Principal Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Principal Engineer jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with the market concentrated in aerospace and defense, enterprise software, industrial manufacturing, and utilities infrastructure, drawing candidates at every level from associate principal through distinguished engineer. Chicago leads hiring volume, with Peoria and the broader Chicagoland suburbs also anchoring significant activity, and established employers such as Boeing, Caterpillar, and Motorola Solutions regularly seeking principal engineers across software, systems, and mechanical disciplines. The most consistently sought specialties are embedded systems engineering, cloud and platform architecture, and systems integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles99
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring29
Work type37% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 4 of 99+ Principal Engineer jobs

Astronics
Principal Staff Electrical Engineer
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Astronics
New 23h ago
Principal Staff Electrical Engineer
Astronics
Waukegan, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$120k - $150k/yr
ISO certification process

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Argonne National Laboratory
Principal Electrical Engineer
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Argonne National Laboratory
Added 1d ago
Principal Electrical Engineer
Argonne National Laboratory
Lemont, Illinois
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$116k - $215k/yr
Doctoral degree
1-1

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Conagra Brands
Principal Engineer Controls
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Conagra Brands
Added 1d ago
Principal Engineer Controls
Conagra Brands
Chicago, Illinois
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
$109k - $159k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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GFT
Principal Substation Engineer
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GFT
Added 2d ago
Principal Substation Engineer
GFT
Chicago, Illinois
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
$147k - $175k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
5,001-10,000

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See All 99 Principal Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Rolling Meadows
24 jobs
Round Lake
6 jobs
North Chicago
4 jobs
Rockford
3 jobs
Glenview
2 jobs
Rosemont
2 jobs
Deerfield
2 jobs
Naperville
2 jobs

Principal Engineer Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman24
  • Baxter
    Baxter6
  • AbbVie
    AbbVie4
  • CVS Health
    CVS Health3
  • Motorola Solutions
    Motorola Solutions3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Medical Devices
  • Manufacturing
  • Food & Beverage

What Illinois Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related field
  • Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams and setting architectural or design direction
  • Deep expertise in at least one core discipline such as embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, or mechanical design
  • Proven ability to define technical roadmaps and mentor senior and mid-level engineers
  • Strong communication skills for presenting engineering decisions to executive and non-technical stakeholders

Principal Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Illinois?

Most principal engineer roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science plus many years of progressive technical experience, culminating in demonstrated leadership on large-scale projects. For roles in civil, structural, or mechanical disciplines where stamped drawings are required, Illinois requires licensure as a Professional Engineer through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Software and systems-focused principal engineer titles typically follow a company-defined career ladder rather than a state license.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Illinois?

Employers hiring principal engineers in Illinois right now include Northrop Grumman, Baxter, and AbbVie, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of aerospace primes, industrial manufacturers, and enterprise technology firms means openings appear across both legacy engineering companies and fast-growing technology divisions headquartered in the Chicago metro.

Which Illinois cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Chicago, Rolling Meadows, and Round Lake account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its density of technology headquarters, defense contractors, and financial technology firms, while Peoria reflects Caterpillar's global engineering operations and the broader industrial manufacturing corridor in central Illinois.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and they are more common than in most engineering disciplines. About 63% of principal engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the role centers on architecture reviews, design documentation, and cross-team coordination rather than hands-on lab or factory work. Platform, cloud, and software-focused principal engineer roles carry the highest rate of remote availability.

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

The most realistic path is starting in a senior or staff engineer role and building toward principal through internal promotion. Large Illinois employers such as Boeing in the Chicago suburbs and Caterpillar in Peoria run structured early-career engineering programs that place candidates on a defined advancement track. Earning a Professional Engineer license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation strengthens a candidacy for principal roles in civil and mechanical disciplines, while a strong technical portfolio or open-source contribution history helps for software and systems tracks.

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

You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 99 Principal Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Principal Engineer Jobs