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Founding Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

RBN Chicago

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Company Description Our client has been at the forefront of algorithmic trading since its founding ... The Lead Software Engineer will be our most senior software engineer, leading and managing software ...

RBN

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL

Company Description Our client has been at the forefront of algorithmic trading since its founding ... The Lead Software Engineer will be our most senior software engineer, leading and managing software ...

Harvey

Law Schools Founding CSM

Chicago, IL · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

Partner with Legal Engineers and Law School Managers to translate school feedback into program ... You are a founding CSM for this team and will have a strong part in growing it. * Strong trainer ...

HBK Engineering, LLC

Design Engineer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

About Us HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm ... Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ...

HBK Engineering, LLC

Design Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

About Us HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm ... Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ...

HBK Engineering, LLC

Design Engineer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

About Us HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm ... Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate ...

Davies Molding

Quality Engineer

Carol Stream, IL · On-site

$74K - $95K/yr

The Quality Engineer is responsible for strengthening product quality, reducing scrap/returns, and ... Since its founding over 40 years ago The Heico Companies has grown from a single business to over ...

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All JobsFounding Engineer JobsFounding Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Founding Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$29.1K

$67.2K

$114.3K

How much do founding engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding engineer in Illinois is $67,213.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,900.00 and $76,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the biggest challenges a founding engineer typically faces at an early-stage startup?

As a Founding Engineer, you’ll often be tasked with building a product from the ground up while balancing rapid development with long-term technical vision. Resource constraints and evolving product requirements can require creative problem-solving and the ability to prioritize effectively. You’ll work closely with the founding team, making pivotal decisions that shape both technology and culture, so adaptability and a hands-on approach are important. While the environment can be demanding and ambiguous, it also offers unique opportunities to learn, take ownership, and have a major impact on the success of the company.

What is a founding engineer?

A Founding Engineer is one of the first technical hires at a startup, responsible for building the company's core products and setting the foundation for its technology stack. They work closely with the founders, making key architectural decisions, writing production-ready code, and often wearing multiple hats across engineering, product, and strategy. This role requires a mix of deep technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, early-stage environment.

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

To thrive as a Founding Engineer, you need deep expertise in software development, system architecture, and product design, typically backed by experience with startups or building products from scratch. Familiarity with modern programming languages, cloud platforms, and agile tools such as Git, AWS, and Jira is often essential. Exceptional problem-solving, strong ownership mentality, and the ability to communicate clearly in fast-paced, unstructured environments set standout candidates apart. These skills are crucial because Founding Engineers must quickly turn vision into reality, adapt to changing needs, and help establish the technical foundation of a new company.

What are the most commonly searched types of Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois? For Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Engineer jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Founding Engineer jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Founding Engineer job openings:
Founding Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Internship, 33% Full Time, and 34% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $67,213 per year, or $32.3 per hour.

Lead Software Engineer

RBN Chicago

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Our client has been at the forefront of algorithmic trading since its founding 15 years ago. Since its inception, our client has employed over 400 employees with offices in the US and international operations. They are currently looking to grow their team by adding an experienced software engineer to join their operations.
Job Description
The Lead Software Engineer will be our most senior software engineer, leading and managing software engineers and interns.
Hire, mentor and manage software engineers and interns from the Computer Science department
Coordinate development projects across distributed teams
Actively engage with our R&D group to explore new research initiatives
Build relationships with faculty and university researchers who are focused on emerging technologies in the areas of low latency, high performance computing and electronic trading
Facilitate and participate in sharing best practices with other companies in the Research Park
Proactively communicate updates to management and peers
Qualifications
Proficient knowledge of C++ and Python
Understanding of large scale real-time distributed computer systems
Knowledge of operating systems including Linux and Windows
Excellent communication skills
Advanced degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering (Master's or PhD preferred)
5+ years in hands-on software development for a software or financial company
Experience in building and managing teams
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Apply