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Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Tovala

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

... internal applications. This isn't a role defined by a single language or framework. We care far ... AI tools are already reshaping how our team works, and we want engineers who are not just ...

Tovala

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

... internal applications. This isn't a role defined by a single language or framework. We care far ... AI tools are already reshaping how our team works, and we want engineers who are not just ...

JCSI

Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Improve CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and development workflows * Troubleshoot and resolve ... Experience with PDF and document-generation tools such as Aspose, IronPDF, or iTextSharp

Epiq

Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

Document processes, architectures, and best practices in Epiq's internal knowledge base ... Knowledge of tools like Docker, Kubernetes, MLFlow, and Azure DevOps. * Solid understanding of ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Engineer Software

Rolling Meadows, IL · On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Role : Software Engineer Location: ( Onsite) Employment type: Contract Our engineers are self ... The individual shall apply the appropriate standards, processes, procedures, and tools throughout ...

NLB Services

Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

... tools, and industry best practices to enhance development processes and optimize software ... Required : • Design, develop, test, and maintain software applications using programming ...

Relativity

Advanced Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$103K - $155K/yr

Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices * Knowledge of observability tools and best ... and internal pay equity. Hiring at the top end of the range would not be typical, to allow for ...

Relativity

Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Understanding of DevOps principles and experience with tools such as GitHub Actions * Experience ... and internal pay equity. Hiring at the top end of the range would not be typical, to allow for ...

Cengage Learning, Inc.

Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools in day-to-day engineering workflows (e.g., code generation ... Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity ...

Paylocity

Software Engineer

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$84K - $120K/yr

... developing tools that HR and businesses need to compete for talent and deliver against the ... software engineering experience • Good problem-solving skills and analytical thinking • ...

CACI International, Inc.

Software Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

Software Engineer Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to ... Use of development tools (e.g. editors and compliers) * Willingness and ability to quickly learn ...

Next Step Systems

C++ Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

The applicant will use modern software tools in an agile project management process with a focus on ... Developer, Architect, Programming, Programmer Analyst, Trading, Financial, Chicago Recruiters ...

Invoca

Sr. Software Engineer I

Chicago, IL · Remote

$126K - $166K/yr

You'll focus on turning our internal engineering platform vision into reality by strengthening our ... Help the org adopt AI tools safely and effectively by sharing best practices and patterns. You Have:

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All JobsInternal Developer Tools Software Engineer JobsInternal Developer Tools Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$30.4K

$103.3K

$248.8K

How much do internal developer tools software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for internal developer tools software engineer in Chicago, IL is $103,288.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,400.00 and $109,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do Internal Developer Tools Software Engineers typically interact with other development teams within the company?

Internal Developer Tools Software Engineers work closely with a variety of engineering teams to understand their workflows, gather feedback, and identify pain points in the development process. Communication is key, as these engineers often facilitate onboarding, provide training for new tools, and respond to support requests. Collaboration usually involves participating in cross-team meetings, collecting requirements, and iterating on tools based on real-world usage. This close partnership ensures that the tools developed genuinely improve productivity and address the practical needs of their colleagues.

What is the difference between Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectInternal Developer Tools Software EngineerSoftware Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping and maintaining internal tools to improve developer productivityBuilding applications, systems, or features for end-users or clients
Work EnvironmentTypically within tech companies, collaborating with internal teamsVaries across industries, often with direct customer interaction
Required SkillsStrong programming, understanding of developer workflows, internal tool developmentBroad software development skills, depending on domain
Industry UsagePrimarily in tech companies, startups, and large enterprises with internal toolsAcross all industries including tech, finance, healthcare, etc.

In summary, Internal Developer Tools Software Engineers focus on creating tools that enhance internal developer efficiency, whereas Software Engineers develop a wide range of applications for external users. Both roles require strong programming skills but differ in their primary objectives and work environments.

What are Internal Developer Tools Software Engineers?

Internal Developer Tools Software Engineers are specialists who design, build, and maintain software tools that improve the productivity of other developers within an organization. Their work often includes creating build systems, continuous integration pipelines, testing frameworks, and deployment tools. These engineers collaborate closely with development teams to understand their workflows and challenges, then develop solutions that streamline processes, reduce manual work, and enhance code quality. By focusing on internal tooling, they help the whole engineering organization move faster and deliver higher-quality products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (often in languages like Python, Java, or Go), expertise in software development processes, and experience with building scalable infrastructure, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with CI/CD systems, containerization tools (like Docker and Kubernetes), version control (such as Git), and cloud platforms is usually required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and proactive communication are vital soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for designing efficient tools that improve developer productivity, streamline workflows, and support organizational engineering goals.
What are popular job titles related to Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer job openings:
Internal Developer Tools Software Engineer jobs near you
Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

Tovala

Chicago, IL • On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

We’re Tovala, a food-tech company reinventing home cooking to save consumers time. Through an innovative combination of hardware, software, and fresh food delivery, we make it incredibly simple for anyone to prepare and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without sacrificing time to do whatever matters to them. Through our superior technology, product experience and food quality, we have separated Tovala from the busy pack of other meal delivery businesses. In the process, we’ve amassed a loyal, rapidly growing following and our retention, product engagement and customer NPS are all best-in-class. We’ve raised over $100mm from great investors like Left Lane Capital, Origin Ventures, Y Combinator and Comcast Ventures and have invested strongly in building a unique culture that fosters growth, personal development and camaraderie.

