Staff Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Staff Engineer jobs in Illinois concentrate in enterprise software, manufacturing systems, cloud infrastructure, and semiconductor design, with demand at every level from newly promoted senior engineers through distinguished technical leaders. The busiest hiring markets are Chicago, the broader suburban technology corridor through Naperville and Schaumburg, and the Peoria and Rockford manufacturing belts. Anchor employers such as Motorola Solutions, Caterpillar, and CDW maintain long-standing engineering operations here, and the most sought-after specializations are platform reliability, embedded systems, and distributed backend architecture. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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River Forest, IL (11,172) – The Village of River Forest is seeking a motivated individual with a positive attitude for the position of Full Time Staff Engineer. This position will work under the direction of the Director of Public Works and Engineering and will work closely with the Assistant to the Director of Public Works the Public Works Superintendent of Operations.
The Staff Engineer position conducts engineering feasibility studies, performs design work, develops and administers professional services or construction project contracts, and oversees private and public construction projects within the Village. The position encompasses design/construction management of private development, public works and utility projects and provides information and assistance to the public and staff regarding Village standards and policies. The Staff Engineer serves as Staff Liaison to the Village’s Traffic and Safety Commission.
Successful applicants for this position must possess:
- Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or related field.
- Prior plan review, construction oversight, drainage investigation, and computer experience (with emphasis on AutoCAD and ESRI) preferred.
- Candidates for a position in this class must possess a current and valid Illinois motor vehicle operator’s license. Registration as an Engineer-in-Training (or ability to obtain within six months of employment) or Professional Engineering Licensure preferred. Registration as a Certified Floodplain Manager (C.F.M.) preferred.
The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $74,456 - $108,299 (ability to hire above starting salary
DOQ) plus excellent benefits. Office hours are generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, this position requires job flexibility for attendance at evening public meetings and construction activities. Work is performed in an office and field setting; the ability to navigate construction sites safely is required. Work is subject to performance under adverse environmental conditions, exposure to intense noise, fumes and traffic.
Questions regarding the position should be directed to Trish Ivansek at Tivansek@vrf.us. Qualified candidates
should submit an employment application, resume, cover letter and three professional references via the
application portal at www.vrf.us/Careers. The selected individual will be required to pass a background check,
driving record check, and drug screen. Position is open until filled. The Village of River Forest is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $74,456.00 - $108,299.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 72 Staff Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find Staff Engineer JobsStaff Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Staff Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Banking & Financial Services
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in staff engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related technical field required
- Eight or more years of progressive software or systems engineering experience in a professional environment
- Demonstrated technical leadership across multi-team projects with measurable architectural impact
- Deep proficiency in at least one primary stack such as distributed systems, cloud platforms, or embedded firmware
- Experience defining engineering standards, conducting design reviews, and mentoring mid-level engineers
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills for working with product, data, and infrastructure teams
Staff Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a staff engineer in Illinois?
Most staff engineers in Illinois reach the role by demonstrating sustained technical leadership, not by passing a state exam. Software and systems staff engineers need no state license. For those in civil, structural, or environmental engineering, Illinois requires Professional Engineer licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which involves an accredited degree, the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.
Which companies hire staff engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring staff engineers in Illinois right now include CVS Health, Burns & McDonnell, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's mix of major enterprise software firms, aerospace and defense contractors, and Fortune 500 headquarters in the Chicago metro keeps consistent demand across both product and platform engineering disciplines.
Which Illinois cities have the most staff engineer jobs?
Chicago, Illinois, and Rolling Meadows account for the largest share of staff engineer openings in Illinois. Chicago leads because it anchors the state's enterprise technology and financial services industries, while suburban hubs like Naperville and Schaumburg hold major corporate campuses for telecommunications and manufacturing firms that run large dedicated engineering organizations.
Are there remote staff engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most technical fields. About 66% of staff engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the role's heavy focus on architecture, code review, and cross-team coordination rather than on-site hardware work. Platform, backend, and cloud-focused staff engineer roles are the most consistently offered remotely.
How can I get hired as a staff engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is entering as a software engineer or systems engineer at a large Illinois employer and building toward staff-level scope over time. Companies like Motorola Solutions, Caterpillar, and major Chicago-area financial technology firms run new-graduate programs that place engineers on platform or infrastructure teams where staff-level mentorship is available. Earning a cloud architecture certification or contributing meaningfully to an open-source project gives a candidate a concrete edge when lateral moves into staff-adjacent roles become available.
Where can I find and apply to staff engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to staff engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago, the suburban technology corridor, and downstate manufacturing centers. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to each one.
See All 72 Staff Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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