Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Systems Engineer jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, with demand concentrated in aerospace and defense, information technology, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing across experience levels from entry-level associate engineer through senior systems architect. Chicago, Rockford, and the suburban Chicagoland corridor around Schaumburg and Naperville are the primary hiring hubs, where employers like Boeing, Motorola Solutions, and Caterpillar maintain significant engineering operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois listings include embedded systems, network systems engineering, and defense systems integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job ID: 2617273
Location: Scott Afb, IL, US
Date Posted: 2026-09-25
Category: Information Technology
Subcategory: IT Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
The successful candidate will system engineering work to maintain, configure, and reliably operate network servers, server virtualization systems, laptops, desktops, VDI, and supporting software/hardware.
Responsibilities:
- Managing and monitoring all installed systems and infrastructure
- Installing, configuring, testing, and maintaining operating systems, application software and system management tools
- Proactively ensure the highest levels of systems and infrastructure availability
- Monitor and test application performance for potential bottlenecks, identify possible solutions, and work with developers to implement those fixes
- Maintain security, backup, and redundancy strategies
- Participate in the design of information and operational support systems
- Provide 2nd and 3rd level support
- Liaise with vendors and other IT personnel for problem resolution
- System vulnerability remediation and reporting.
- System configuration and compliance
- Proven working experience in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting UNIX/Linux/RedHat based environments.
This position is for Monday through Friday, normal business hours. However, employee may be required to provide after-hours and weekend support during planned or emergency events.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS and four (4) years or more experience.
- DoD Secret Clearance.
One of these IAT Level II certifications: Security+ CE, CySA+ **, GICSP, GSEC, CND, SSCP
A Computing Environment (CE) certification or certificate for the technical area of responsibility in either Network support/defense (e.g., Splunk, Cisco, McAfee, etc.) OR (e.g., Microsoft, Linux, Solaris, etc.)
- Must possess competencies in installation, service design, and support in an environment that uses Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2016.
- Experience with Azure or AWS Cloud Environments.
- Experience with Linux.
- Experience with production environments.
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must be available to participate in on-call work on a reoccurring basis.
- Solid troubleshooting skills and demonstrated ability of end-to-end problem management and ownership.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Working knowledge of authentication functions and protocols such as LDAP, Kerberos, and Active Directory.
- Conceptual knowledge of Storage systems (SAN/NAS).
- Any of the following IT certifications are also desirable for this position: MCP, CompTIA A+ / Network+ / Security+, AWS, Azure.
Desired Qualifications:
- MA/MS
- Six (6) or more years of experience
- DoD TS/SCI clearance
- ITIL V4 Foundations certification
Target salary range: $80,001 - $120,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.
Job ID: 2617273
Location: Scott Afb, IL, US
Date Posted: 2026-09-25
Category: Information Technology
Subcategory: IT Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
The successful candidate will system engineering work to maintain, configure, and reliably operate network servers, server virtualization systems, laptops, desktops, VDI, and supporting software/hardware.
Responsibilities:
- Managing and monitoring all installed systems and infrastructure
- Installing, configuring, testing, and maintaining operating systems, application software and system management tools
- Proactively ensure the highest levels of systems and infrastructure availability
- Monitor and test application performance for potential bottlenecks, identify possible solutions, and work with developers to implement those fixes
- Maintain security, backup, and redundancy strategies
- Participate in the design of information and operational support systems
- Provide 2nd and 3rd level support
- Liaise with vendors and other IT personnel for problem resolution
- System vulnerability remediation and reporting.
- System configuration and compliance
- Proven working experience in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting UNIX/Linux/RedHat based environments.
This position is for Monday through Friday, normal business hours. However, employee may be required to provide after-hours and weekend support during planned or emergency events.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS and four (4) years or more experience.
- DoD Secret Clearance.
One of these IAT Level II certifications: Security+ CE, CySA+ **, GICSP, GSEC, CND, SSCP
A Computing Environment (CE) certification or certificate for the technical area of responsibility in either Network support/defense (e.g., Splunk, Cisco, McAfee, etc.) OR (e.g., Microsoft, Linux, Solaris, etc.)
- Must possess competencies in installation, service design, and support in an environment that uses Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2016.
- Experience with Azure or AWS Cloud Environments.
- Experience with Linux.
- Experience with production environments.
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must be available to participate in on-call work on a reoccurring basis.
- Solid troubleshooting skills and demonstrated ability of end-to-end problem management and ownership.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Working knowledge of authentication functions and protocols such as LDAP, Kerberos, and Active Directory.
- Conceptual knowledge of Storage systems (SAN/NAS).
- Any of the following IT certifications are also desirable for this position: MCP, CompTIA A+ / Network+ / Security+, AWS, Azure.
Desired Qualifications:
- MA/MS
- Six (6) or more years of experience
- DoD TS/SCI clearance
- ITIL V4 Foundations certification
Target salary range: $80,001 - $120,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.
See All 63 Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Engineer JobsSystems Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems 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
- Manufacturing
- Food & Beverage
- Construction & Real Estate
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
- Experience with systems integration, requirements analysis, and lifecycle documentation
- Proficiency in modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, SysML, or equivalent platforms
- Familiarity with defense or aerospace standards including MIL-STD or DO-178 where applicable
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with hardware, software, and test engineering teams
- Active or eligible security clearance preferred for defense-sector roles in Illinois
Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems engineer in Illinois?
A bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field is the standard entry point for Illinois employers. Illinois does not require a state-issued license specifically for systems engineers, though engineers who stamp public infrastructure designs may pursue Professional Engineer licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Certifications such as INCOSE's Certified Systems Engineering Professional strengthen candidacy considerably in Illinois's defense and aerospace hiring markets.
Which companies hire systems engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring systems engineers in Illinois right now include Northrop Grumman, Shure, and Endeavor Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of defense contractors, telecommunications firms, and advanced manufacturing headquarters means openings appear across a wide range of company sizes and sectors throughout the Chicagoland region and beyond.
Which Illinois cities have the most systems engineer jobs?
Chicago, Rolling Meadows, and Niles lead Illinois for systems engineer openings. Chicago anchors demand through its large corporate headquarters, technology companies, and federal contracting presence, while suburban centers like Schaumburg and Naperville draw heavily from Motorola Solutions, Motorola Mobility, and the dense corridor of defense and IT firms clustered along the I-90 and I-88 technology belts.
Are there remote systems engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many technical fields. About 85% of systems engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that much of the role centers on documentation, modeling, and cross-functional coordination that translates well to distributed work. Hands-on integration, lab testing, and classified defense programs are the segments most likely to require on-site presence in Illinois.
How can I get hired as a systems engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a rotational or associate engineer program at one of Illinois's large defense or technology employers. Boeing and Motorola Solutions run structured early-career engineering programs that place candidates without prior professional experience into project rotations. Adjacent roles such as systems technician, quality assurance engineer, or IT infrastructure analyst at Illinois manufacturers or telecommunications firms are strong lateral starting points. Completing an INCOSE student membership, building a portfolio of documented systems projects, or earning a relevant certification like CompTIA Network+ noticeably strengthens applications for junior-level openings.
Where can I find and apply to systems engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to systems engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 63 Systems Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Engineer Jobs