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Network Engineer Contract Jobs in Lockport, IL (NOW HIRING)

Sr. Azure Cloud Engineer[Hybrid]

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$57.50 - $76.75/hr

Sr. Azure Cloud Engineer 12 month contract Chicago, IL Hybrid USC/GC Required Skills & Experience ... Proven expertise in Azure governance, security, networking, and infrastructure buildouts. * Strong ...

Cloud Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$57.50 - $76.75/hr

S Wabash, Chicago, IL (3x onsite) Contract Role (Duration: 6 months) * Set up secure, scalable ... Strong Azure experience * Knows networking basics (like DNS, VPN, TCP/IP) * Experience with ...

We're looking for an experienced Contract Sales Recruiter with previous experience recruiting Sales ... Sales Engineering candidates to build the candidate pipeline through sourcing, networking ...

We're looking for an experienced Contract Sales Recruiter with previous experience recruiting Sales ... Sales Engineering candidates to build the candidate pipeline through sourcing, networking ...

We're looking for an experienced Contract Sales Recruiter with previous experience recruiting Sales ... Sales Engineering candidates to build the candidate pipeline through sourcing, networking ...

DevOps Engineer

Lemont, IL ยท On-site

$69.75 - $108.81/hr

S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract. Previous ... Solid understanding of cloud computing networking concepts. Ability to proactively identify ...

DevOps Engineer

Lemont, IL ยท On-site

$53.25 - $72.75/hr

S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract * Previous ... Solid understanding of cloud computing networking concepts. * Ability to proactively identify ...

DevOps Engineer

Lemont, IL ยท Hybrid

$53.25 - $72.75/hr

S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract * Previous ... Solid understanding of cloud computing networking concepts. * Ability to proactively identify ...

DevOps Engineer

Lemont, IL ยท Hybrid

$53.25 - $72.75/hr

S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract * Previous ... Solid understanding of cloud computing networking concepts. * Ability to proactively identify ...

Showing results 41-60

Network Engineer Contract information

See Lockport, IL salary details

$31.1K

$109.4K

$158.5K

How much do network engineer contract jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for network engineer contract in Lockport, IL is $109,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,300.00 and $133,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a network engineer contract?

Network Engineer Contracts are temporary work arrangements in which a network engineer is hired for a specific period or project, rather than as a permanent employee. Contract network engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining an organization's computer networks, often focusing on tasks like troubleshooting, upgrades, or migrations. These roles can offer flexibility, higher hourly rates, and opportunities to work on diverse projects, but may not include benefits like health insurance or paid time off. Contract positions are common in IT, especially for specialized skills or short-term needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a network engineer contract?

To thrive as a Network Engineer Contract, you need a solid understanding of networking protocols, infrastructure design, and troubleshooting, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Cisco IOS, network monitoring software, and certifications such as CCNA or CCNP are commonly expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for managing dynamic IT environments and collaborating with diverse teams. These skills ensure reliable network performance, minimize downtime, and support organizational connectivity needs in contract-based settings.

What are some common challenges faced by contract network engineers, and how can they be effectively managed?

Contract network engineers often encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to new organizational environments, understanding unique network infrastructures, and integrating with existing IT teams. To manage these challenges effectively, it's crucial to be proactive in communicating with key stakeholders, thoroughly document any changes made, and stay current with industry-standard protocols and tools. Building rapport with permanent staff and leveraging onboarding resources can also help streamline the transition and ensure successful project delivery.

What is the difference between Network Engineer Contract vs Network Engineer Full-Time?

AspectNetwork Engineer ContractNetwork Engineer Full-Time
CredentialsCertifications like CCNA, CCNP often requiredSame certifications typically required
Work EnvironmentTemporary projects, flexible hours, remote or onsitePermanent employment, standard hours, onsite or hybrid
Employer UsageUsed by companies for short-term needs or specialized projectsUsed for ongoing network management and infrastructure
Search & Comparison IntentHigh overlap in skills, focus on contract termsFocus on stability and benefits

In summary, Network Engineer Contract roles are temporary, project-based positions ideal for specialized tasks, while Network Engineer Full-Time roles offer stability, benefits, and ongoing responsibilities. Both require similar certifications and skills, but differ mainly in employment type and work environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Network Engineer jobs in Lockport, IL?

The most popular types of Network Engineer jobs in Lockport, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Network Engineer Contract jobs in Lockport, IL?

For Network Engineer Contract jobs in Lockport, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Lockport, IL are hiring for Network Engineer Contract jobs?

Cities near Lockport, IL with the most Network Engineer Contract job openings:

Infographic showing various Network Engineer Contract job openings in Lockport, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,362 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer II, Exchange Connectivity (C++)

NinjaTrader

Chicago, IL โ€ข Hybrid

$140K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

What you'll do:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Sr. Software Engineer II with deep expertise in exchange connectivity and high-performance trading systems. This is a high-impact role focused on interfacing directly with multiple exchanges, handling real-time market data, order routing, and trade processing with low latency and high reliability.

You'll be part of the Exchange Connectivity team, owning the software that communicates directly with exchanges worldwide.

In this role you will:

  • Design, implement, and support exchange connectivity components across multiple asset classes and protocols
  • Develop and maintain market data handlers, order gateways, and contract/instrument reference data processors
  • Create APIs to expose exchange services to the broader organization via REST, WebSocket, event bus, or other mechanisms
  • Collaborate closely with the Trading OMS, FCM, and infrastructure teams
  • Optimize for low latency, high throughput, and fault tolerance across all trading and data flows

What you'll need:

  • 8+ years of experience in the trading industry, ideally with C++ or Rust
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
  • Proven experience building exchange connectivity and market data systems across multiple venues
  • Strong understanding of network programming, multicast UDP, TCP, and asynchronous I/O
  • Deep knowledge of trading industry specifications (FIX, SBE, market data formats, etc.)
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to mentor others and drive change across teams
  • Experience supporting live trading systems in production - diagnosing connectivity issues, latency anomalies, and failover events
  • Strong sense of ownership, with the ability to deliver robust, tested, and observable software in mission-critical environments

Bonus Points for:

  • Capital markets experience
  • Performance profiling and tuning using perf, VTune, Wireshark, or similar tools to analyze and reduce latency
  • Low-latency systems development with deep experience optimizing for performance, throughput, and determinism in production trading environments
  • Building and maintaining real-time feed handlers for exchange protocols (ITCH, OUCH, FIX/FAST, CME MDP, Eurex ETI, etc.)
  • Familiarity with U.S. and international exchange APIs and connectivity protocols (CME, ICE, Eurex, CBOE, Binance, etc.)
  • Expert-level Linux knowledge, including performance tuning, kernel parameters, NUMA, and clock synchronization (PTP)
  • Building resilient distributed systems that handle failover, recovery, and state synchronization
  • Expertise in concurrency, multi-threading, and asynchronous programming
  • Familiarity with IBM MQ for exchange data transfer
  • Experience with low-latency networking, kernel bypass, or FPGA acceleration

Compensation:

The salary range for this role will be $140,000-$190,000 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 12%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).

Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401(k) plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 18 days per year plus seven paid holidays.

Location:

This role is based in Chicago, IL. We are not open to remote candidates for this role.

Hybrid:

For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:

  • 20 additional flex remote days annually
  • 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays