo Alto firewalls, including interpreting configurations, policies, and logs; understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, NAT, VPNs, and segmentation.
- Understanding of Windows and Linux server security, including hardening, patching, authentication, permissions, and audit logging.
- Knowledge of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), including log collection, forwarding, ingestion, parsing, correlation, and alert monitoring.
- Experience with EDR configuration and investigation, including policies, detection settings, exclusions, endpoint telemetry, and response capabilities.
- Ability to triage alerts as a SOC analyst would, gather evidence, prioritize threats, and escalate incidents with clear documentation.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across security, network, and infrastructure teams.
- Understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated into security workflows, including validating AI-generated findings, protecting sensitive data, and maintaining analyst oversight.
- Ability to develop, test, and document security scripts and tools using Python, PowerShell, or similar languages, including integrations with security tool APIs.
- Preferred: Splunk experience, including SPL searches, dashboards, and configuring and tuning alerts, thresholds, schedules, and notifications.
What You Can Expect
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
- Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
- Position requires regular, continuous use of computer.
- Position requires regular sitting and standing.
- Position requires regular interaction with team members through the following methods: in-person, phone, WebEx, Slack, or email.
- May require occasional travel.
- This is a hybrid position; employees are expected to be in the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with the option of working remotely two days (Wednesday and Friday).
Benefits
PlanetArt offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) with matching
- Excellent Work/Life Balance – Paid Time Off, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
- Employee Product Discounts
Company and Vision
PlanetArt’s vision is to be the leading seller of personalized and make-on-demand products worldwide. We provide consumers with unmatched tools and content and an unparalleled end-to-end customer experience that results in high-quality, meaningful finished products and memorable celebrations of life events.
The company’s brands include the popular FreePrints and FreePrints Photobooks apps and the industry leading SimplytoImpress card and stationery site, as well as Personal Creations, CafePress and ISeeMe! Visit www.planetart.com to learn more about our brands.
We have more than 500 team members across multiple offices, primarily in Calabasas CA, San Diego CA, Woodridge IL, Minneapolis, MN and Pleasanton, CA. We also have team members in two company-owned offices in China, as well as in Europe.
Job Overview
PlanetArt is looking for a Network Security Engineer to support the company’s Security Department. The successful candidate will assess network and server security, monitor security events, and investigate alerts across Cisco technologies, Palo Alto firewalls, Windows and Linux servers, and endpoint security tools. This role requires an understanding of SIEM log collection and monitoring, EDR configuration, and SOC alert triage. The engineer will work with infrastructure teams to address security risks; direct configuration of network devices and firewalls is outside the scope of this position.
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the (office) area as we operate on a hybrid work model (3 days onsite, 2 remote)
What You’ll Do
Key Responsibilities
- Review Cisco and Palo Alto firewall policies, access controls, segmentation, VPNs, and security logs.
- Assess Windows and Linux server hardening, patching, authentication, permissions, and audit logging.
- Verify SIEM collection of firewall, network, server, and endpoint logs; investigate logging gaps.
- Monitor SIEM and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) alerts for suspicious activity.
- Triage alerts: validate detections, distinguish false positives, assess severity, and escalate incidents.
- Correlate network, server, identity, and endpoint events to identify affected systems and timelines.
- Configure EDR policies, detection settings, exclusions, and alerts through approved change procedures.
- Coordinate incident containment and remediation with infrastructure teams; track issues to resolution.
- Document investigations and response procedures; evaluate AI use in analysis and detection.
- Develop, test, and maintain security tools for log analysis, alert triage, and automation.
- Recommend security improvements to the teams responsible for network and server configuration.
Requirements
What You Should Have
Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or equivalent experience.
- 3–5 years of experience in network security, security operations, incident response, or a related role.
- Working knowledge of Cisco technologies and Palo Alto firewalls, including interpreting configurations, policies, and logs; understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, NAT, VPNs, and segmentation.
- Understanding of Windows and Linux server security, including hardening, patching, authentication, permissions, and audit logging.
- Knowledge of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), including log collection, forwarding, ingestion, parsing, correlation, and alert monitoring.
- Experience with EDR configuration and investigation, including policies, detection settings, exclusions, endpoint telemetry, and response capabilities.
- Ability to triage alerts as a SOC analyst would, gather evidence, prioritize threats, and escalate incidents with clear documentation.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across security, network, and infrastructure teams.
- Understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated into security workflows, including validating AI-generated findings, protecting sensitive data, and maintaining analyst oversight.
- Ability to develop, test, and document security scripts and tools using Python, PowerShell, or similar languages, including integrations with security tool APIs.
- Preferred: Splunk experience, including SPL searches, dashboards, and configuring and tuning alerts, thresholds, schedules, and notifications.
What You Can Expect
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
- Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
- Position requires regular, continuous use of computer.
- Position requires regular sitting and standing.
- Position requires regular interaction with team members through the following methods: in-person, phone, WebEx, Slack, or email.
- May require occasional travel.
- This is a hybrid position; employees are expected to be in the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with the option of working remotely two days (Wednesday and Friday).
Benefits
PlanetArt offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) with matching
- Excellent Work/Life Balance – Paid Time Off, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
- Employee Product Discounts
See All 11 Network Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsNetwork Security Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Network Security Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in network security engineer jobs across Illinois.
- CompTIA Security+ or CISSP certification required or strongly preferred by most Illinois employers
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network monitoring tools
- Proficiency with SIEM platforms such as Splunk, IBM QRadar, or Microsoft Sentinel
- Experience implementing and managing zero-trust network access or cloud security frameworks
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to Illinois industries, including PCI DSS and HIPAA
Network Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a network security engineer in Illinois?
Illinois does not require a state-issued license to work as a network security engineer, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or information technology combined with certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or Cisco's CCNP Security. Gaining hands-on experience through IT support, systems administration, or network operations roles is the most common route into a dedicated security engineering position.
How much do network security engineers make in Illinois?
Network security engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $124,180 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,760 for the lowest 10% to over $172,830 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire network security engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring network security engineers in Illinois right now include HCLTech, NPO USA, and Collabera, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of financial institutions, large insurers, and major airlines means demand is especially consistent at companies managing high-volume transaction data and complex regulated environments.
Which Illinois cities have the most network security engineer jobs?
Chicago, Abbott, and Joliet account for the greatest number of network security engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago leads because of its density of corporate headquarters, financial institutions, and healthcare networks, while Naperville and Schaumburg attract hiring from the large technology campuses and insurance company operations concentrated in Chicago's western suburbs.
Are there remote network security engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many technical fields, since much of the work involves managing software-defined systems and monitoring dashboards that do not require physical presence. About 44% of network security engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the analytical and systems-management nature of the role. Tasks like incident response, threat hunting, and SIEM analysis are the functions most commonly performed fully remote.
How can I get hired as a network security engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving from a network operations, IT helpdesk, or systems administrator role into a junior security analyst or security operations center position. Large Illinois employers such as healthcare systems and financial services firms regularly hire for SOC analyst roles that serve as a structured entry point. Earning CompTIA Security+ before applying and building a home lab to demonstrate firewall configuration or log analysis gives candidates a concrete edge over others with similar academic backgrounds.
Where can I find and apply to network security engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to network security engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago, the suburbs, and the rest of the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the employer.
See All 11 Network Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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