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Freelance Software Reverse Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Full-stack Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

Building and consuming APIs; able to reverse engineer poorly documented systems. * Comfortable in a distributed, text-first communication environment (Slack, GitHub, Notion, Linear, Google Docs)

Engineer Site Support

Woodridge, IL ยท On-site

$40 - $55/hr

Systems & Infrastructure Engineer (Freelance / Contract) * Time Commitment: ~100 hours per month ... Familiarity with professional file transfer software and secure data systems. * Vulnerability ...

Systems & Infrastructure Engineer (Freelance / Contract) * Time Commitment: ~100 hours per month ... Familiarity with professional file transfer software and secure data systems. * Vulnerability ...

Engineer Site Support

Woodridge, IL ยท On-site

$40 - $55/hr

Systems & Infrastructure Engineer (Freelance / Contract) * Time Commitment: ~100 hours per month ... Familiarity with professional file transfer software and secure data systems. * Vulnerability ...

Senior Software Developer

Morton Grove, IL ยท On-site

$54.25 - $71.75/hr

About the Role As Senior Software Developer, you will be a key technical contributor on a ... Participate in an active dual-domain migration for the identity platform, including reverse proxy ...

Sr Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

PayPal, Inc. seeks Sr Software Engineer in Chicago, IL Job Duties: Design and implement ... Apache, Apache (HA) Reverse Proxy, and Nginx (5 years). 8. Experience with AWS services, including ...

Sr Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

PayPal, Inc. seeks Sr Software Engineer in Chicago, IL Job Duties: Design and implement ... Apache, Apache (HA) Reverse Proxy, and Nginx (5 years). 8. Experience with AWS services, including ...

... reverse engineering and bypassing client-side controls like root detection and certificate pinning. * Lead specialized security testing and threat modeling for FDA-regulated medical device software ...

... reverse engineering and bypassing client-side controls like root detection and certificate pinning. * Lead specialized security testing and threat modeling for FDA-regulated medical device software ...

Machinist

Crete, IL ยท On-site

$20.75 - $28.50/hr

Experience using CAD and CNC software preferred. * 3-5 years of experience in machining or Tool ... Troubleshoot, repair, and reverse-engineer customer parts. Atkore is proud to be certified as a ...

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Freelance Software Reverse Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$15

$49

$136

How much do freelance software reverse engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance software reverse engineer in Chicago, IL is $49.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.00 and $63.65 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are freelance software reverse engineers?

Freelance software reverse engineers are independent professionals who analyze and deconstruct software to understand its inner workings, functionality, and design. They often work on projects like software debugging, security analysis, compatibility research, or recovering lost source code. Unlike in-house engineers, freelancers take on contract-based assignments for different clients rather than working for a single employer. Their work often requires advanced technical skills and a thorough knowledge of programming, operating systems, and software architectures. This role can be essential for organizations seeking to improve software security, ensure compliance, or maintain legacy systems.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance software reverse engineers when working with clients?

Freelance software reverse engineers often encounter challenges such as incomplete or unclear project requirements, which can make it difficult to determine the exact scope of work. Additionally, working with obfuscated or poorly documented code can slow progress and require creative problem-solving. Communication is key, as clients may not always understand the technical complexities involved, so setting realistic expectations and providing regular updates is essential. Freelancers must also stay current with evolving tools and legal considerations, especially when handling proprietary or protected software.

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

To thrive as a Freelance Software Reverse Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of programming languages, binary analysis, operating system internals, and a strong background in computer science or related fields. Expertise with technical tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, OllyDbg, Wireshark, and proficiency in using debuggers and disassemblers is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication with clients are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for efficiently deconstructing software, understanding its functionality, and delivering actionable insights or solutions for clients.

What is the difference between Freelance Software Reverse Engineer vs Freelance Malware Analyst?

AspectFreelance Software Reverse EngineerFreelance Malware Analyst
CredentialsKnowledge of programming, debugging, and reverse engineering toolsKnowledge of malware behavior, analysis tools, and cybersecurity principles
Work EnvironmentRemote, project-based, often collaborating with security teams or clientsRemote, focused on analyzing malicious code and threats for clients or security firms
Industry UsageSoftware development, cybersecurity, security consultingCybersecurity, threat intelligence, incident response
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for skills in reverse engineering and software analysisCompared for expertise in malware detection and cybersecurity threats

