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Associate Software Development Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Associate, Software Engineering Job Code: 39554 Job Location: Chantilly, VA * Apply computer ... Support and participate in all phases of the software development life cycle, including ...

The SDET will develop test automation for integration, regression, and functional testing for systems to ensure compliance with system requirements and Navy Federal business practices and policies.

New

SDET

Mclean, VA · On-site

$50.50 - $65.25/hr

Job Title: SDET Location: Onsite in McLean, VA Responsibilities • Design, develop, and maintain automation frameworks using Playwright, Selenium, Cucumber, Java, and TypeScript • Execute end-to ...

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Associate Software Development Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$22

$47

$111

How much do associate software development engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate software development engineer in Washington, DC is $47.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34.57 and $50.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate software development engineer?

Associate Software Development Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software applications. They typically work under the guidance of senior developers, contributing to coding, debugging, and documenting software projects. This role serves as a foundational position in a software engineering career, providing opportunities to learn industry best practices and collaborate with experienced team members. Associate Software Development Engineers often participate in code reviews, troubleshoot issues, and help ensure that software meets quality and performance standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate software development engineer?

To thrive as an Associate Software Development Engineer, you need a solid grasp of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), algorithms, and data structures, often supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems like Git, and basic software development lifecycle methodologies is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn, and effective teamwork set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are vital for building reliable software, adapting to evolving technologies, and collaborating in dynamic development teams.

What are some common challenges faced by associate software development engineers when joining a new team?

Associate Software Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting to established codebases, understanding team workflows, and getting acquainted with company-specific development tools. It can take time to become comfortable with version control systems, code review processes, and agile methodologies commonly used by development teams. Building effective communication with senior engineers and learning to balance independent problem-solving with seeking guidance are also key aspects of the initial learning curve.

What is the difference between Associate Software Development Engineer vs Software Development Engineer?

AspectAssociate Software Development EngineerSoftware Development Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, some internshipsBachelor's or higher in CS, more experience preferred
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team-based projects, training programsMore complex projects, increased responsibility
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, large corporationsSame as Associate role, with more senior positions
Search & Comparison IntentEntry-level roles, career progressionMid-level roles, career growth

The main difference between an Associate Software Development Engineer and a Software Development Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. The Associate role is typically entry-level, focusing on learning and supporting projects, while the SDE has more experience and handles more complex tasks. Both roles are common in tech companies and serve as stepping stones in a software engineering career.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Software Development Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Infographic showing various Associate Software Development Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,448 per year, or $47.8 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Steampunk

Mclean, VA • On-site

$90K - $130K/yr

Other

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Overview
As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you will work with our growing DevSecOps practice delivering quality assurance services to support application, cloud, and data systems development. We are looking for candidates with 3-5 years of experience in quality assurance and test automation practices within an Agile/DevSecOps work environment
Contributions
Responsibilities
  • Understand the needs of stakeholders and conveying requirements to development teams
  • Collaborate with product design teams to determine testing parameters and acceptance criteria
  • Write comprehensive test plans, create test cases, develop test procedures, document bug reports, and produce final QA reports for products
  • Manage test data architecture definition and coordinate test data requests
  • Develop automated testing scripts with consideration for parallelization and idempotency
  • Integrate test automation including performance, security, and functional tests into CI/CD pipelines
  • Execute testing and examination of code written by others and analyze results, including three or more of the following:
  • Data validation testing
  • Functional testing
  • Performance and load testing
  • Usability testing
  • Accessibility (Section 508) testing
  • Develop automated testing scripts considering parallelization and idempotency
  • Ensuring that systems are safe and secure against cybersecurity threats
  • Working with software developers and software engineers to ensure that development follows established processes and works as intended
  • Document as-is state of the environment, perform gap analysis, and produce artifacts that articulate options and recommendations
  • Engineer and implement solutions and provide recommendations for continuous improvement of services provided
  • Present regular status updates and provide cross-training to other DevOps team members
  • Act as an individual contributor and mentor more junior team members

Qualifications
Required
    • Ability to obtain a U.S. government Security Clearance
    • Bachelors Degree and 10 years of experience (7 must be relevant)
    • 3 Years of Experience with Git SCM providers such as GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
    • 3 Years of Experience with one or more programming or scripting languages
    • 7 Years of application DevSecOps Experience with actual/active development experience in an Agile environment
    • Experience utilizing docker containers and utilizing platforms such as Kubernetes
    • 3 Years of Experience implementing test automation, using tools such as Selenium, Appium, Soap UI, RestAssured, Postman
    • Experience integrating test automation including performance, security, and functional tests into CI/CD Pipelines
    • Experience with performance and load testing
    • Experience in one or more cloud computing environments (e.g. AWS, Azure, or GCP)

Preferred
    • Certifications:
    • CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing)
    • International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certification
    • Cloud certifications (AWS Certified Developer, Azure Developer Associate, etc.)

    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills
    • Experience with behavior-driven development (BDD) and test-driven development (TDD) methodologies

About steampunk
Steampunk relies on several factors to determine salary, including but not limited to geographic location, contractual requirements, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The projected compensation range for this position is $90,000 to $130,000. The estimate displayed represents a typical annual salary range for this position. Annual salary is just one aspect of Steampunk's total compensation package for employees. Learn more about additional Steampunk benefits here.
Identity Statement
As part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.
Steampunk is a Change Agent in the Federal contracting industry, bringing new thinking to clients in the Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health and DoD sectors. Through our Human-Centered delivery methodology, we are fundamentally changing the expectations our Federal clients have for true shared accountability in solving their toughest mission challenges. As an employee owned company, we focus on investing in our employees to enable them to do the greatest work of their careers - and rewarding them for outstanding contributions to our growth. If you want to learn more about our story, visit http://www.steampunk.com.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Steampunk participates in the E-Verify program.