--- title: "Lead+ Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL | Metaintro" canonical: "https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/software-engineer/locations/chicago-il/lead" language: "en" author: "Metaintro" --- Software Engineer market brief · Chicago, IL # Lead+ Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL 62 lead+ software engineer openings are live in the Chicago, IL area from 34 employers, led by Capital One, JPMC, and Caterpillar Inc.. The middle half of posted salaries runs $145,000–$196,150 a year (median $173,000), from the 77% of listings that disclose pay. 15% of listings accept remote work. Data updated Oct 10, 2026 [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Lead%2B+Software+Engineer+jobs+in+Chicago%2C+IL)[Browse all Software Engineer markets](/jobs/software-engineer) ## Role and market snapshot A quick read on demand before you open the live listings **Tracked jobs** : 62 : Live software engineer openings currently tracked in the Chicago market. **Companies hiring** : 34 : Distinct employers represented in this publishable market view. **Median compensation** : $173,000 : 77% of listings provide usable compensation data. ## Market analysis Role-specific demand, level, employer, and compensation signals for this local market Start with the level mix, then compare current demand, compensation coverage, and employer concentration before opening the live listings. Level mix ### Career ladder [Lead+](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/chicago-il/lead)62 jobs Chicago's software engineer market is led by lead+ openings, with 62 tracked roles at that rung. 30-day window ### Demand and salary Current jobs 62 Hiring employers 34 Salary coverage 77% Median experience 10.0 years Within this market ### Employer tier lens Startups & growing teams 30 18 companies · $150,400 median Established employers 19 9 companies · $190,000 median Top of market 5 4 companies Coverage-gated ### Salary distribution P25 $145,000 P50 $173,000 P75 $196,150 P90 $200,000 Salary figures use annualized USD posted minimum compensation from listings in this market. An employer that posts the same pay on many listings counts once, and figures render only when enough distinct employers disclose pay. Use Metaintro ### Turn this market signal into momentum Move from aggregate demand to the live roles hiring in this market now. - Open live lead+ software engineer listings in Chicago - Compare the level mix before narrowing your search - Use employer and compensation signals to prioritize outreach [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Lead%2B+Software+Engineer+jobs+in+Chicago%2C+IL)[Get started free](/signup) ## Turn this market brief into a live search. Use the signal The best next step is opening the roles behind the aggregate: compare software engineer opportunities in Chicago, save the strongest fits, and keep the market signal close while you apply. - 62 live roles tracked in this market. - 34 employers represented in the current window. - Market data refreshed Oct 10, 2026. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Lead%2B+Software+Engineer+jobs+in+Chicago%2C+IL)[Compare other markets](/jobs/software-engineer) ## A practical market plan for Software Engineer in Chicago Use this sequence to move from aggregate labor-market data to a focused application list. 1. 01Read the demand 62 software engineer openings across 34 employers establish the current Chicago opportunity set. 2. 02Choose the right rung Lead+ leads the derived level mix with 62 tracked openings. 3. 03Prioritize employers Capital One is one of the most active visible employers, with 6 current openings in this market view. 4. 04Open the live roles 8 representative openings connect this brief to jobs you can review now. With Metaintro Keep market research, live opportunities, saved roles, and the evidence behind your applications moving in one focused loop. ## Where this market is hiring Move from the Chicago market view into active employers and representative software engineer openings Employer activity · 34 companies ### Who is hiring in this market The most active visible employers, ordered by openings represented in the current market sample. [![Capital One logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftbcdn.talentbrew.com%2Fcompany%2F1732%2Fv2_0%2Fimg%2Flogo-capone.jpg) Capital OneEstablished employers6Open roles](/company/capital-one-8dfd13f4)![JPMC logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fs2%2Ffavicons%3Fdomain%3Djpmc.com%26sz%3D128) JPMCEmployer profile6Open roles Caterpillar Inc.Startups & growing teams5Open roles ntrsStartups & growing teams4Open roles ![Cboe logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fs2%2Ffavicons%3Fdomain%3Dcboe.com%26sz%3D128) CboeStartups & growing teams3Open roles [![Newmark logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnmrk.com%2Ffavicons%2Fapple-icon-152x152.png&sig=WQkfYTLTSpuCCzAb2pEHcDFZ4ZsD9LtEoRJBLsh5YIw) NewmarkEstablished employers3Open roles](/company/newmark) AshbyEstablished employers2Open roles [![JLL logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjll.