1

Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

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 • ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Libertyville, IL · On-site

$99K - $131K/yr

The Lead R&D Engineer is a member of the Hollister Ostomy New Product Development team. The Lead R&D Engineer will lead or participate in new product development project teams to drive and develop ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Libertyville, IL · Hybrid

$99K - $131K/yr

The Lead R&D Engineer is a member of the Hollister Ostomy New Product Development team. The Lead R&D Engineer will lead or participate in new product development project teams to drive and develop ...

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 ...

$97K - $146K/yr

This position will serve the role of Development Engineer within the Alexion Device Development organization. The candidate will act as the technical SME/project engineer supporting the development ...

New

next page

Showing results 1-20

Development Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$47.5K

$93.2K

$148.7K

How much do development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for development engineer in Illinois is $93,176.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,000.00 and $103,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do Development Engineers typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Development Engineers frequently work alongside designers, product managers, quality assurance teams, and manufacturing specialists to bring projects from concept to completion. They participate in regular meetings to align on project requirements, address technical challenges, and integrate feedback from different departments. Effective communication and a collaborative mindset are crucial, as Development Engineers often serve as the technical bridge between teams, ensuring that the final product meets both functional and business goals.

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

To excel as a Development Engineer, you need strong analytical abilities, a background in engineering (typically a bachelor's degree or higher), and proficiency in product design and development principles. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and relevant industry certifications such as Six Sigma or PMP is often required. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for this role. These capabilities are important because they enable the creation of innovative, high-quality products that meet technical standards and client needs.

What Is a Development Engineer?

A development engineer is responsible for creating a design for a manufacturing product. Your job duties include conducting research on the potential product, developing design specifications for the product, creating prototypes that can be evaluated, and being involved in market research. The qualifications for a career as a development engineer include a bachelor’s degree, although some employers may prefer a master’s degree in engineering or a related field. A successful development engineer needs strong creative skills and a excellent attention to detail, especially with design.

What is the difference between Development Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectDevelopment EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, often in software, electrical, or systems fieldsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentProduct development, R&D, design teams, often in tech or manufacturing companiesDesign, analysis, testing, and manufacturing in industrial, automotive, or aerospace sectors
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, manufacturing, electronics, software companiesAutomotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, manufacturing
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in product development, software or hardware designDesigning mechanical systems, machinery, or components

Development Engineers focus on creating and improving products, often in software or integrated systems, while Mechanical Engineers specialize in designing and analyzing mechanical systems and components. Both roles require engineering degrees but differ in their focus areas and industries.

What are Development Engineers?

Development Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test new products, processes, or systems in various industries such as technology, manufacturing, or automotive. They work closely with cross-functional teams to turn ideas and concepts into practical, market-ready solutions. Their responsibilities often include research, prototyping, troubleshooting, and optimizing existing products or processes. Development Engineers play a key role in innovation and ensuring the technical feasibility and quality of new developments.
More about Development Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Development Engineer jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Development Engineer jobs in Illinois are:
What job categories do people searching Development Engineer jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Development Engineer jobs in Illinois are:
Infographic showing various Development Engineer job openings in Illinois as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,176 per year, or $44.8 per hour.
Senior Device Development Engineer

Senior Device Development Engineer

AbbVie

North Chicago, IL • On-site

$109K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


AbbVie rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 95 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 71 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
We are looking for experienced Development Engineer to join our Late-Stage Injection Device Development team to help us accelerate AbbVie's combination products from proof-of-concept through submission and launch.
Our team has end-to-end accountability for commercial development, submission, industrialization and marketed product support for injection devices that enable the delivery of AbbVie's innovative medicines. In the course of our work we collaborate with early-stage CMC, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Internal and External Manufacturing, and other cross-functional colleagues to ensure timeliness, robustness and market success.
As a Development Engineer at AbbVie you would be part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals working at the intersection of engineering and biopharmaceuticals. The problems you would help to solve relate not only to the function of innovative injection systems, but also the way in which they interact with drug products and the human body. You would be responsible for advancing programs that combine proven delivery systems with viable commercial drug assets. If you are a self-motivated person who thrives on solving complex problems and are excited by the idea of putting life-changing therapies in the hands of patients, this might be the opportunity for you.
Responsibilities:
  • Create and maintain product design documentation such as 2D engineering drawings, subassembly specifications and purchasing specifications to be used by sourcing, clinical and commercial entities
  • Perform 3D and 2D CAD development in PDM environment
  • Design and execute laboratory studies supporting product development such as feasibility/confidence testing, root cause analysis, and verification testing under protocol
  • Design and fabrication of test fixtures
  • Conduct analytical modeling of key performance attributes of designs
  • Collaborating with third party developers and suppliers
  • Support design transfer and industrialization activities
  • Some travel required

Preferred Qualifications:
  • BS in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering (MS preferred)
  • 10-12 years of experience, ideally in the medical device, drug delivery or other regulated industry
  • Strong communication skills (both written and verbal).
  • Strong design and analytical skills
  • Experience with:
    • Design controls (in accordance with ISO 13485 / CFR 820.30)
    • Physical prototyping (including 3D printing, manual machining, etc.)
    • 3D CAD modeling, detailed engineering drawings, and GD&T
    • Experimental protocol development, documentation of results, and authoring of summary reports
    • Statistical data analysis
  • Knowledge of material properties, material selection and manufacturing processes
  • The ability to create and manage schedules for sub-tasks and work streams for which you are responsible
  • A keen eye for identifying project risks and proactively developing mitigation plans

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master's Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and typically 4 years of experience.
  • Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of own scientific discipline.
  • Effective writer and communicator of research or other regulatory materials.

Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

What AbbVie employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


AbbVie logo

About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013