Software Engineer AI Jobs in Illinois

Software Engineer AI jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago's technology corridor, with strong hiring activity in fintech, healthcare technology, and enterprise software, covering roles from junior AI engineers through principal architects. Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, and the North Shore suburbs anchor the bulk of hiring, with employers such as Morningstar, Discover Financial Services, and Allstate maintaining long-standing AI engineering teams in the state. The most in-demand specialties center on machine learning operations, large language model integration, and AI-driven data pipelines. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles18
Top employerCVS Health
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring5
Work type50% Remote
Top industryFintech

Showing 4 of 18+ Software Engineer AI jobs

Reliance IT, Inc
AI Software Engineer 1
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Reliance IT, Inc
New 21h ago
AI Software Engineer 1
Reliance IT, Inc
Chicago, Illinois
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$80k - $100k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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Caterpillar
Lead Software Engineer, Gen AI
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Caterpillar
Added 1d ago
Lead Software Engineer, Gen AI
Caterpillar
Chicago, Illinois
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$128k - $209k/yr
10,000+

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Chamberlain Group
Software Product Manager, AI (Remote, US)
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Chamberlain Group
Added 2d ago
Software Product Manager, AI (Remote, US)
Chamberlain Group
Illinois
Project Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$159k - $268k/yr
Remote (US)
Master's degree in business administration
1,001-5,000

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Lenovo
Software Engineer, AI Wearables
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Lenovo
Added 2d ago
Software Engineer, AI Wearables
Lenovo
Chicago, Illinois
Cloud & DevOps
Cloud Engineering
Solutions Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
$100k - $140k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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See All 18 Software Engineer AI Jobs in Illinois

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

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Software Engineer AI Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Springfield
2 jobs
Peoria
1 job
Rosemont
1 job
Naperville
1 job

Software Engineer AI Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

CVS Health
CVS Health3 open roles
Caterpillar
Caterpillar2 open roles
Fitch
Fitch2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Fintech
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Investment & Asset Management
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Illinois Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, or a related field
  • Proficiency in Python and experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch
  • Hands-on experience building, training, and deploying machine learning or large language models
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud AI services
  • Experience with MLOps practices including model versioning, monitoring, and CI/CD pipelines
  • Strong background in data structures, algorithms, and software engineering fundamentals

Software Engineer AI Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software engineer ai in Illinois?

The most direct path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, or a closely related engineering field, followed by hands-on project work in machine learning or AI. Illinois has no state-issued license specific to software engineering, so employers focus on demonstrated technical skills. Completing a graduate program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern, or IIT, or building a strong GitHub portfolio with deployed AI projects, is the clearest way to enter the field competitively in Illinois.

How much do software engineer AIs make in Illinois?

Software engineer AIs 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 software engineer ais in Illinois?

Employers hiring software engineer ais in Illinois right now include CVS Health, Caterpillar, and Fitch, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Chicago's concentration of fintech firms, insurance carriers, and healthcare technology companies means demand runs consistently across both large enterprises and well-funded startups.

Which Illinois cities have the most software engineer ai jobs?

Chicago, Illinois, and Springfield have the most software engineer ai openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the majority of listings due to its deep base of financial services, healthcare, and enterprise technology employers, while Champaign-Urbana benefits from proximity to the University of Illinois's research programs, and suburban hubs like Schaumburg and Downers Grove attract roles tied to large corporate campuses in the metro area.

Are there remote software engineer ai jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 83% of software engineer ai openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based, collaborative nature of AI engineering work. Model development, experimentation, and code review are the tasks most commonly performed fully remotely, though roles requiring close coordination with data infrastructure or product teams often prefer a hybrid arrangement.

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

The most realistic entry path is an associate or new-graduate role on an applied machine learning or data engineering team, often reached through internships at companies like Morningstar, Allstate, or large health systems such as Northwestern Medicine. Contributing to open-source AI projects and completing a recognized certification in machine learning helps bridge the gap. Adjacent roles in data analytics, backend engineering, or QA automation at Illinois tech employers are common lateral moves that lead to AI-focused positions within one to two years.

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

You can find and apply to software engineer ai jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 18 Software Engineer AI Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Software Engineer AI Jobs