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Contract Aviation Software Engineer Jobs in Elgin, IL

Candidates for this position are software engineers with strong programming skills who demonstrate ... Some contracts may have higher-level clearance requirements. Travel RequirementsNone Relocation ...

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$112K - $183K/yr

Participate in solution design, API contract definition, payload schema design, and OpenAPI/Swagger ... Mentor software engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, and sharing of engineering best ...

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$128K - $208K/yr

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and drive the delivery of ... Build API-first solutions, define service contracts, payload schemas, and OpenAPI/Swagger ...

... Principal Software Engineer who builds across the entire stack and owns the integration and ... Build and maintain automated integration, contract, and end‑to‑end test suites that exercise ...

Posted today

Software Simulation Engineer Our Software & Digital Transformation organization is seeking an ... Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Schaumburg, IL. Pay and ...

Principal Software Engineer

Chicago, IL

$139K - $186K/yr

... Software Engineer who builds across the entire stack and owns the integration and end-to-end ... Build and maintain automated integration, contract, and end-to-end test suites that exercise REST ...

Sr. Software Engineer, Data Products

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

This is a software engineering role in the data domain. You will build APIs, backend services ... Design clear interfaces, service boundaries, schemas, and data contracts. * Write modular, testable ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Aviation Software Engineer information

See Elgin, IL salary details

$62.8K

$145.8K

$203.1K

How much do contract aviation software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract aviation software engineer in Elgin, IL is $145,829.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,600.00 and $171,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract aviation software engineer?

A Contract Aviation Software Engineer is a software developer who works on a temporary or project-based basis to design, develop, and maintain software systems used in the aviation industry. These professionals may be responsible for creating flight control software, avionics systems, simulation tools, or air traffic management solutions. They often work for airlines, aircraft manufacturers, or aerospace companies, and their contracts may vary in length depending on the project's scope. Typically, contract engineers bring specialized skills and flexibility to teams needing to meet specific project deadlines or technical requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract aviation software engineer?

To thrive as a Contract Aviation Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (such as C, C++, or Ada), a solid understanding of avionics systems, and typically a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with industry standards like DO-178C, real-time operating systems, and software development tools such as Git, Jira, and MATLAB is highly valuable. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for working with multidisciplinary teams and meeting tight deadlines. These skills ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and compliant software solutions in the highly regulated aviation industry.

What are the typical challenges faced by contract aviation software engineers when integrating software with existing avionics systems?

Contract aviation software engineers often encounter the challenge of ensuring compatibility between new software and legacy avionics systems, which can involve working with outdated documentation and strict regulatory requirements. Accurate testing and validation are essential, as aviation software must meet rigorous safety and reliability standards. Close collaboration with hardware engineers and compliance specialists is common, and the ability to quickly adapt to varying project scopes and client expectations is crucial for success in contract roles.

What is the difference between Contract Aviation Software Engineer vs Contract Aerospace Software Engineer?

AspectContract Aviation Software EngineerContract Aerospace Software Engineer
Required CredentialsRelevant software development certifications, aerospace industry knowledgeSimilar certifications, specialized aerospace industry experience
Work EnvironmentAircraft manufacturers, airlines, aerospace firmsAerospace research centers, defense contractors
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in aviation and commercial aircraft sectorsPrimarily in space, defense, and satellite sectors

Contract Aviation Software Engineers and Contract Aerospace Software Engineers share similar skills and certifications but differ mainly in industry focus. Aviation engineers work on commercial and private aircraft, while aerospace engineers focus on space and defense projects. Both roles require specialized software expertise and industry knowledge, but their work environments and applications vary significantly.

What job categories do people searching Contract Aviation Software Engineer jobs in Elgin, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Aviation Software Engineer jobs in Elgin, IL are:

What cities near Elgin, IL are hiring for Contract Aviation Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Elgin, IL with the most Contract Aviation Software Engineer job openings:

Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman

Rolling Meadows, IL • On-site

$135K - $182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 368 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

66th of 545 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: SAP TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description 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. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available.

Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman. 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 a Principal Software Engineer/Sr.

Principal Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of Model-based Engineering, DevSecOps and Agile practices we continue to evolve how we 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 & 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 Targeting, RF and MSS Business Units. 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 can be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal Software level based on specific requirements.

This position is contingent upon Funding/Contract award, special access program and acquiring and maintaining the necessary US Government security clearance per customers' requirements prior to start. This position will be full-time, on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Software Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of engineering experience, or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 3+ years of engineering experience or in lieu of degree, an additional 4 years of experience is required. Object Oriented Programming in C++ Familiarity with Software architecture (design patterns, objected oriented design) Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc.) Experience Developing Embedded Software running Linux or VxWorks Operating 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 Citizenship Current Active Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Embedded Software Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 8+ years of engineering experience, or 6+ years with a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline or in lieu of degree, an additional 4 years of experience is required. Object Oriented Programming in C++ Familiarity with Software architecture (design patterns, objected oriented design) Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc) Experience Developing Embedded Software running Linux or VxWorks Operating 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 Citizenship Current Active Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start. Preferred Qualifications: Experience with Object Oriented Programming in C++11 Knowledge with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc) Experience with Software development methodologies and frameworks such as Waterfall Methodology and/or Agile. 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: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00 The 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