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Junior Development Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Caterpillar Inc.

Autonomy Development Engineer

Mossville, IL · On-site

$97K - $158K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Provide peer support and informal mentorship to junior engineers What You Have: * Programming: * Strong proficiency in C/C++ * ML Engineering and Model development; AWS, Python, MLOps * Ability to ...

Caterpillar

Autonomy Development Engineer

Mossville, IL · On-site

$97K - $158K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Provide peer support and informal mentorship to junior engineers What You Have: * Programming: * Strong proficiency in C/C++ * ML Engineering and Model development; AWS, Python, MLOps * Ability to ...

Merican

SDET Consultant

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Experience mentoring or coaching junior QA/SDET team members * Strong ability to analyze requirements and create detailed test coverage * Expertise in defect tracking and documentation * Experience ...

MonoSol

Senior Process Development Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$107K - $138K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

People Development Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentoring to junior engineers, scientists, and technicians. Support capability building within the team through training, knowledge ...

Monosol-Llc

Senior Process Development Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$102.99 - $169.23/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

People Development Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentoring to junior engineers, scientists, and technicians. Support capability building within the team through training, knowledge ...

Gotion, Inc.

Junior Process Engineer

Manteno, IL

Position Summary The Junior Process Engineer supports process development, optimization, and stabilization for lithium battery cell manufacturing. Working under the guidance of senior process ...

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Junior Development Engineer information

What is a junior development engineer?

Junior Development Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, and testing new products or software. They typically work under the guidance of senior engineers, helping to implement technical solutions, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to project documentation. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those with limited experience who are looking to build their engineering skills in a practical environment. Junior Development Engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams and gain exposure to various aspects of the engineering process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior development engineer?

To thrive as a Junior Development Engineer, you need a solid grasp of programming fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with development tools like Git, IDEs, and basic understanding of software development methodologies such as Agile is typically expected. Strong teamwork, communication, and a willingness to learn help set candidates apart in this collaborative role. These skills ensure you can contribute effectively to projects, adapt to new technologies, and grow within dynamic engineering environments.

What are some typical challenges a junior development engineer might face when transitioning from academic projects to a professional engineering team?

Junior Development Engineers often find that adapting to real-world engineering projects requires learning to work within established codebases, following team coding standards, and managing project timelines. Unlike academic assignments, professional environments emphasize collaboration, code reviews, and effective communication with cross-functional teams. Balancing independent problem-solving with seeking guidance and feedback is key to success and growth in this role.

What is the difference between Junior Development Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectJunior Development EngineerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering or related field, some coding experienceBachelor's in Computer Science or related field, coding skills
Work EnvironmentEngineering teams, product development, hardware integrationSoftware companies, tech startups, IT departments
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, tech, engineering firmsIT, software firms, tech industry
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference between a Junior Development Engineer and a Software Developer lies in their focus areas. Junior Development Engineers often work at the intersection of hardware and software, especially in engineering or manufacturing contexts, while Software Developers primarily focus on coding and developing software applications. Both roles typically require similar educational backgrounds and entry-level experience, but their work environments and industry applications differ.

How to get a job as a junior development engineer?

To become a junior development engineer, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships, personal projects, or coding bootcamps, along with proficiency in programming languages like Java, Python, or C++, can improve job prospects. Strong problem-solving skills and familiarity with development tools such as Git and IDEs are also important for entry-level roles.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development Engineer jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Development Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Junior Development Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Junior Development Engineer job openings:

Junior Development Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Development Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Autonomy Development Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.

Mossville, IL • On-site

$97K - $158K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Caterpillar Inc. rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 480 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

287th of 490 rated machine equipment manufacturers

Job description

Career Area:
Engineering
Job Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
The Autonomy Development Engineer develops and delivers production-quality software that enables autonomous and semi-autonomous functionality for heavy equipment in mining and construction environments.
This role operates with moderate independence, owning features or subsystems while contributing to system-level design decisions. The engineer applies strong software engineering practices to solve real-world problems and supports development across the full lifecycle, from concept through validation and release. The role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams and begins to influence technical direction while supporting the advancement of autonomy technologies into production environments.
Our CAT Technology Automation and Autonomy teams are focused on evolving the state of the art and bringing emerging automation & autonomy technology into the harsh production environments found on typical mining and construction jobsites. This team is supporting projects in our Mining Productivity & Detect Systems.
What You Will Do:
  • Develop production-quality C/C++ software for autonomy and automation systems
  • Own feature or subsystem development across the full software lifecycle (design, implementation, validation, release)
  • Machine Learning Model development and training; developing CNN Models, Python scripting
  • Contribute to requirements definition, architecture discussions, and technical trade-offs
  • Troubleshoot and resolve moderately complex software and system issues
  • Support verification, validation, and functional safety activities
  • Collaborate with software, systems, hardware, and validation teams
  • Communicate technical approaches, risks, and status to stakeholders
  • Provide peer support and informal mentorship to junior engineers

What You Have:
  • Programming:
    • Strong proficiency in C/C++
    • ML Engineering and Model development; AWS, Python, MLOps
    • Ability to interpret system designs and implement scalable solutions
    • Solid debugging, profiling, and performance optimization skills
  • Software Development Life Cycle:
    • Experience contributing to all phases of development lifecycle
    • Ability to independently execute development plans and adapt to changes
  • Problem Solving:
    • Solves complex but well-defined technical problems
    • Evaluates trade-offs and recommends solutions
    • Uses structured methodologies and data-driven analysis
  • Technical Troubleshooting:
    • Discovers, analyzes, and resolves software or application problems.
    • Analyzes code, logs, and current systems as part of advanced troubleshooting.
    • Records and reports specific technical problems, solving processes and tools that have been used.
  • Education Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field - or commensurate industry experience.

Consideration for Top Candidates:
  • Autonomy Feature Development
    • Experience developing autonomy domains such as planning, positioning, perception, or controls
    • Robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS)
    • Translating prototypes or research into production autonomy software
    • Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous machine behavior
  • Autonomy Platform & Framework Development
    • Experience building autonomy frameworks, middleware, or shared libraries
    • Linux-based development environments
    • CI/CD pipelines, Git, and modern DevOps practices
    • Hardware/software integration at the platform level
    • Enabling multiple teams through reusable software foundations
  • Experience in Construction or Mining Industries preferred

Additional Information:
  • This position is to work onsite at our Mossville, IL office.
  • Relocation assistance may be available for this position.
  • Visa sponsorship may be available for this position
  • This position may require travel up to 15%
  • #LI

Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $158,480.00
Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.
Benefits:
Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
  • Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
  • 401(k) savings plans*
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)*
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
  • Health Lifestyle Programs*
  • Employee Assistance Program*
  • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
  • Career Development*
  • Incentive bonus*
  • Disability benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Adoption benefits
  • Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees
Posting Dates:
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

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