Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Illinois
Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in enterprise software, financial technology, and healthcare IT sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level QA automation engineers through senior and staff SDET roles. Chicago anchors the market, while Deerfield and Schaumburg host significant engineering centers for companies like Walgreens, Motorola Solutions, and Allstate, all of which maintain active SDET hiring pipelines. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois listings are test automation frameworks, CI/CD pipeline integration, and performance testing for cloud-native applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Career Area:
EngineeringJob Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
About Advanced Power Technologies:
Advanced Power Technologies (APT) defines and delivers Caterpillar’s next generation of power system technologies. The organization leads product strategy, long term technology roadmaps, and lifecycle leadership for advanced power, electrification, electronic controls, software, and energy solutions across the entire range of Power and Energy applications.
APT integrates hardware, software, and digital services to deliver scalable, reliable, and future‑ready power solutions. Partnering closely with product groups, engineering, and global delivery teams, APT balances near‑term business execution with long‑term technology leadership—enabling best in class electronics quality, fast response to market changes, differentiated customer value through vertical integration, improved uptime, and sustainable power systems across Caterpillar’s Power and Energy product portfolio
Role Definition
We are hiring for an Embedded Software Test Engineer. This person will perform verification and validation of electronic systems and components to use within equipment or machinery; supports other engineers to perform tasks when necessary. This role will support the Embedded Testing Software group.
What You Will Do:
- Analyzing the requirements of electronic systems and components based on customer satisfaction; making and adjusting design plans accordingly.
- Designing, testing and creating electronic systems and components, while ensuring that products can work alone and/or are compatible with other systems.
- Collaborating with colleagues in electronics and other engineering branches.
- Complying with safety regulations throughout the development process.
- Planning and executing embedded software testing for engine systems to verify functionality, performance, and compliance with requirements.
Degree Requirement
Degree required Requires a degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science,
What You Will Have:
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Level Working Knowledge:
- Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights.
- Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs.
- Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
- Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.
- Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out error-free.
Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Working Knowledge:
- Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.
- Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.
- Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.
- Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.
- Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Level Working Knowledge:
- Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
- Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
- Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
- Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
- Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.
Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Level Working Knowledge:
- Provides effective technical solutions to routine functional challenges via sound technical competence, effectively examining implications of events and issues.
- Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building knowledge and keeping up-to-date on technical and procedural job components.
- Applies technical operating and project standards based on achieving excellence in delivered products, technologies and services.
- Applies current procedures and technologies to help resolve technical issues in one's general area of technical competence.
- Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues.
Product Testing: Knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.
Level Working Knowledge:
- Documents test process and results; prepares and analyzes defect-tracking reports.
- Summarizes features of a specific product-testing process and associated procedures.
- Tests components for compliance with functional requirements and established conventions.
- Discusses and compares usability, safety and integration testing.
- Develops product-testing procedures; participates in selecting testing environment and tools.
Additional Information
- The location for this position is Mossville, IL.
- Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
- Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For over 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.
Benefits:
Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
401(k) savings plans*
Health Savings Account (HSA)*
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
Health Lifestyle Programs*
Employee Assistance Program*
Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
Career Development*
Incentive bonus*
Disability benefits
Life Insurance
Parental leave
Adoption benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
- These benefits also apply to part-time employees
Relocation is available for this position. Visa sponsorship is available for eligible applicants.
Posting Dates:
November 12, 2026 - November 20, 2026Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.
See All 19 Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsSoftware Development Engineer In Test Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Development Engineer In Test 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 software development engineer in test jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
- Proficiency in at least one automation framework such as Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright
- Experience writing test scripts in Java, Python, or JavaScript for large-scale applications
- Familiarity with CI/CD tools including Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps pipelines
- Understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies within cross-functional engineering teams
- Experience with API testing tools such as Postman or REST Assured for service validation
Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software development engineer in test in Illinois?
Most software development engineer in test roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field, though candidates with associate degrees and strong portfolio work do get hired. Illinois has no state-issued license for this role. Employers in Chicago's fintech and healthcare IT sectors typically look for candidates who can demonstrate hands-on automation experience through GitHub repositories, bootcamp certifications, or coursework covering test frameworks and coding fundamentals.
How much do software development engineer in tests make in Illinois?
Software development engineer in tests in Illinois earn a median of about $104,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,480 for the lowest 10% to over $150,620 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire software development engineer in tests in Illinois?
Employers hiring software development engineer in tests in Illinois right now include CACI International, Caterpillar, and Vail Systems, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in Chicago and major suburban campuses in Lake County and the I-88 corridor means SDET demand stays consistent across enterprise software, insurance technology, and healthcare platforms.
Which Illinois cities have the most software development engineer in test jobs?
The cities with the most software development engineer in test openings in Illinois are Chicago, O'Fallon, and Oak Brook. Chicago drives the bulk of listings through its dense fintech, healthtech, and enterprise software ecosystem, while suburban hubs like Deerfield and Schaumburg generate steady openings from large corporate engineering campuses that house the technology divisions of major Illinois-headquartered companies.
Are there remote software development engineer in test jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields, because SDET work is inherently code-focused and does not require physical lab access in the majority of roles. About 79% of software development engineer in test openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how widely distributed engineering teams have become across Illinois employers. Test automation and CI/CD pipeline work tend to be the most remote-friendly specialties within the role.
How can I get hired as a software development engineer in test in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Illinois is moving laterally from a manual QA analyst or junior developer role at one of the state's large technology employers, where internal mobility programs at companies like Morningstar, Discover Financial, and Zebra Technologies regularly place early-career candidates into SDET tracks. Building a public GitHub portfolio with Selenium or Playwright automation projects and earning a certification in a recognized framework strengthens applications significantly. University recruiting events at University of Illinois and DePaul University also connect new graduates directly with Illinois engineering teams running associate SDET programs.
Where can I find and apply to software development engineer in test jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to software development engineer in test jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago, the suburbs, and remote roles tied to Illinois employers. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 19 Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Illinois
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