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Critical Systems Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton delivers the mission-critical ... NEXCOM Senior Systems Design Engineer Location: Chicago, IL We are seeking a Design Engineer for ...

NEXCOM Senior Systems Design Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$107K - $147K/yr

As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton delivers the mission-critical ... NEXCOM Senior Systems Design Engineer Location: Chicago, IL We are seeking a Design Engineer for ...

This Engineer will work with a team primarily focused on providing technical direction for the ... critical systems. This position may require some travel. Qualifications BS degree in Computer ...

Principal Systems Engineer

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Our solutions foster the collaboration that's critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer ... System Engineering * Drive product and feature requirements, architecture, design, and test ...

... handling systems. With hundreds of engineers in-house, the company designs, manufactures ... critical round-the-clock service and support. If you want to join a team of industry leading ...

Field Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$50 - $52.50/hr

The field engineer acts as a generalist across servers, virtualization, operating systems ... Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax ...

Trade Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $125K/yr

As a Trade Systems Engineer , you'll have the opportunity to learn and grow while supporting our ... This flexible coverage model allows you to make a critical impact during peak trading hours while ...

Systems Engineer - EEC SI

Elgin, IL · On-site

$58K - $85K/yr

Our solutions foster the collaboration that's critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer ... As a system staging engineer be an active participant. * Driving force behind the implementation ...

Senior Cloud Systems Engineer

Addison, IL · Hybrid

$104K - $143K/yr

The Job at a Glance The Senior Systems & Cloud Engineer designs builds, and operate primarily ... critical systems secure, stable, and ready for what's next. * You understand virtualization ...

Senior Cloud Systems Engineer

Addison, IL · Hybrid

$104K - $143K/yr

... keeping critical systems secure, stable, and ready for what's next. • You understand ... engineering discipline to systems work. • You take pride in patch management, monitoring, and ...

Systems Engineer - EEC Si

Elgin, IL · On-site

$65K - $85K/yr

Our solutions foster the collaboration that's critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer ... Be an active member of a team of developmental engineers, systems engineers, system technicians ...

Our solutions foster the collaboration that's critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer ... Be an active member of a team of developmental engineers, systems engineers, system technicians ...

Showing results 41-60

Critical Systems Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$55.1K

$131.1K

$172K

How much do critical systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for critical systems engineer in Chicago, IL is $131,050.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,000.00 and $161,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a critical systems engineer?

A Critical Systems Engineer is a professional responsible for designing, maintaining, and ensuring the reliability and safety of systems that are essential to the operation of organizations, such as power grids, healthcare equipment, and transportation systems. These engineers focus on minimizing risks and preventing failures in systems where downtime or errors can have severe consequences. Their work often involves rigorous testing, strict compliance with industry standards, and ongoing monitoring to ensure continuous operation. Critical Systems Engineers collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address both hardware and software challenges in high-stakes environments.

What are some common challenges faced by critical systems engineers when maintaining high-availability systems?

Critical Systems Engineers often face the challenge of ensuring continuous uptime while managing complex, interdependent systems. They must quickly diagnose and resolve issues under pressure, as even brief downtime can have significant consequences. Balancing system upgrades or maintenance without disrupting essential services requires careful planning, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and a deep understanding of redundancy and failover protocols. Additionally, staying updated with evolving security threats and compliance standards is a constant aspect of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a critical systems engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Critical Systems Engineer, you need expertise in systems engineering, risk analysis, and reliability engineering, often supported by a degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with tools such as fault tree analysis software, real-time operating systems, and certifications like INCOSE CSEP or CISSP are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring the safety, security, and continuous operation of mission-critical systems in high-stakes environments.

What is the difference between Critical Systems Engineer vs Network Security Engineer?

AspectCritical Systems EngineerNetwork Security Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, certifications like CISSP or Security+Bachelor's in Computer Science or related, CISSP, CEH
Work EnvironmentDesigning and maintaining critical infrastructure systems, often in industries like aerospace, defense, or energySecuring organizational networks, preventing cyber threats, and managing firewalls and intrusion detection systems
Industry UsageUsed in sectors requiring high system reliability and safetyCommon in IT, cybersecurity firms, and corporate IT departments

Critical Systems Engineers focus on designing and maintaining essential infrastructure systems, ensuring safety and reliability. Network Security Engineers specialize in protecting network assets from cyber threats. While both roles require security certifications and technical expertise, their focus areas differ significantly, with Critical Systems Engineers emphasizing system integrity and safety, and Network Security Engineers concentrating on cybersecurity defenses.

What are popular job titles related to Critical Systems Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Critical Systems Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Critical Systems Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Critical Systems Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Critical Systems Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,050 per year, or $63 per hour.

NEXCOM Senior Systems Design Engineer

Peraton

Chicago, IL

$107K - $147K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

51st of 226 rated it services


Job description

Responsibilities

Shape the Future of America's Skies with Peraton

Join Peraton in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton delivers the mission-critical systems and services that keep our nation's skies safe, secure, and connected.

We're seeking innovative professionals who thrive in high-impact, mission-driven environments and are excited to help transform the future of air traffic management. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the world's most vital transportation infrastructures while collaborating with leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration.

At Peraton, you won't just support the mission-you'll help define it.

NEXCOM Senior Systems Design Engineer

Location: Chicago, IL 

We are seeking a Design Engineer for our Next Generation Air/Ground Communications (NEXCOM) program to lead the systems engineering activities that support the design and implementation of new large-scale radio network equipment at more than a thousand FAA air traffic control centers across the United States. Applicants must have experience with site surveys, radio network configurations, racks and cable routings and have familiarity with safety and risk management issues while creating site installation engineering packages (detailed drawings, BOM, installation steps and schematics).This position will work closely with our FAA client, Peraton CAD drafters and schedulers, and third-party installation teams, and must be attentive to detail, have strong problem-solving ability and display strong communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct large-scale radio network planning, including site surveys, radio network configurations, racks and cable routings.
  • Create site installation engineering packages (detailed drawings, BOM, installation steps and schematics) to support implementation and deployment of radio communication equipment.
  • Develop system design packages that support site preparation, procurement, and installation activities.
  • Support development of site engineering packages required for radio equipment installations.
  • Perform requirements definition and system decomposition.
  • Utilize Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies to support system modeling and documentation.
  • Conduct trade-off analyses to support engineering decisions and system design optimization.
  • Provide technical leadership and engineering guidance to project teams and junior engineers.
  • Facilitate engineering discussions, working groups, and design reviews across technical stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including field engineering, deployment teams, and program leadership to ensure design alignment with operational requirements.
  • Ensure designs comply with program standards, engineering best practices, and technical requirements.
Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of 8 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 6 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 3 years with PhD; 10 years with an AS degree; 12 years in lieu of degree
  • US Citizenship with the ability to obtain/maintain a public trust clearance 
  • Experience with systems engineering processes, including requirements definition, system decomposition, and architecture development.
  • Experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles.
  • Ability to perform engineering trade studies and technical evaluations.
  • Experience providing technical leadership or mentorship within engineering teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to support technical working groups and design reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting radio communication systems with telecommunications infrastructure for interface, or similar technical deployments.
  • Familiarity with site survey analysis and site engineering documentation.
  • Experience supporting large federal or aviation-related programs.
  • Proficiency with engineering and design tools such as SysML, UML, and CAD.

#BNATCS 

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$86,000 - $138,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017