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Fte Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

AI-Native Product Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$120K - $149K/yr

FTE Level: Senior Department: Product Team Location: Remote (US or Canada) Rate: $120,000-$150,000 ... production software. * Strong product judgment, including the ability to understand users ...

AI-Native Product Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$120K - $149K/yr

FTE Level: Senior Department: Product Team Location: Remote (US or Canada) Rate: $120,000-$150,000 ... production software. * Strong product judgment, including the ability to understand users ...

Salesforce Architect

Waukegan, IL

$65.50 - $81.25/hr

Contract, CTH or FTE ** Client is open for Contract, CTH or FTE, and flexible on the salary range ... Salesforce Architect / Salesforce Developer / Salesforce Consultant / Salesforce.com / Salesforce ...

Senior Developer

Naperville, IL · On-site

$54.50 - $72/hr

... Yes Mode (TP/FTE) Contract to Hire No of openings/positions 1 Job Title/Role Senior Developer Mandatory Skills Mainframe Cobol (Primary) JCL CICS VSAM Unix Shell scripting is preferred Client ...

AI Architect

Westmont, IL · On-site

$63.50 - $82.75/hr

... FTE · Location:- Onshore - We are seeking a skilled and experienced AI Lead with a strong ... Qualifications & Skills:- · 8-10 years of overall software development experience with 2-3 years ...

AI Architect

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$140K - $180K/yr

Job Type: FTE Level: Mid-Level Department: AI Engineering Location: Remote (US or Canada) Rate ... Qualifications * 4+ years of enterprise software, data, or AI architecture experience, including at ...

AI Architect

Chicago, IL · Remote

$140K - $180K/yr

Job Type: FTE Level: Mid-Level Department: AI Engineering Location: Remote (US or Canada) Rate ... Qualifications * 4+ years of enterprise software, data, or AI architecture experience, including at ...

... with engineering and subjectmatter experts to drive maintenance excellence. Essential Functions ... Direct Reports (8 FTE): * 4 I&E Technicians * 4 Mechanical Technicians Indirect Reports (5 FTC ...

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Fte Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$65.4K

$152K

$211.7K

How much do fte software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for fte software engineer in Chicago, IL is $151,971.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,600.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a FTE Software Engineer?

A FTE Software Engineer is a full-time employee who designs, develops, tests, and maintains software applications or systems. Unlike contractors or part-time workers, FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) engineers typically work a standard schedule (such as 40 hours per week) and receive full benefits from their employer. Their responsibilities can range from writing code and fixing bugs to collaborating with other team members on software projects. FTE Software Engineers are integral to the success of technology-driven companies, as they ensure the reliability and functionality of digital products.

What is a FTE in software engineering?

An FTE in software engineering refers to a Full-Time Equivalent, representing a worker's workload equivalent to a full-time employee, typically based on a standard number of hours (such as 40 hours per week). It is used to measure staffing levels, project resources, and budget planning, and can apply to both individual employees and teams. FTE calculations help organizations compare staffing across different employment types and schedules.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Software engineers can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with seniority, specialized skills, or working in high-cost-of-living areas. Achieving this salary often requires experience with in-demand technologies, advanced certifications, or roles in management or specialized fields like machine learning or cloud computing.

What is the difference between Fte Software Engineer vs Contract Software Engineer?

AspectFte Software EngineerContract Software Engineer
Employment TypeFull-time, permanentTemporary, project-based
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in CS or related fieldSimilar educational background, often with less emphasis on certifications
Work EnvironmentIn-house or remote, integrated with company teamsUsually remote or on-site at client locations, project-specific
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, large enterprisesFrequent in consulting firms, agencies, project-based roles

Fte Software Engineers are employed full-time with benefits and stability, working closely with company teams. Contract Software Engineers work on specific projects, often with flexible arrangements. Both roles require similar technical skills, but employment terms and work settings differ.

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

To thrive as a FTE Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with development tools such as Git, integrated development environments (IDEs), and experience with frameworks or cloud platforms is typically required, along with certifications like AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate being beneficial. Effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability are crucial soft skills that help engineers collaborate and respond to evolving project needs. These skills ensure high-quality code delivery, smooth project execution, and the ability to contribute effectively within dynamic development teams.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills in areas like machine learning or cloud computing, and working at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living regions, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, and reaching this level typically requires advanced expertise and a strong track record.

What opportunities for professional development and growth can a Full-Time Software Engineer typically expect within a company?