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Ftech-resources%2Fandroid-chrome-192x192.png&sig=b8YjCPCg6VcJ6PEBlgq8D64ku3cT7bI0tYmRZjOVGk4) JLLEstablished employers2Open roles](/company/jll) Live opportunity sample · 8 of 62 matches ### Representative openings Open a role to inspect the full requirements. Compensation appears only when the listing provides usable salary data. [Senior Software Engineer, Trading PlatformsLead+Charles SchwabChicago, IllinoisPosted Oct 8, 2026](/job/senior-software-engineer-trading-platforms-at-charles-schwab-4d5130fc-c793-5d90-913d-e41bbd52be13)[Principal, Software Engineer - Enterprise Automation Frameworks & Support​Lead+HumanaAurora, Illinois$156,600Posted Oct 7, 2026](/job/principal-software-engineer-enterprise-automation-frameworks-and-6f2aef79-fd3b-5b7e-b6fd-cd55aa78a844)[Staff Software Engineer, Core EverandLead+ScribdIncChicago, IllinoisCAD 125,781Posted Oct 7, 2026](/job/staff-software-engineer-core-everand-at-scribdinc-3abef825-c4cc-559a-ad40-0d6abb9c22ad)[Staff Software Engineer, Core EverandLead+ScribdIncChicago, IllinoisCAD 125,781Posted Oct 7, 2026](/job/staff-software-engineer-core-everand-at-scribdinc-fdc8713d-4d39-559f-92e9-70dc5e00b7ef)[Staff Software Engineer with Agentic AILead+Vizient Inc.Chicago, Illinois$117,600Posted Oct 5, 2026](/job/staff-software-engineer-with-agentic-ai-at-vizient-inc-2cfac4ba-817c-5495-9bac-ee5c14f503ad)[Staff Software EngineerLead+JLLChicago, Illinois$187,100Posted Oct 5, 2026](/job/staff-software-engineer-at-jll-d7c87664-d743-5690-9aec-5de32b613524)[Lead Software Engineer, Gen AILead+Caterpillar Inc.Chicago, Illinois$128,470Posted Oct 5, 2026](/job/lead-software-engineer-gen-ai-at-caterpillar-inc-166bc7f8-49e4-5c3c-afbe-94825eb45007)[Lead Software EngineerLead+Caterpillar Inc.Chicago, Illinois$128,470Posted Oct 4, 2026](/job/lead-software-engineer-at-caterpillar-inc-6b6513e5-541e-5b7c-be25-dd21a0435d68) [Explore all 62 matching jobs](/jobs/search?q=Lead%2B+Software+Engineer+jobs+in+Chicago%2C+IL) ## Lead+ Software Engineer jobs in Chicago: what applicants need to know Current answers for a difficult AI-era job search, grounded in this publishable role and location market view rather than generic career advice. 1. 01### How many lead+ software engineer jobs are open in Chicago? Metaintro tracks 62 live lead+ software engineer openings from 34 employers in the Chicago, IL area over the last 30 days. 2. 02### What do lead+ software engineer jobs in Chicago pay? The median posted salary is $173,000 a year. The middle half of posted salaries runs $145,000 to $196,150. Based on the 77% of current listings that disclose pay. 3. 03### Which companies are hiring for lead+ software engineer jobs in Chicago? Capital One, JPMC, Caterpillar Inc., and ntrs have the most open lead+ software engineer roles here right now, out of 34 hiring employers. ## Continue with the next market signal Compare nearby cities, adjacent roles, and publishable level views without leaving the live jobs cluster Nearby cities Compare Software Engineer demand around Chicago. [Rockford, IL](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/rockford-il)[Milwaukee, WI](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/milwaukee-wi)[Madison, WI](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/madison-wi)[Champaign, IL](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/champaign-il)[Grand Rapids, MI](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/grand-rapids-mi)[Peoria, IL](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/peoria-il) Related roles See adjacent role demand in the Chicago market. [Backend Engineer](/jobs/backend-engineer/locations/chicago-il)[Frontend Developer](/jobs/frontend-developer/locations/chicago-il)[Full Stack Developer](/jobs/full-stack-developer/locations/chicago-il)[DevOps Engineer](/jobs/devops-engineer/locations/chicago-il)[Data Engineer](/jobs/data-engineer/locations/chicago-il)[Machine Learning Engineer](/jobs/machine-learning-engineer/locations/chicago-il)[All roles in Chicago](/jobs/locations/chicago-il) Level views Narrow the market to experience levels with enough reliable data. [Lead+ Software Engineer](/jobs/software-engineer/locations/chicago-il/lead) ![](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:1200:800/q:30/plain/images/bridges/bridge-expand.1df895c6bd76d96f.png) Built for career movement ## Turn the Chicago software engineer market into your next move. Use live demand, employer, level, and compensation signals to focus your software engineer search where the market is active now. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Lead%2B+Software+Engineer+jobs+in+Chicago%2C+IL)[Get started free](/signup) Match Compare live roles against your current evidence. Position Turn proof projects into role-specific applications. Improve Use market feedback to keep the skill plan current. [Return to navigation](#main-navigation)