Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Senior C Software Engineer jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in embedded systems, defense and aerospace software, financial technology, and industrial automation, with openings at every level from mid-level developer through principal engineer. Chicago anchors the majority of hiring, joined by significant activity in Naperville and Rockford, where companies like Motorola Solutions, Caterpillar, and Boeing maintain deep engineering organizations that rely on C programming for real-time and safety-critical systems. The most sought-after specializations in Illinois include low-level systems programming, RTOS development, and performance-critical embedded firmware. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Be an integral part of an agile team that's constantly pushing the envelope to enhance, build, and deliver top-notch technology products.
As a Senior Lead Software Engineer at JPMorganChase within the Commercial & Investment Bank - eTrading team, you are an integral part of an agile team that works to enhance, build, and deliver trusted market-leading technology products in a secure, stable, and scalable way. Drive significant business impact through your capabilities and contributions, and apply deep technical expertise and problem-solving methodologies to tackle a diverse array of challenges that span multiple technologies and applications.
Job responsibilities
- Regularly provides technical guidance and direction to support the business and its technical teams, contractors, and vendors
- Develops secure and high-quality production code, and reviews and debugs code written by others
- Drives decisions that influence the product design, application functionality, and technical operations and processes
- Serves as a function-wide subject matter expert in one or more areas of focus
- Actively contributes to the engineering community as an advocate of firmwide frameworks, tools, and practices of the Software Development Life Cycle
- Influences peers and project decision-makers to consider the use and application of leading-edge technologies
- Adds to the team culture of diversity, opportunity, inclusion, and respect
- Drives adoption and governance of approved AI-assisted engineering practices across teams to improve code quality, delivery speed, and operational outcomes (e.g., AI-assisted code review/refactoring, test acceleration, release readiness, incident/root-cause analysis), while establishing measurable validation standards (secure coding, peer review, automated testing) and promoting reuse of proven patterns and automation within the SDLC/TLM toolchain.
- Applies knowledge of tools within the Software Development Life Cycle toolchain, including approved AI-assisted development and automation capabilities, to improve the value realized by automation at scale.
Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills
- Formal training or certification on software engineering* concepts and 10+ years applied experience
- Hands-on practical experience delivering system design, application development, testing, and operational stability
- Advanced knowledge and demonstrated skills in in programming languages C and C++
- Demonstrated experience leading effective use of enterprise-authorized AI-assisted software development tools within the work environment (e.g., for coding, code review, test acceleration, troubleshooting) with the ability to set team expectations for validating AI outputs for correctness, performance, and security
- Strong understanding of responsible AI use in engineering workflows, including data sensitivity considerations, secure handling of inputs/outputs, and adherence to resiliency and security expectations; experience coaching senior engineers/leads on compliant usage patterns and controls.
- Advanced knowledge of software applications and technical processes with considerable in-depth knowledge in one or more technical disciplines (e.g., cloud, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobile, etc.)
- Ability to tackle design and functionality problems independently with little to no oversight
- Practical cloud native experience
- Experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field
- Hands on experience working within Financial Services Industry
We offer a competitive total rewards package including base salary determined based on the role, experience, skill set and location. Those in eligible roles may receive commission-based pay and/or discretionary incentive compensation, paid in the form of cash and/or forfeitable equity, awarded in recognition of individual achievements and contributions. We also offer a range of benefits and programs to meet employee needs, based on eligibility. These benefits include comprehensive health care coverage, on-site health and wellness centers, a retirement savings plan, backup childcare, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, financial coaching and more. Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process.
We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs. Visit our FAQs for more information about requesting an accommodation.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Veterans
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our Consumer & Community Banking Group depends on innovators like you to serve consumers, small businesses, municipalities and non-profits. You'll support the delivery of award winning tools and services that cover everything from personal and small business banking as well as lending, mortgages, credit cards, payments, auto finance and investment advice. This group is also focused on developing and delivering cutting edged mobile applications, digital experiences and next generation banking technology solutions to better serve our clients and customers.
See All 11 Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsSenior C Software Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior C Software Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Investment & Asset Management
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior C software engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Five or more years of professional experience writing production C code in systems or embedded environments
- Demonstrated expertise with memory management, pointers, and low-level hardware interfaces in C
- Experience developing software for real-time operating systems or embedded microcontroller platforms
- Proficiency with debugging tools such as GDB, Valgrind, or hardware JTAG debuggers
- Familiarity with version control systems and collaborative development workflows using Git
Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior c software engineer in Illinois?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a senior c software engineer in Illinois, so the path runs through education and demonstrated experience. Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a similar field, followed by progressively complex C development work in systems, embedded, or performance-critical roles. Building a portfolio of low-level projects and contributing to open-source C repositories strengthens candidacy at Illinois defense, industrial, and fintech employers.
How much do senior C software engineers make in Illinois?
Senior C software engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $132,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,980 for the lowest 10% to over $194,740 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior c software engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring senior c software engineers in Illinois right now include RIIM, REPLY, and Comcast, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of defense contractors, industrial automation firms, and financial technology companies means consistent demand for engineers with deep C expertise across the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most senior c software engineer jobs?
Chicago, Peoria, and Rolling Meadows have the most senior c software engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share through its financial technology and enterprise software sectors, while Naperville and Rockford reflect demand from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and aerospace suppliers that operate major engineering centers in Chicago's western and northern suburbs.
Are there remote senior c software engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many engineering disciplines, because C development work is largely code and toolchain-based rather than tied to physical hardware on-site. About 50% of senior c software engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting demand from companies whose projects can be developed and tested off-site. Application and firmware roles tied to specific lab hardware tend to remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a senior c software engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a junior or associate software engineer role focused on embedded or systems work at one of Illinois's large industrial or defense employers. Companies like Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Boeing regularly recruit new graduates into engineering associate programs that include mentored C development. Building a GitHub portfolio of C projects such as custom memory allocators or RTOS simulations, alongside an internship at an Illinois manufacturing or aerospace supplier, gives candidates without professional experience a competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to senior c software engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to senior c software engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 11 Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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