While both roles involve analyzing software, Freelance Software Reverse Engineers focus on understanding and deconstructing software code, whereas Freelance Malware Analysts specialize in identifying and mitigating malicious threats. The two roles often overlap but serve distinct purposes in cybersecurity and software development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Freelance Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Freelance Software Reverse Engineer jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Freelance Software Reverse Engineer job openings:

Senior Discovery IT System Administrator (Top Secret Clearance Required)

CGS Federal (Contact Government Services)

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
CGS Federal is seeking a dedicated Senior Discovery IT System Administrator to join a fast-paced and hard-working team to assist with any legal accounts. The role involves ensuring the availability of electronic discovery applications, administering systems, and providing support for legal technology and e-discovery tools.
Responsibilities:
โ€ข Contractor shall ensure the day-day availability of electronic discovery applications and related tools;
โ€ข Contractor shall administer and monitor all installed systems and infrastructure, install, configure, test and maintain operating systems, application software and system management tools;
โ€ข Contractor shall monitor and test application performance for potential bottlenecks, identify possible solutions, and work with vendors and developers to implement fixes;
โ€ข Contractor shall maintain security, backup, and redundancy strategies;
โ€ข Contractor shall assist technical architecture design discussions;
โ€ข Contractor shall liaise with vendors on behalf of OGC to address product issues;
โ€ข Contractor shall develop and provide training for the end-users;
โ€ข Contractor shall provide general support, subject matter expertise and advice on the use of electronic discovery tools and applications;
โ€ข Contractor shall reverse engineer and document the as-is architecture of existing legacy applications or systems;
โ€ข Contractor shall analyze capabilities, interview and collect business requirements and translate it into technical requirements;
โ€ข Contractor shall support the discovery application integration/migration activities;
โ€ข Contractor shall contribute to the Knowledge Management databases by creating and improving technical knowledge articles to assist in future resolution of issues;
โ€ข Contractor shall have legal technology experience and knowledge of the EDRM;
โ€ข Contractor shall assist in the implementation of e-discovery tools ( i.e. Relativity, Veritas eDP, or other review platform applications hosted in the cloud environment;
โ€ข Contractor shall have the skills, knowledge and abilities to support backend infrastructure, data migrations, application installation, management and configuration;
โ€ข Contractor shall have the ability to install, operate, and manage Microsoft server 2019/2022 and Microsoft SQL Server 2019/2022;
โ€ข Contractor shall have ability to operate, and manage cloud technologies to include Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, VMware, Azure servers, Azure Functions, and Azure API Gateways and/or AWS EC2 servers, AWS Lambda and AWS API Gateways;
โ€ข Contractor shall have ability to operate and manage relational databases, MySQL and/or SQL Server 2012 or higher.
Qualifications:
Required:
โ€ข Top Secret Clearance Required
โ€ข Experience in legal technology and knowledge of the EDRM
โ€ข Ability to install, operate, and manage Microsoft server 2019/2022 and Microsoft SQL Server 2019/2022
โ€ข Ability to operate and manage cloud technologies to include Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, VMware, Azure servers, Azure Functions, and Azure API Gateways and/or AWS EC2 servers, AWS Lambda and AWS API Gateways
โ€ข Ability to operate and manage relational databases, MySQL and/or SQL Server 2012 or higher
โ€ข Skills, knowledge and abilities to support backend infrastructure, data migrations, application installation, management and configuration
โ€ข Experience in implementing e-discovery tools (i.e. Relativity, Veritas eDP, or other review platform applications hosted in the cloud environment)
โ€ข Ability to reverse engineer and document the as-is architecture of existing legacy applications or systems
โ€ข Ability to analyze capabilities, interview and collect business requirements and translate it into technical requirements
โ€ข Experience in supporting discovery application integration/migration activities
โ€ข Experience in developing and providing training for end-users
โ€ข Experience in providing general support, subject matter expertise and advice on the use of electronic discovery tools and applications
โ€ข Experience in maintaining security, backup, and redundancy strategies
โ€ข Experience in monitoring and testing application performance for potential bottlenecks, identifying possible solutions, and working with vendors and developers to implement fixes
โ€ข Experience in administering and monitoring all installed systems and infrastructure, installing, configuring, testing and maintaining operating systems, application software and system management tools
โ€ข Experience in ensuring the day-to-day availability of electronic discovery applications and related tools
โ€ข Experience in liaising with vendors on behalf of OGC to address product issues
โ€ข Experience in assisting technical architecture design discussions
โ€ข Experience in contributing to the Knowledge Management databases by creating and improving technical knowledge articles to assist in future resolution of issues
Company:
Contact Government Services strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. Founded in , the company is headquartered in Washington, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.