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Associate Software Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Sr. Software Development Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$153K - $203K/yr

Oak Street Health MSO, LLC, a CVS Health company, is hiring for the following role in Chicago, IL: Sr. Software Development Engineer to be responsible for designing and building software solutions ...

SDET

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test Chicago, IL Who We Are: Northern Trust is a Chicago-based bank with more than 20 international locations and 16,500 employees. From sovereign wealth funds ...

SDET

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test Chicago, IL Who We Are: Northern Trust is a Chicago-based bank with more than 20 international locations and 16,500 employees. From sovereign wealth funds ...

Sr. SDET

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Job title: SR. SDET Location: Chicago, IL • XCTest/ XCUITest frameworks • 5+ years direct experience as an SDET for major application integration and/or major application product release • ...

Core Engineering: Experience in software development (Python, Java, Go, or similar) with a strong grasp of the full SDLC. * Observability Expertise: 5+years of proven experience with Grafana Cloud ...

Core Engineering: Experience in software development (Python, Java, Go, or similar) with a strong grasp of the full SDLC. * Observability Expertise: 5+years of proven experience with Grafana Cloud ...

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Showing results 1-20

Associate Software Development Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$18

$40

$95

How much do associate software development engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate software development engineer in Illinois is $40.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.57 and $43.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Associate Software Development Engineers?

Associate Software Development Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software applications. They typically work under the guidance of senior developers, contributing to coding, debugging, and documenting software projects. This role serves as a foundational position in a software engineering career, providing opportunities to learn industry best practices and collaborate with experienced team members. Associate Software Development Engineers often participate in code reviews, troubleshoot issues, and help ensure that software meets quality and performance standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Software Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Software Development Engineer, you need a solid grasp of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), algorithms, and data structures, often supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems like Git, and basic software development lifecycle methodologies is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn, and effective teamwork set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are vital for building reliable software, adapting to evolving technologies, and collaborating in dynamic development teams.

What are some common challenges faced by Associate Software Development Engineers when joining a new team?

Associate Software Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting to established codebases, understanding team workflows, and getting acquainted with company-specific development tools. It can take time to become comfortable with version control systems, code review processes, and agile methodologies commonly used by development teams. Building effective communication with senior engineers and learning to balance independent problem-solving with seeking guidance are also key aspects of the initial learning curve.

What is the difference between Associate Software Development Engineer vs Software Development Engineer?

AspectAssociate Software Development EngineerSoftware Development Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, some internshipsBachelor's or higher in CS, more experience preferred
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team-based projects, training programsMore complex projects, increased responsibility
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, large corporationsSame as Associate role, with more senior positions
Search & Comparison IntentEntry-level roles, career progressionMid-level roles, career growth

The main difference between an Associate Software Development Engineer and a Software Development Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. The Associate role is typically entry-level, focusing on learning and supporting projects, while the SDE has more experience and handles more complex tasks. Both roles are common in tech companies and serve as stepping stones in a software engineering career.

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Associate Software Development Engineer jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Associate Software Development Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Software Development Engineer job openings in Illinois as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,117 per year, or $40.9 per hour.
Senior Software Development Engineer

Senior Software Development Engineer

Ecentria

Northbrook, IL • On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

OpticsPlanet is seeking a full-time Senior Software Development Engineer to join our Engineering Team. Senior Software Development Engineer is a technical team member that is responsible for the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of software applications. The role requires strong problem-solving skills, deep technical knowledge, and a collaborative mindset to build reliable and scalable systems that meet business and technical needs.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The main focus is not only meeting company coding standards but actively suggest improvements that bring business or technical value.
With the main responsibilities as follows:
  • Participate in design discussions and reviews with architects and POs.
  • Translate functional requirements into well-structured, efficient, and maintainable code that creates minimal to non-technical debt.
  • Implement features and tasks following clean code principles and best practices.
  • Ensure code adheres to quality standards and meets business need.
  • Collaborate with QA engineers to define test strategies and scenarios.
  • Work closely with Product Owners, Team Architect, and other engineers to deliver features end-to-end.
  • Clearly document technical decisions and share knowledge with peers.
  • Communicate progress, blockers, and risks proactively.
  • Stay up to date with new programming languages, tools, frameworks, and best practices.
  • Attend training sessions, code reviews, and knowledge-sharing events.
  • Actively seek feedback and opportunities for self-improvement.
  • Contribute to internal tools, libraries, or technical initiatives.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree, or foreign equivalent, in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field of study
  • 4+ years C# Developer experience (C#/.Net, Blazor)
  • MS SQL server - must have
  • Understanding of object-oriented programming languages and design patterns
  • VBA must have / or readiness to learn and write on VBA technology
  • Practical usage of agentic engineering tools
  • Initiative, desire to learn, willingness to adapt, and ability to work in a team
  • Experience working on cross team projects
  • Understanding of order and warehouse management systems is a great plus
  • Leading a team will be a plus
  • Open source code or example projects that you're proud to share preferred
  • Familiarity with Atlassian tools such as Jira, Confluence, Bamboo, Stash preferred
  • Knowledge of web platforms and technologies, including Message Bus, HTTP, REST APIs, JSON preferred

Compensation and Benefits:
  • Annual Based Salary Range: $100-140K
  • The annual based range for this role considers the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

Ecentria offers generous benefits to full-time employees including but not limited to:
  • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
  • 401k plan participation
  • Company paid Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Company paid Life Insurance
  • Company paid holidays
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Paid Parental Bonding Leave

To learn more Ecentria's benefits, please visit: https://ecentria.com/careers/
Work Location: This onsite role is based out of Northbrook, IL location. Candidates must be able to work from this location up to five days/week.
Application: Your application must provide sufficient details about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.
If a strong match is found between your qualifications and the requirements of the position, a member of the recruiting staff will contact you to further discuss the career opportunity.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Ecentria is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
No recruiter or third-party applications.
Salary Description
$100-$140K per year