We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our engineering team and help us build the systems that power Tovala’s digital experience and internal applications. This isn’t a role defined by a single language or framework. We care far more about your ability to architect strong backend systems, solve real problems, and ship products that matter to customers, both internal and external, than whether your background is in Go, Python, TypeScript, or something else entirely.
 
The way software gets built is changing fast. AI tools are already reshaping how our team works, and we want engineers who are not just comfortable with that shift but are actively leading it. You should have strong opinions on how to use AI-assisted development workflows to move faster without sacrificing quality. You’ll be expected to work across our stack, including backend services, infrastructure, and frontend when the problem calls for it, and to collaborate closely with product, design, and other engineering teams to deliver outcomes, not just code.
What You'll Do:
  • Design, build, and maintain backend systems and services that support Tovala’s software products across web and mobile. Our current backend stack is Go and AWS, but we value your ability to learn and adapt over specific language experience.
  • Own problems end-to-end. You’ll scope work, make technical decisions, implement solutions, and see them through to production. You won’t wait to be handed a spec.
  • Use AI-assisted development tools and workflows as a core part of how you work. We expect you to have real experience here, whether that’s with tools like Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code, or similar, and to help shape how the broader team adopts these practices.
  • Work across the stack when the situation calls for it. While your depth is in backend engineering, you’re comfortable contributing to frontend work and aren’t boxed in by a single domain.
  • Collaborate directly with stakeholders and other engineers to understand customer problems, define solutions, and make smart trade-offs between speed and quality.
  • Contribute to architectural decisions and help evolve our technical approach as the team and product grow.
  • Review code thoughtfully, both human-written and AI-generated, with an eye toward system-level coherence, maintainability, and performance.
  • Mentor and support other engineers. Share what you know, raise the bar on engineering practices, and help create an environment where people do their best work.
What You'll Bring:
Required
  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with meaningful depth in backend development (APIs, data pipelines, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure).
  • Strong fundamentals in systems design and architecture. You can make sound decisions about how services communicate, how data flows, and where complexity should live.
  • Demonstrated experience with AI-assisted software development. You’ve integrated AI tools into your daily workflow and can speak concretely about how they’ve changed the way you build software.
  • Ability to work across the stack. You have backend depth but can pick up frontend work (React, TypeScript, or equivalent) and contribute meaningfully when needed.
  • Excellent communication skills. You can explain technical decisions clearly to both engineers and non-technical partners, write well, and navigate cross-functional collaboration with ease.
  • Strong problem-solving instincts. You’re the kind of engineer who digs into the root cause, thinks about second-order effects, and finds pragmatic solutions.
  • A track record of owning and shipping projects with meaningful business impact, ideally in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift.
 Nice to Have
  • Experience with Go and/or AWS (our current primary backend stack).
  • Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation) and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Experience helping define or evolve AI development practices for a team or organization.
  • Experience building or integrating AI/ML features into production products (RAG systems, LLM integrations, chatbots).
  • Background working in a consumer product or food-tech company.
Who You Are:
  • Solution-Minded: You focus on outcomes, not output. You want to understand the customer problem before you start writing code, and you’re not precious about your approach if a better one emerges.
  • AI-Forward: You see AI tools as a fundamental shift in how software gets built, not a novelty. You’re already using them daily and have thoughts on how teams should work with them effectively.
  • Cross-Functional Collaborator: You thrive working alongside product, design, and other teams. You communicate clearly, give and receive feedback well, and care about the end-to-end experience, not just the technical layer.
  • Startup Mindset: You’re comfortable in an environment where priorities evolve, where you’ll wear multiple hats, and where your work has direct, visible impact on the business.
  • Curious and Adaptive: You stay current. Whether it’s a new framework, a new AI capability, or a new way of structuring a team, you’re interested in what works and why.
Compensation & Benefits:

Tovala uses market data, geography, and placement of internal employees to determine salary. Additionally, we offer all employees real ownership in the company in the form of a competitive equity package.

- Flexible paid time off (with a minimum of 15 days off you are highly encouraged to take)
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage we really invest in
- 401k with match
- Free Tovala Smart Oven and discounted Tovala meals 
- Paid holidays and our winter holiday office shutdown where the offices and facilities close for a week around Christmas and New Years
- Various other perks - recognition programs, continued learning stipend, casual dress code, in-office coffee, snacks and drinks, and Tovala swag 

Our Values

> Put the Team First: We put what is best for the broader team ahead of what is best for ourselves or our immediate department.

> Get S#!t Done (Well): We celebrate people at all levels for delivering high impact work that expands the bounds of what we’re able to do.

> Connect the Dots: We engage with curiosity to learn how our work impacts others so that we can problem-solve holistically and work collaboratively.

> Be Direct: We share our perspective openly and directly, even when it feels difficult to do so.

> Embrace the Obstacles: We rise to meet challenges with a sense of urgency, resolve, and optimism.

> Champion the Customer: We consider and prioritize our customer in all of our decisions 

At Tovala we‘re committed to building a workplace that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Everyone is welcome here!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.