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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Overview

Open roles11
Top employerRIIM
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring3
Work type50% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 11+ Senior C Software Engineer jobs

JPMorganChase
Senior Lead Software Engineering - C++ low latency
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JPMorganChase
Added 1d ago
Senior Lead Software Engineering - C++ low latency
JPMorganChase
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Success
Project Management
$152k - $225k/yr
10,000+

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RIIM
C++ Developer
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RIIM
Added 1d ago
C++ Developer
RIIM
Peoria, Illinois
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
On-Site
None

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Goliath Partners
Senior C++ Software Engineer
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Goliath Partners
Added 1d ago
Senior C++ Software Engineer
Goliath Partners
Chicago, Illinois
Backend Engineering
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
$360k - $425k/yr
Master's degree in physics

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FactSet
Sr. Software Engineer (C++, CI/CD, Data Structures, Algorithms, OOD) – Hybrid
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FactSet
Added 2d ago
Sr. Software Engineer (C++, CI/CD, Data Structures, Algorithms, OOD) – Hybrid
FactSet
Chicago, Illinois
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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A
C++ Developer
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A
Added 5d ago
C++ Developer
AKA COMP SOLUTIONS
Chicago, Illinois
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$110 - $120/hr

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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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Senior C Software Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
9 jobs
Peoria
1 job
Rolling Meadows
1 job

Senior C Software Engineer Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

RIIM
RIIM1 open role
REPLY
REPLY1 open role
Comcast
Comcast1 open role

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

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