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Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Advanced Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$85K - $115K/yr

Advanced Software Engineer Chicago, IL Reports To: Director, Product Development & Operations BAI ... off, hybrid and remote working models, tuition assistance and the ability to work in a ...

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$126K - $166K/yr

As a Software Engineer at MessageControl you'll be building intelligent products to protect people ... We're not offering remote employment at this time.

C++ Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$175K - $300K/yr

About the Position Old Mission Capital LLC, is looking to add several C++ Software Engineers to ... In office M-F with 10 remote days per year Base Salary Range $175,000 - $300,000 - Salaries are ...

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$126K - $166K/yr

This is a remote position anywhere in the USA. Meet the Team Our software engineering team develops software using Cisco's Design Thinking Principles, with simplification and Security at its core. We ...

New

Full Stack Software Engineer RCM Platform Are you ready to join a cutting-edge healthcare startup ... This hands-on, high impact and fully remote U.S. based role will have the opportunity to influence ...

Contractor Location: Remote (United States Only) Job Overview We are seeking experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys to contribute their legal expertise to an innovative project focused on advancing ...

New

POSITION SUMMARY The Software Engineer I is responsible for maintaining and developing software ... Remote Here at Allied, we believe that great talent can thrive from anywhere. Our remote friendly ...

Lead Software Engineer

Lake Forest, IL ยท On-site +1

$124K - $207K/yr

Remote Req Number 329896 About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor ... As a Saff Software Engineer (Software Engineer IV) you will develop applications that align with a ...

Lead Software Engineer

Lake Forest, IL ยท On-site +1

$124K - $207K/yr

Remote Req Number 329896 About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor ... As a Saff Software Engineer (Software Engineer IV) you will develop applications that align with a ...

Software Engineer I

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$80K - $100K/yr

POSITION SUMMARY The Software Engineer I is responsible for maintaining and developing software ... Remote Here at Allied, we believe that great talent can thrive from anywhere. Our remote friendly ...

Showing results 21-40

Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$65.4K

$152K

$211.7K

How much do remote defense contractor software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote defense contractor 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote defense contractor software engineer?

To excel as a Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer, you typically need a strong background in computer science or engineering, proficiency in programming languages like C++ or Java, and active security clearance. Familiarity with secure coding practices, embedded systems, and tools such as Git, Jira, and specialized defense software development environments is crucial. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and self-motivation are standout soft skills for remote collaboration and meeting strict project requirements. These competencies ensure secure, reliable software delivery and effective teamwork in sensitive, mission-critical defense projects.

What is the difference between Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer vs Remote Cybersecurity Software Engineer?

AspectRemote Defense Contractor Software EngineerRemote Cybersecurity Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, security clearances often preferredBachelor's in CS, Cybersecurity, or related; certifications like CISSP beneficial
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government projects, secure facilitiesTech companies, security firms, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military sectorsPrimarily cybersecurity and IT sectors
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for security clearance and defense projectsCompared for network security and threat mitigation roles

The Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer typically works on defense and military projects requiring security clearances, while the Remote Cybersecurity Software Engineer focuses on protecting networks and systems from cyber threats. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their industries and project types differ significantly.

How does a remote defense contractor software engineer typically collaborate with team members and stakeholders given security and communication constraints?

Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineers often work with multidisciplinary teams, including developers, project managers, and cybersecurity specialists. Collaboration is facilitated through secure, government-approved communication platforms and version control systems that comply with strict security protocols. Regular virtual meetings and documentation are essential to ensure alignment on project requirements and updates. While remote work offers flexibility, engineers must be diligent in following procedures for handling sensitive information and may sometimes need to access secure facilities for classified work. Effective communication and adaptability are key to overcoming the challenges of working in a highly regulated, remote environment.

What is a remote defense contractor software engineer?

A Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer is a software developer who works for a company contracted by government defense agencies to build, maintain, or secure software systems, but does their work from a remote location instead of a traditional office or on-site facility. These engineers often develop applications for military or national security use, which can include communication systems, cybersecurity tools, or mission-critical platforms. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, they may require special security clearances and must adhere to strict security protocols even while working remotely.

What are the most commonly searched types of Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,971 per year, or $73.1 per hour.

Software Engineer - OpenStack

Canonical

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Job description

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office-based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing.

We are hiring a Software Engineer for our OpenStack Engineering team. This is an exciting opportunity for a software engineer passionate about open source software, Linux, and OpenStack. Come build a rewarding, meaningful career working with the best and brightest people in technology at Canonical, a growing international software company.

As a software engineer on the OpenStack Engineering team, you'll be building Charmed OpenStack and Ceph, a suite of open source Python based charms for deploying and managing OpenStack and Ceph. Your work will bring cloud platform technologies to a wide range of users and computing environments, from desktops to bare metal servers. This role requires a python software developer with a passion for automating infrastructure as code.

Applicants should be passionate about the future of the software defined datacenter, distributed systems, and open source. Canonical is a globally distributed team of engineers who share that passion, and you will need to work well in that context. Engineers who thrive at Canonical are mindful of the dynamics of the open source ecosystem, and equally aware of the needs of large, innovative organizations.

This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week at a time.

What you'll do
  • Collaborate proactively with a distributed team
  • Write high quality code to create new features
  • Debug issues and produce high quality code to fix them
  • Review code produced by other engineers
  • Discuss ideas and collaborate on finding good solutions
  • Ensure the success of OpenStack and Ceph on multiple architectures
  • Work from home with global travel 2 to 4 weeks for internal and external events
Who you are
  • You love technology and working with brilliant people
  • You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
  • You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self-motivated
  • You have a Bachelor's or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM or similar degree
  • You have experience with Python
  • You have interest and experience with two or more of the following:Ubuntu Linux - kernel or userspace, Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, AI/ML, QEMU/KVM, LXC/LXD, Python, Go, C, Postgresql, Mongo, Debian packaging, scalable web services
  • You have experience with non-x86 architectures, including s390, arm64, power and others
  • You have experience with OpenStack, OVN, Openvswitch and other related cloud technologies
What Canonical Offers
  • Learning and Development
  • Annual Compensation Review
  • Recognition Rewards
  • Annual Leave
  • Priority Pass for travel
  • Flexible working option

Canonical believes a diverse workforce enhances our ability to deliver world class software and services which meet the world's computing needs. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open-source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence; in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our inception in 2004.​ Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.

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