Full Time Fresh Graduate Software Engineer Jobs in Champaign, IL

A growing technology organization is seeking a Software Engineering Manager – Embedded Systems to lead a team of software engineers responsible for the design, development, and delivery of embedded software solutions that power high-visibility products used by customers around the world.

This role combines technical leadership with hands-on engineering involvement, providing the opportunity to influence product architecture, guide software strategy, and drive projects from concept through commercialization. The position partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Product Management, Sales, and Marketing to ensure innovative, scalable, and high-quality solutions are delivered to market.

The ideal candidate brings deep embedded software development expertise, strong C++ programming skills, and a proven ability to mentor teams while contributing directly to technical design and development activities.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of embedded software engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing engineering culture.
• Provide technical guidance, architectural oversight, and hands-on support throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Manage engineering priorities, project timelines, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Promote engineering best practices, code quality standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Contribute directly to the design, development, and maintenance of embedded software applications and platforms.
• Drive technical decision-making related to software architecture, platform evolution, and future technology direction.
• Lead full lifecycle software development activities, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure software solutions align with business objectives and product roadmaps.

• Support the development and commercialization of next-generation products and proprietary software platforms.
• Evaluate and recommend future hardware and software technologies to enhance product capabilities and maintain competitive advantage.
• Partner with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Drive innovation through the adoption of modern development practices and emerging technologies.

• Support and enhance Agile software development processes and engineering workflows.
• Oversee source control, build automation, and deployment practices utilizing modern development tools and CI/CD methodologies.
• Identify opportunities to improve software quality, development efficiency, and engineering scalability.
• Manage technical risks, dependencies, and issue resolution across multiple projects.

• Communicate project status, technical risks, and delivery milestones to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Foster strong collaboration across engineering and business functions to ensure successful product delivery.
• Serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, helping shape the long-term software strategy for the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of embedded software development experience.
• Strong hands-on expertise with C++ development.
• Experience designing and developing software for Linux and/or Windows embedded environments.
• Demonstrated leadership experience through formal management, technical leadership, or project leadership responsibilities.
• Proven experience with full software development lifecycle methodologies, from concept through product release.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and technical decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management abilities.

• Experience leading and mentoring software engineering teams.
• Familiarity with Agile software development methodologies and cross-functional product development environments.
• Hands-on experience with development and collaboration tools including Git, Jenkins, and Jira.
• Experience influencing software architecture and long-term platform strategy.
• Background working with proprietary software products or technology-driven organizations.
• Experience collaborating with hardware engineering teams on integrated product development initiatives.

• Embedded Software Development
• C++
• Linux and Windows Embedded Systems
• Git
• Jenkins
• Jira
• Agile Development Methodologies
• Full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
• Cross-Functional Product Development

Employment Type: Direct-hire, full-time
Work Model: Onsite position
Location: Greater Champaign, Illinois area (approximately two hours south of Chicago)
Relocation: Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates currently residing in the United States
Compensation: Competitive base salary ranging from $130,000 – $160,000, plus comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and 401(k).

This is an outstanding opportunity for a technically strong engineering leader who enjoys building teams, developing innovative products, and playing an influential role in the growth and long-term technology direction of a collaborative and forward-thinking organization.