Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Software Systems Engineer jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with the state's market concentrated in aerospace and defense, financial technology, healthcare IT, and enterprise software sectors, drawing candidates from entry-level through principal and staff engineer levels. Chicago leads hiring volume by a wide margin, followed by activity in Schaumburg and Champaign, where companies like Boeing, Motorola Solutions, and Caterpillar maintain deep engineering footprints. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois include embedded systems development, systems architecture, and DevSecOps integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles12
Top employerNVIDIA
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring8
Work type50% Remote
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 12+ Software Systems Engineer jobs

LabVIEW Software & Test Systems Engineer
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New 23h ago
LabVIEW Software & Test Systems Engineer
Collins Aerospace
Rockford, Illinois
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$87k - $165k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Sr Engineer (Software Systems)
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Added 3d ago
Sr Engineer (Software Systems)
Fresenius Kabi USA
Lake Zurich, Illinois
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$88k - $92k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Senior Systems Software Engineer - Accelerated Spark Applications
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Added 3w ago
Senior Systems Software Engineer - Accelerated Spark Applications
NVIDIA
Champaign, Illinois
Backend Engineering
Software Engineering
$184k - $288k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Software Engineer — Engineering Systems, Continuous Integration
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Added 1mo ago
Software Engineer — Engineering Systems, Continuous Integration
Snowflake
Chicago, Illinois
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$157k - $206k/yr
5,001-10,000

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Software Engineer (.NET, Cloud, Data Systems) - Intermediate
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Added 2mo ago
Software Engineer (.NET, Cloud, Data Systems) - Intermediate
Seneca Holdings, LLC
Rock Island, Illinois
Data Engineering
Database Administration (DBA)
Software Engineering
$98k - $117k/yr
Remote (US)
Military encouraged

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See All 12 Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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

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Software Systems Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
4 jobs
Champaign
2 jobs
Danville
1 job
Rockford
1 job
Hazel Crest
1 job
Lake Zurich
1 job
Rock Island
1 job
Rolling Meadows
1 job

Software Systems Engineer Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

NVIDIA2 open roles
Talan1 open role
Snowflake1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software

What Illinois Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science required
  • Proficiency in systems-level languages such as C, C++, or Ada
  • Experience with systems requirements definition, decomposition, and verification processes
  • Familiarity with model-based systems engineering tools such as MATLAB or Cameo
  • Knowledge of software development lifecycle frameworks including Agile and DO-178 or similar standards
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional team collaboration

Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software systems engineer in Illinois?

Most software systems engineer roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field. Illinois does not issue a state-specific license for this role, but many positions in defense or safety-critical sectors require a Professional Engineer credential or a federal security clearance. Graduates from Illinois institutions or candidates with industry certifications in systems engineering gain a practical competitive edge in the Chicago and Champaign corridors.

How much do software systems engineers make in Illinois?

Software systems 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 software systems engineers in Illinois?

Employers hiring software systems engineers in Illinois right now include NVIDIA, Talan, and Snowflake, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of aerospace, defense, and enterprise technology firms means openings are distributed across both large corporate headquarters and specialist government contractors in the greater Chicago region.

Which Illinois cities have the most software systems engineer jobs?

Chicago, Champaign, and Danville account for the largest share of software systems engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago anchors the market through its dense concentration of fintech, healthcare IT, and enterprise software employers, while Schaumburg and the northwest suburbs draw significant demand from defense contractors and telecommunications firms with long-standing engineering campuses in those areas.

Are there remote software systems engineer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than most engineering disciplines. About 83% of software systems engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the role's strong overlap with software development work that can be done off-site. Positions focused on pure software architecture or integration testing tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while roles involving hardware integration or classified defense work typically require on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is through a new-graduate associate engineer or systems analyst program at a large Illinois employer. Companies like Boeing and Motorola Solutions run structured rotational programs for early-career candidates in the Chicago metro area. Adjacent roles in software quality assurance, test engineering, or technical support within the same organizations frequently serve as lateral stepping stones. Completing a capstone systems engineering project, contributing to an open-source embedded or integration project, or earning a Certified Systems Engineering Professional associate credential strengthens a candidate's profile considerably in Illinois hiring pools.

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

You can find and apply to software systems engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago, Schaumburg, Champaign, and the surrounding areas. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listings.

See All 12 Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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