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Engineering Startup Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Electrical Engineer

Elgin, IL · On-site

$110K - $120K/yr

  • Retirement

Support machine commissioning, startup, debugging, and system validation. * Collaborate with Mechanical Engineering throughout the design and build process to ensure seamless system integration.

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$65 - $85.50/hr

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$65 - $85.50/hr

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

Applications Engineer

Buffalo Grove, IL · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Manage automation projects from concept, engineering release, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, startup, and production support. * Collaborate closely with customers, engineering teams ...

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65 - $85.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

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Electrical Engineering Manager

Burr Ridge, IL · On-site

$130K - $159K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Provide technical leadership during fabrication, installation, startup, testing, and field support activities * Lead design reviews, value engineering initiatives, and root cause investigations

SCADA Engineer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site +1

$85K - $120K/yr

... startup. With over a decade of demonstrated engineering and design success, Nexus stands out as the firm of choice for those valuing integrity and expertise. At Nexus, you will be part of a talented ...

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Director, Engineering (Distribution)

Lake Forest, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Summary The BU Engineering Director is responsible for leading engineering activities ... Support manufacturing readiness, startup stabilization, and operational performance improvement ...

Director, Engineering (Distribution)

Lake Forest, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Summary The BU Engineering Director is responsible for leading engineering activities ... Support manufacturing readiness, startup stabilization, and operational performance improvement ...

Director, Engineering (Distribution)

Lake Forest, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Summary The BU Engineering Director is responsible for leading engineering activities ... Support manufacturing readiness, startup stabilization, and operational performance improvement ...

Collaborate with the Founder/CEO, Engineering & Design team (ex-Google/Apple/Facebook/Microsoft) to ... Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment * Eagerness to learn, adapt, and ...

Collaborate with the Founder/CEO, Engineering & Design team (ex-Google/Apple/Facebook/Microsoft) to ... Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment * Eagerness to learn, adapt, and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Engineering Startup information

See Illinois salary details

$45.1K

$142.3K

$168.6K

How much do engineering startup jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering startup in Illinois is $142,319.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,900.00 and $167,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges engineers face when working in a startup environment?

Engineers in startup environments often encounter challenges such as rapidly shifting priorities, resource constraints, and the need to wear multiple hats beyond their core technical role. You may be expected to iterate quickly on product designs, address unforeseen technical hurdles, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams like product and marketing. Flexibility and a proactive mindset are essential, as the pace can be fast and the scope of work may change frequently. However, these challenges come with significant learning opportunities and the potential to make a visible impact on the company's success and direction.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the engineering startup position, and why are they important?

To thrive in an engineering startup, you need a robust understanding of engineering principles, problem-solving ability, and hands-on technical skills often supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with product development tools, prototyping platforms, and agile project management systems such as Jira or Trello is highly valuable. Exceptional adaptability, entrepreneurial drive, teamwork, and strong communication skills set standout contributors apart in this fast-paced environment. These skills and qualities are critical because startup teams must efficiently innovate, iterate, and launch solutions amidst constant change and limited resources.

What is an engineering startup?

An Engineering Startup job involves working in a newly founded company focused on developing innovative technology or products. Engineers in startups often wear multiple hats, taking on tasks ranging from product design and prototyping to testing and deployment. Unlike larger companies, startups typically require employees to be adaptable, work in fast-paced environments, and contribute to various aspects of product development. This role can be highly rewarding, offering opportunities for hands-on experience, creativity, and rapid career growth.

What are the most commonly searched types of Engineering Startup jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Engineering Startup jobs in Illinois are:

Infographic showing various Engineering Startup job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 83% Full Time, 4% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,319 per year, or $68.4 per hour.

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Chicago, IL • On-site

$65 - $85.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,091 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Job Summary:
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is dedicated to supporting early-stage startups in building scalable and secure architectures. The Startup Solutions Architect will work closely with diverse startup customers, helping them make informed technical decisions while also developing technical content and advocating for their needs within AWS.
Responsibilities:
• Help a diverse range of startups to adopt the right architecture at each part of their lifecycle
• Support startups in architecting scalable, reliable and secure solutions
• Support adoption of a broad range of AWS services to deliver business value and accelerate growth
• Support the evolution and roadmap of the AWS platform and services, connecting our engineering teams with our customers for feedback
• Establish and build technical relationships within the startup ecosystem, including accelerators, incubators and VCs
• Develop startup specific technical content, such as blog posts, sample code and solutions, to assist customers solve technical problems and reduce time-to-market
Qualifications:
Required:
• 2+ years of design, implementation, or consulting in applications and infrastructures experience
• 4+ years of specific technology domain areas (e.g. software development, cloud computing, systems engineering, infrastructure, security, networking, data & analytics) experience
Preferred:
• Experience working within software development or Internet-related industries
• Experience migrating or transforming legacy customer solutions to the cloud
• Experience with AWS technologies
• Experience designing or advising on production agentic AI architectures — including multi-agent orchestration, tool-use frameworks, memory/state management, and agent runtime selection. Ability to guide customers on production hardening: observability, cost attribution, session isolation, fallback strategies, and human-in-the-loop patterns.
Company:
Launched in 2006, Amazon Web Services (AWS) began exposing key infrastructure services to businesses in the form of web services -- now widely known as cloud computing. Founded in 2002, the company is headquartered in Seattle, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US