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Startup Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

TekPro Engineering

Electrical Controls Engineer

Elgin, IL · On-site

$115K - $125K/yr

This is a great opportunity for an engineer who wants to own controls projects from design and programming through testing and startup. You'll work closely with mechanical engineering and ...

New

Amazon

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$65 - $85.50/hr

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

Amazon

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65 - $85.50/hr

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

Amazon

Startup Solutions Architect, Startups

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$65 - $85.50/hr

They usually operate in an environment of scarcity: whether that's capital, engineering resource, or experience. This is where you come in. The AWS Startup Solutions Architecture team is dedicated to ...

TekPro

Electrical Controls Engineer

Elgin, IL

$55.29 - $60.10/hr

This is a great opportunity for an engineer who wants to own controls projects from design and programming through testing and startup. You'll work closely with mechanical engineering and ...

New

Nexus Engineering Group

SCADA Engineer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

Mentorship from senior engineers who review your work and help you grow ... Full-service EPCm exposure, from concept through startup, across a diverse client base * Career ...

Nexus Engineering Group

SCADA Engineer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site +1

$85K - $120K/yr

Mentorship from senior engineers who review your work and help you grow ... Full-service EPCm exposure, from concept through startup, across a diverse client base * Career ...

Culligan

Mechanical Engineer I

Libertyville, IL

$60K - $70K/yr

Travel to customer sites to assist with equipment installation verification, startup, commissioning ... Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, service, and sales teams to deliver accurate ...

New

Horizon3.ai

Commercial Sales Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Special Operations cyber operators, startup engineers, and cybersecurity practitioners who were tired of ineffective tools, alert fatigue, blind spots, and "checkbox security." We operate with a ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsStartup Engineer JobsStartup Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Startup Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$40.2K

$104.8K

$141.6K

How much do startup engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup engineer in Chicago, IL is $104,820.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,500.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a startup engineer?

Startup engineers are versatile software or hardware engineers who work at early-stage companies to design, build, and scale new products or technologies. They often wear many hats, handling everything from coding and infrastructure to product design and sometimes even customer feedback. Startup engineers thrive in fast-paced environments where adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving are essential. Their work is crucial in turning innovative ideas into viable products quickly, often with limited resources and tight deadlines.

What are some typical challenges a startup engineer faces when working in an early-stage company?

Startup Engineers often encounter rapidly changing priorities and ambiguous requirements as the company pivots to find product-market fit. They may need to balance building scalable solutions with the need for quick prototyping, sometimes working with limited resources or incomplete documentation. Collaboration across disciplines—such as product, design, and business teams—is frequent, so adaptability and strong communication skills are essential. These challenges can be demanding but also provide valuable opportunities to learn and grow quickly within a dynamic environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a startup engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Startup Engineer, you need strong programming abilities, a solid understanding of software architecture, and versatility across tech stacks, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or GCP), version control systems (such as Git), and rapid prototyping tools is commonly required. Adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for this fast-paced environment. These skills and qualities are crucial for efficiently building scalable products and adapting to the evolving needs and constraints of early-stage startups.

What are popular job titles related to Startup Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Startup Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Startup Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Startup Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Startup Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,820 per year, or $50.4 per hour.

4th Engineer / Onsite Chicago / Python / Healthcare Startup

Motion Recruitment Partners, LLC

Chicago, IL • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

A Chicago-based healthcare technology startup is seeking their 4th full-time Senior Software Engineer to help build AI-powered products that improve access to behavioral healthcare. This venture-backed organization is leveraging modern AI technologies, LLMs, and full-stack engineering to solve complex operational challenges within the healthcare system. The position is primarily based in downtown Chicago with flexibility for exceptional candidates willing to spend significant time collaborating with the team in person in River North.
This is a rare opportunity to join an exceptionally small engineering team and influence the company during its earliest stages of growth. The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who thrives in startup environments, enjoys moving quickly, and wants meaningful ownership over both product and technical decisions. This team likes to have fun, but in this stage they need someone who is willing and able to dedicate 60+ hours a week to being hands-on writing code while contributing to shaping architecture, engineering processes, and the future direction of the platform, working directly alongside company founders. Required Skills & Experience
  • 4+ years of professional software engineering experience
  • Ability to work 60+ hours per week, including occasional weekends
  • Experience in early-stage startups or high-growth environments
  • Full-stack development experience
  • Strong proficiency with modern web technologies
  • Experience building and shipping customer-facing applications
  • Demonstrated project ownership from concept to deployment
  • Experience collaborating closely with product and business stakeholders
  • Strong communication and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work independently in fast-changing environments
Desired Skills & Experience
  • Previous Founding Engineer or early engineering hire experience
  • Experience with LLMs, AI agents, or generative AI products
  • Startup leadership or mentoring experience
  • Healthcare or health-tech exposure
  • Experience designing scalable systems and technical architecture
  • Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and DevOps practices
  • Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools
What You Will Be Doing Tech Breakdown
  • 40% Full-Stack Product Development
  • 25% AI & LLM Integrations
  • 20% Platform & Infrastructure Engineering
  • 15% Technical Architecture & System Design
Daily Responsibilities
  • Build and launch AI-powered product features
  • Partner directly with founders to define product direction
  • Design scalable architecture and engineering solutions
  • Own features throughout the entire development lifecycle
  • Contribute to infrastructure, deployment, and operational excellence
  • Help establish engineering best practices as the team grows
  • Evaluate and implement emerging AI technologies where appropriate
  • 80% Hands-On Development, 5% Team Leadership & Mentorship, 15% Cross-Functional Collaboration
The Offer You will receive the following benefits:
  • Competitive base salary
  • Bonus eligible
  • Equity participation with meaningful ownership potential
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation Time
  • Stock Options
  • High-impact role within a growing startup
  • Direct access to company leadership
  • Opportunity to influence technology and engineering culture

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis now and in the future.
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