Senior Software Contractor Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

United’s Digital Technology team is comprised of many talented individuals all working together with cutting-edge technology to build the best airline in the history of aviation. Our team designs, develops and maintains massively scaling technology solutions brought to life with innovative architectures, data analytics, and digital solutions.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Senior Developer - IT is an experienced software development professional who leads the design, development, and deployment of high-quality software solutions that support business goals and user experiences. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and a commitment to driving engineering best practices. Collaborate across functional teams to deliver scalable, secure, and maintainable applications across web, mobile, and cloud platforms.

• Software Design and Development:
  • Manages and participates in the full development life cycle, including concept, design, build, deployment, testing, production release, and support
• Code Review and Quality Assurance:
  • Review code for accuracy, functionality, and adherence to coding standards, and participate in testing and debugging to ensure software quality
  • Utilize source control and bug-tracking systems effectively
  • Review estimates for software development and delivery to ensure they meet quality and accuracy standards
  • Perform unit testing on code to ensure robustness, including testing for edge cases, usability, and overall reliability
• Staying Up-to-Date:
  • Stay current with the latest technologies, tools, and best practices in the software development field
  • Conduct research and development to assess emerging technologies and their potential to enhance the platform
  • Evaluate, recommend, and implement third-party software as necessary
• Troubleshooting & Optimization:
  • Proactively identify performance issues, bottlenecks, and bugs; implement solutions that improve application reliability and user experience
  • Conduct performance tuning and root cause analysis of production issues
• Project Leadership and Mentorship:
  • Guide the technical direction of projects, mentor junior developers, and may manage a team or oversee project-related tasks
  • Manages and participates in design meetings, analyzing user needs to determine technical requirements
  • Collaborates with and leads tech teams consisting of employees and contractor personnel from vendor companies in planning and execution, serving as a technology leader

• Bachelor’s degree
• Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Management Information Systems or related field
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in software development in an Agile environment
• Proficient in .NET or other modern programming languages (Java, etc.)
• Strong experience with front‑end and/or back‑end frameworks
• Solid understanding of databases and system integration
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, etc.) and CI/CD pipelines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deliverables, both short and long‑term, in a busy and aggressive environment required
• Must be self‑motivated, possess strong communication skills, and be able to work in a team‑oriented environment
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

• Familiarity with DevOps
• Knowledge of automated testing, security best practices, and observability tools
• Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them for research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to company policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

The base pay range for this role is $112,480.00 to $146,540.00.

The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits:

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• accident & disability
• parental leave
• employee assistance program
• commuter
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• 401(k)
• flight privileges

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact JobAccommodations@united.com