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Backend Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Esri

Software Development Engineer II- Back End

Vienna, VA · On-site

$97K - $162K/yr

Collaborate with platform, DevOps, and GIS teams to translate requirements into production solutions Requirements * 2+ years of professional backend software engineering experience * Professional ...

MOLG Inc.

Backend Software Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$100/hr

... engineers, data scientists, and product managers to integrate new features and improve existing functionality. * Optimize system performance and ensure high reliability and availability of backend ...

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Back-End Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

Back-End Developer The Opportunity: As a back-end developer, you know that a good site or system needs the right combination of clean code, APIs, analytics, and infrastructure to develop a user ...

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Backend Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$60K

$146.4K

$197.3K

How much do backend engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for backend engineer in Virginia is $146,395.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,900.00 and $170,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Backend Engineers face when integrating new technologies into existing systems?

Backend Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating new technologies, such as ensuring compatibility with legacy systems, maintaining data consistency, and minimizing service disruptions during deployment. They must carefully plan migrations, coordinate with frontend and DevOps teams, and implement thorough testing to avoid introducing bugs or security vulnerabilities. Effective communication and documentation are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a smooth transition.

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

To thrive as a Backend Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like Java, Python, or Node.js, a solid understanding of algorithms, and experience with databases, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools such as RESTful APIs, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), version control systems (like Git), and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is common. Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are essential for building robust, scalable systems and collaborating efficiently within development teams.

What is the difference between Backend Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectBackend EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusDesigning, building, and maintaining server-side applications and databasesDeveloping software across various layers, including frontend and backend
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in server-side languages (e.g., Java, Python), databases, APIsProficiency in multiple programming languages, software design, and sometimes frontend skills
Work EnvironmentTypically in backend teams, working on server infrastructure and APIsCan work on full-stack or specific areas; broader scope
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, and enterprises focusing on backend systemsWidespread across all software development sectors

While both roles involve coding and software development, Backend Engineers specialize in server-side logic, databases, and APIs, whereas Software Developers may work on both frontend and backend components. The roles often overlap, but Backend Engineers focus more on the infrastructure that powers applications.

What are Backend Engineers?

Backend Engineers are software developers who focus on building and maintaining the server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power web and mobile applications. They ensure that the data requested by the frontend systems is delivered efficiently and securely. Their work involves writing code in languages like Python, Java, or Node.js, integrating with databases, and optimizing the overall performance of applications. Backend Engineers also play a crucial role in ensuring data integrity and implementing security best practices.
More about Backend Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Backend Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Backend Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Backend Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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What cities in Virginia are hiring for Backend Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Backend Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Backend Engineer jobs in VA? For Backend Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Backend Engineer jobs near you
Staff / Principal Backend Software Engineer

Staff / Principal Backend Software Engineer

Twenty

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Twenty Technologies is a company focused on enhancing American and allied cybersecurity. The Staff / Principal Backend Software Engineer will design and build backend systems that transform operational data into critical capabilities while leading technical initiatives and collaborating with various teams to ensure system reliability and security.
Responsibilities:
• Architect and build high-throughput backend services that process real-time operational data.
• Lead technical design reviews and choose pragmatic approaches for new features and system improvements.
• Design event-driven and distributed systems that are resilient, observable, and performance-tuned.
• Define stable APIs for internal and external consumers, partnering with frontend for seamless integration.
• Improve engineering excellence through code reviews, standards, testing strategy, and incident practices.
• Build and maintain CI/CD workflows that enable rapid, secure delivery.
• Troubleshoot complex production issues, lead incident response, and drive durable fixes.
• Partner with product and operational stakeholders to translate needs into deliverable technical plans.
• Contribute to technical strategy and roadmap planning across backend services.
• Support hiring by participating in interviews and helping define what 'great' looks like.
Qualifications:
Required:
• You have 10+ years building scalable backend systems in production environments.
• 4+ years of experience in Golang, or 4+ years writing server-side business logic in an object-oriented language (Java, Kotlin, C#, Python) or systems language (C, C++, Rust) with strong system design aptitude.
• You have led technical initiatives end-to-end, including architecture, execution, and delivery.
• You have experience designing distributed systems (e.g., event-driven architectures, messaging, consistency tradeoffs).
• You have built cloud-native services and operated them in production (AWS preferred).
• You have strong security fundamentals: secure coding, threat modeling, and defensible design choices.
• You have a track record mentoring engineers through code reviews, technical guidance, and feedback.
• You have strong communication skills and can align teams around clear technical decisions.
Preferred:
• You have experience designing data models and queries in graph databases (e.g., Neo4j, AWS Neptune).
• You have used relational databases (ex: Postgres, MySQL, or MariaDB) to solve business problems and are able to reason about query performance.
• You’ve worked on defense, intelligence, or security-focused products with real operational users.
• You’ve shipped large-scale data processing systems (streaming, near-real-time analytics, or similar).
• You’ve integrated ML/AI capabilities into production systems in a practical, measurable way.
• You have open-source contributions or personal projects that demonstrate strong engineering craft.
Company:
We apply world-class software engineering to a warfighting domain of persistent conflict. Founded in 2024, the company is headquartered in Arlington, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.

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