As a Full-Time Software Engineer, you can expect a variety of opportunities for career growth, such as participation in mentorship programs, internal technical training, and access to industry conferences. Many companies also offer structured career ladders, allowing you to progress from junior to senior engineering roles or transition into specialized areas like DevOps, data engineering, or leadership positions. Collaboration on cross-functional projects with product managers, designers, and QA teams further enhances your skill set and network, supporting both personal and professional advancement.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced software engineers, particularly those in senior or specialized roles at large tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. These roles often require advanced skills in areas like machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity, along with extensive industry experience and a strong track record of performance.
What are popular job titles related to Fte Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Fte Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Fte Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Fte Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
AI-Native Product Engineer

AI-Native Product Engineer

Cyclotron, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$120K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Job Type: FTE
Level: Senior
Department: Product Team
Location: Remote (US or Canada)
Rate: $120,000-$150,000 (rates vary in Canada)
Position Overview
We are seeking a rare hybrid profile: a senior, product-minded, AI-native engineer who can own a product area end-to-end, from a vague business objective through thoughtful product definition, technical design, implementation, testing, and iteration. This person should operate less like a ticket-based contractor and more like a founding engineer assigned to a product area.
The ideal candidate can understand user needs, define effective workflows, make sound SaaS architecture decisions, use AI tools to accelerate high-quality development, validate and test generated code, communicate clearly, and move work forward independently in ambiguous environments.
Responsibilities
  • Own product areas from broad business goals through discovery, design, implementation, testing, and iteration.
  • Translate ambiguous objectives into clear user workflows, product requirements, technical plans, and implementation steps.
  • Question unclear requirements, identify missing pieces, surface risks and edge cases, and propose better product or technical approaches when appropriate.
  • Design and build polished, intuitive SaaS workflows, including dashboards, tables, filters, forms, detail views, configuration experiences, empty states, loading states, and error states.
  • Make thoughtful architecture decisions across data models, APIs, frontend architecture, backend architecture, permissions, integrations, state management, scalability, security, and maintainability.
  • Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, test creation, documentation, and architectural exploration.
  • Critically review, validate, debug, and test AI-generated code to ensure production-quality implementation.
  • Communicate clearly and proactively about requirements, architecture, tradeoffs, implementation status, open questions, risks, and blockers.
  • Drive work forward independently while collaborating effectively with product, engineering, design, and business stakeholders.
Qualifications
  • Senior-level engineering experience with the ability to design, build, validate, and improve production software.
  • Strong product judgment, including the ability to understand users, workflows, pain points, business outcomes, and success criteria.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, ask clarifying questions, challenge assumptions respectfully, and make progress without highly detailed tickets.
  • Advanced fluency with AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, or similar environments.
  • Ability to orchestrate AI tools effectively rather than treating them as simple autocomplete or boilerplate generators.
  • Strong technical judgment across SaaS architecture, including data modeling, API design, frontend and backend design, permissions, integrations, scalability, error handling, maintainability, and security considerations.
  • Solid understanding of modern SaaS UX patterns and the ability to build interfaces that feel intuitive, polished, and product-quality.
  • Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to explain reasoning, tradeoffs, risks, blockers, and decisions clearly and concisely.
  • Ownership mindset with the ability to act as a force multiplier for the product and engineering organization.
Additional Knowledge & Skills
  • Ability to define product workflows, key screens, data models, permissions models, user actions, edge cases, and implementation approaches from vague product goals.
  • Experience using AI for code generation, architecture comparison, debugging, refactoring, test creation, documentation, and rapid iteration.
  • Ability to identify hallucinations, flawed logic, architectural gaps, and quality issues in AI-generated output.
  • Strong instincts around SaaS admin workflows, multi-tenant considerations, auditability, notifications, readiness tracking, executive summaries, and operational dashboards.
  • Comfort evaluating tradeoffs between MVP scope, future scale, usability, performance, security, and maintainability.
  • Ability to communicate asynchronously with clarity, structure, and appropriate context for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong candidates will show evidence of owning product, UX, architecture, and implementation together, rather than operating only as a backend, frontend, or ticket-based individual contributor.
  • This role is not a fit for someone who requires fully defined requirements, avoids ambiguity, cannot explain architectural decisions, has weak written communication, or cannot use AI tools at an advanced level.
About the Company
Cyclotron is a Microsoft Solutions Partner focused on the modern workplace, data, and AI. We are dedicated to empowering clients to streamline operations and achieve their business goals. The company fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, encouraging continuous learning and professional growth for its employees. Cyclotron's mission is to deliver reliable, forward-thinking technology solutions that drive success for clients across various industries.
What We Can Offer
Cyclotron offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being and professional growth in a fully remote work environment. We provide competitive health, dental, and vision insurance, and we cover 100% of employee medical premiums. Our team members benefit from generous and flexible paid time off (PTO), retirement plan options, and ongoing training opportunities. Additionally, Cyclotron promotes work-life balance with flexible work arrangements and robust wellness programs, creating a rewarding and supportive workplace for all.
Cyclotron relies on diversity of culture and thought to deliver on our goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees to join our team, regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
We also provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law.
Cyclotron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cyclotron values diversity, equity and inclusion, and aims to practice DE&I in all that we do.