Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Security Engineer jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in financial services, healthcare technology, and enterprise software sectors, with openings from entry-level analysts stepping into security roles through senior architects and principal engineers. Chicago leads hiring by a wide margin, with Naperville and Schaumburg forming a significant suburban technology corridor that hosts major corporate security teams. Established employers like Allstate, United Airlines, and Discover Financial have deep security engineering footprints in Illinois, and the most sought-after specialties are cloud security, application security, and zero-trust network architecture. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 85+ Security Engineer jobs
- Lead the global delivery and evolution of enterprise identity services, set IAM strategic direction, execute projects, optimize services, and collaborate with IT and business units to align with objectives and ensure compliance
- Provide accountability for user security and entitlement reviews, interface with internal clients and external vendors, and structure a governance model for people, processes, and technology, aligned with the principle of least privilege access to optimize IAM operational efficiency
- Administer the onboarding and offboarding of users and systems with automated processes, enforce strong authentication and authorization workflows with OKTA for employees and customers, and monitor controls to correct situations that could lead to compliance deficiencies in user provisioning
- Formulate and define the system’s scope based on user needs and an understanding of operational and industry requirements by participating in solution architecture design and leading security efforts with the integration of identity and access management solutions
- Manage an on-call rotation to provide operational support as needed, stay informed about current security threats using CIS Benchmarks, and design IAM architecture to mitigate threats where possible
- Provide performance reports from supported systems, including RBAC and CISA, to report on operational performance metrics, identify issues and trends, and ensure delivery is effective based on contract terms
- Other duties as assigned
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree and 2 to 4 years of related experience or High School Diploma/General Education Degree (GED) and 5 to 7 plus years of specific experience
- 3 plus years of experience in Identity & Access governance and compliance, with proficiency in designing, supporting, and administering technologies such as IDaaS, single sign-on, directory services (Active Directory, LDAP), user authentication (MFA, passwordless), identity management, privileged identity management, and a basic understanding of PKI and certificates/key management
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Information systems certifications such CISSP or CISA (or willingness to achieve)
- Experience in driving RBAC design, working with OKTA and CyberArk, and handling IAM protocols (SAML, OAuth/OIDC, RADIUS, Kerberos) across MacOS, Linux, and Windows platforms
- Lead the global delivery and evolution of enterprise identity services, set IAM strategic direction, execute projects, optimize services, and collaborate with IT and business units to align with objectives and ensure compliance
- Provide accountability for user security and entitlement reviews, interface with internal clients and external vendors, and structure a governance model for people, processes, and technology, aligned with the principle of least privilege access to optimize IAM operational efficiency
- Administer the onboarding and offboarding of users and systems with automated processes, enforce strong authentication and authorization workflows with OKTA for employees and customers, and monitor controls to correct situations that could lead to compliance deficiencies in user provisioning
- Formulate and define the system’s scope based on user needs and an understanding of operational and industry requirements by participating in solution architecture design and leading security efforts with the integration of identity and access management solutions
- Manage an on-call rotation to provide operational support as needed, stay informed about current security threats using CIS Benchmarks, and design IAM architecture to mitigate threats where possible
- Provide performance reports from supported systems, including RBAC and CISA, to report on operational performance metrics, identify issues and trends, and ensure delivery is effective based on contract terms
- Other duties as assigned
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree and 2 to 4 years of related experience or High School Diploma/General Education Degree (GED) and 5 to 7 plus years of specific experience
- 3 plus years of experience in Identity & Access governance and compliance, with proficiency in designing, supporting, and administering technologies such as IDaaS, single sign-on, directory services (Active Directory, LDAP), user authentication (MFA, passwordless), identity management, privileged identity management, and a basic understanding of PKI and certificates/key management
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Information systems certifications such CISSP or CISA (or willingness to achieve)
- Experience in driving RBAC design, working with OKTA and CyberArk, and handling IAM protocols (SAML, OAuth/OIDC, RADIUS, Kerberos) across MacOS, Linux, and Windows platforms
See All 85 Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Security Engineer JobsSecurity Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals4
- Investment & Asset Management3
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Banking & Financial Services2
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a related technical field
- Active CISSP, CISM, or CompTIA Security+ certification recognized by Illinois employers
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, vulnerability management, and endpoint detection tools
- Proficiency in securing cloud environments on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Experience conducting threat modeling, penetration testing, or security code reviews
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, or NIST CSF relevant to Illinois-regulated industries
Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security engineer in Illinois?
Illinois does not require a state-issued license specifically for security engineers, so the path runs through education and professional certification. Most employers in Illinois expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or cybersecurity, combined with an industry credential such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+. Gaining hands-on experience through internships at Chicago-area technology or financial firms, or through entry-level IT roles, is the most direct route into a security engineering position.
How much do security engineers make in Illinois?
Security engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $99,360 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $53,590 for the lowest 10% to over $167,080 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire security engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring security engineers in Illinois right now include AbbVie, Pinterest, and Booz Allen Hamilton, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of major financial institutions, insurance carriers, and healthcare technology companies means security engineering demand here is driven by industries with high compliance and data protection requirements.
Which Illinois cities have the most security engineer jobs?
Chicago, Scott AFB, and North Chicago have the most security engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to the headquarters of major financial institutions, insurers, and technology firms that maintain large internal security teams, while Naperville and Schaumburg benefit from the dense corporate campuses of the western suburbs where companies like Allstate and Motorola Solutions have long-established technology operations.
Are there remote security engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 78% of security engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting that much of the work involves monitoring systems, reviewing code, and responding to alerts that do not require physical presence. Cloud security, application security, and security operations center roles tend to be the most remote-compatible, while positions requiring on-site infrastructure work or government facility access are typically in person.
How can I get hired as a security engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a help desk or IT support role at a large Illinois employer, which provides exposure to security tools and policies that hiring managers recognize. Chicago-area employers in financial services and healthcare often bring on junior security analysts or associate engineers specifically to develop talent, and institutions like Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois system run programs that welcome candidates from adjacent IT backgrounds. Earning CompTIA Security+ before applying gives a candidate a measurable edge without requiring prior security engineering experience.
Where can I find and apply to security engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to security engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg, and the broader state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to each one without creating a profile or signing up.
See All 85 Security Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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