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Associate Software Jobs in Naperville, IL (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$117K - $123K/yr

... Associate Software Engineer, Developer, or related position; or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a technology-related filed or foreign ...

Principal Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$117K - $123K/yr

... Associate Software Engineer, Developer, or related position; or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a technology-related filed or foreign ...

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Showing results 1-20

Associate Software information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$11K

$83.2K

$130.8K

How much do associate software jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate software in Naperville, IL is $83,244.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,900.00 and $94,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate software engineer do?

An Associate Software Engineer is an entry-level position responsible for assisting in the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications. They work closely under the supervision of more experienced engineers to write code, fix bugs, and contribute to software projects. This role typically involves learning company-specific technologies and best practices, collaborating with team members, and gradually taking on more complex tasks as skills develop.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate software engineer?

To thrive as an Associate Software Engineer, you need a solid understanding of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), software development principles, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with development tools like Git, integrated development environments (IDEs), and issue tracking systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help you collaborate and adapt in dynamic project environments. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering robust code, supporting team goals, and driving continuous improvement in software projects.

What are some common challenges faced by associate software engineers when transitioning from academic projects to real-world development teams?

Associate Software Engineers often find the transition to professional environments challenging due to differences in project scale, codebase complexity, and the need to follow established development processes. Unlike academic projects, real-world teams typically use version control systems, conduct code reviews, and adhere to specific coding standards. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, understanding business requirements, and managing tight deadlines are also new experiences. Embracing mentorship, asking questions, and being open to feedback can help ease this transition and support professional growth.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software jobs in Naperville, IL?

The most popular types of Software jobs in Naperville, IL are:

What cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Associate Software jobs?

Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Associate Software job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Software job openings in Naperville, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,244 per year, or $40 per hour.

Associate Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Rolling Meadows, IL • On-site

$72K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 368 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

84th of 545 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

As an Associate Embedded Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our mission to deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment and shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of automation.

Northrop Grumman is looking to add to our talented team of Embedded Software Engineers. Our engineers are self-starters who are part of a team of software professionals developing world-class software to meet our customer's high expectations. The Embedded Software Engineer designs, develops, operates, and maintains software and firmware components and computing systems software to be applied to and integrated with engineering, scientific and manufacturing requirements. The individual shall apply the appropriate standards, processes, procedures, and tools throughout the system development life cycle to support the generation of engineering applications and products within the RFCIS Business Unit. This includes interfacing with customers, suppliers, application users and other technical and support personnel. The ideal individual will have experience including the full software development life cycle, which includes requirements, design, coding, testing, and integration.

This position will be full-time and on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location

Basic Qualifications for Associate Embedded Software Engineer:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or similar engineering discipline with 1+ years of relevant software engineering experience
  • Familiar with Object Oriented Programming in C++
  • Familiarity with Software architecture (design patterns, objected oriented design)
  • Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc)
  • Familiarity with operating system concepts for embedded systems
  • Familiarity with software development methodologies and frameworks such as Waterfall Methodology and/or Agile
  • Familiarity with various version control systems (Git, Gitlabs, Github, Bitbucket, ClearCase. etc) and Agile software planning tools (Rally, Jira, etc)
  • US Citizen
  • Must be able to obtain Active Secret clearance prior to starting.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with Object Oriented Programming in C++11
  • Knowledge in Software architecture (design patterns, objected oriented design)
  • Knowledge with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc)
  • Experience with Software development methodologies and frameworks such as Waterfall Methodology and/or Agile
  • Experience Developing Embedded Software running Linux or VxWorks Operating Systems
  • Experience testing, debugging, and integrating Embedded Software on target hardware
  • Experience with complex systems of systems that utilize Parallel Processing, Multi-Threading, Distributed Processing, Multi-Core, System-on-Chip, and Secure Processing.
  • Active Secret Clearance
  • Differentiating characteristics include demonstrated leadership and teamwork capability, interpersonal communication skills and activities.
Primary Level Salary Range: $72,700.00 - $109,100.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939