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Contract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

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Contract Software Engineering Manager information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$102.9K

$175.1K

$207.3K

How much do contract software engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract software engineering manager in Silver Spring, MD is $175,103.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $178,800.00 and $178,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Contract Software Engineering Manager?

A Contract Software Engineering Manager is a professional who leads and oversees software development teams on a contractual basis, rather than as a permanent employee. They are responsible for managing engineering projects, guiding developers, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality software solutions. Typically, they work for a specific duration or on particular projects, providing leadership, technical expertise, and process improvements. This role is ideal for organizations seeking temporary management support or specialized leadership for critical projects. Contract Software Engineering Managers often bring diverse experience from various industries and projects.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A senior or principal software engineering manager with extensive experience, leadership responsibilities, and expertise in high-demand areas can earn $500,000 or more annually. Such roles often require advanced technical skills, strategic oversight, and may include bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing in large tech companies or successful startups.

What are some unique challenges faced by contract software engineering managers compared to full-time managers?

Contract software engineering managers often face the challenge of quickly integrating into new teams and company cultures while rapidly understanding ongoing projects. They must establish trust and effective communication in a short period, all while delivering results within limited contract timelines. Additionally, contract managers may need to balance stakeholder expectations and project deliverables without the long-term context or authority that permanent managers might have. Adaptability, strong onboarding skills, and proactive relationship-building are key to thriving in this role.

How much do contract software engineers make?

Contract software engineers typically earn between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on experience, location, and project complexity. Senior engineers with specialized skills or certifications can command higher rates, especially for short-term or high-demand projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Software Engineering Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Software Engineering Manager, you need strong leadership abilities, deep software development knowledge, and experience managing engineering teams, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Trello), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, Scrum Master) is often required. Outstanding communication, adaptability, and conflict-resolution skills help build trust and drive team performance in diverse, dynamic environments. These competencies ensure timely project delivery, high code quality, and effective collaboration with stakeholders.

What is the difference between Contract Software Engineering Manager vs Contract Software Developer?

AspectContract Software Engineering ManagerContract Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, management experienceBachelor's in CS or related field, coding skills
Work EnvironmentOversees teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersFocuses on coding, debugging, implementing features
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, consulting firms, startupsSoftware firms, tech startups, enterprise IT
Common Search & ComparisonManagement responsibilities, leadership rolesTechnical skills, coding focus

The Contract Software Engineering Manager typically oversees development teams, manages projects, and ensures delivery, requiring management experience and leadership skills. In contrast, the Contract Software Developer primarily focuses on coding and implementing software features. Both roles are common in tech industries but differ significantly in responsibilities and required credentials.

How much money does a software engineer manager make?

A Contract Software Engineering Manager typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often oversee teams, manage project timelines, and require strong leadership and technical skills.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineering managers, principal engineers, and staff engineers in large tech companies often earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like cloud computing or AI, and stock options or bonuses included. These roles typically require strong leadership, technical expertise, and often a master's degree or higher in computer science or related fields.
What are popular job titles related to Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD? For Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs? Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Contract Software Engineering Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Software Engineering Manager job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $175,103 per year, or $84.2 per hour.

Software Engineering Senior Manager

Sidley

Washington, DC

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

The Software Engineering Senior Manager is a senior technical leader responsible for architecting, building, and operating the firm's cloud-native automation platform. This role requires deep expertise in Azure cloud architecture, distributed systems, and software engineering.

This is a technical leadership role first, people management second. The ideal candidate comes from a cloud engineering, platform engineering, or full-stack development background with DevOps expertise.


Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Design and evolve the distributed system architecture for the cloud-native automation platform, including Azure Container Apps, Service Bus, PostgreSQL, Redis, and Blob Storage
  • Design event-driven architectures using Azure Service Bus for high-volume asynchronous processing
  • Optimize platform performance, cost, and operational complexity through architectural improvements
  • Lead .NET backend development including ASP.NET Core APIs, CQRS pattern with MediatR, Entity Framework Core, and FluentValidation
  • Conduct code reviews ensuring adherence to SOLID principles, async programming best practices, and distributed systems patterns
  • Own and evolve multi-stage Azure DevOps YAML pipelines including multi-phase infrastructure deployment, container image builds, and environment-specific deployments
  • Manage and mentor software engineers, focusing on cloud engineering skill development

Education and/or Experience:
Required:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field; or equivalent professional experience with demonstrable cloud architecture expertise
  • Minimum 6 years of hands-on software engineering experience building cloud-native applications on Azure
  • Minimum 3 years of experience with Azure Container Apps, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), or equivalent container orchestration platforms
  • Minimum 2 years of people management experience leading software engineering teams
  • Proven track record delivering distributed systems in production using microservices architecture and event-driven patterns
  • Hands-on experience with Azure Service Bus, Azure database services including Azure SQL Database with Elastic Pools, Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server, managed identity authentication, connection pooling, and private endpoint configuration
  • Deep understanding of microservices communication patterns including synchronous HTTP, asynchronous messaging, event-driven architecture, and service discovery
  • Proficiency in C# and .NET (minimum .NET 6, preferably .NET 8+) including NET Core Web API with Controllers, Async/await patterns and Task-based asynchronous programming, LINQ and lambda expressions, Dependency injection and Options pattern and Entity Framework Core
  • Proficiency in TypeScript/JavaScript including js development, Async patterns (Promises, async/await), npm/pnpm package management, Module systems (CommonJS, ES modules) and scripting proficiency in Bash or PowerShell for deployment automation and troubleshooting
  • Container image build and deployment workflows including Dockerfile optimization, multi-stage builds, and Azure Container Registry integration
  • Proven ability to mentor software engineers on cloud-native development patterns, distributed systems concepts, and Azure architecture
  • Strong code review skills with ability to provide constructive feedback on backend APIs, infrastructure code, and integration logic
  • Systematic troubleshooting approach for complex distributed systems issues
  • Strong analytical skills for capacity planning, performance optimization, and cost analysis

Preferred:

Azure Certifications

  • Expert-level experience with Azure DevOps YAML pipelines including multi-stage pipelines, pipeline templates, variable groups, and environment-based deployments
  • AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
  • AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
  • AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
  • AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator

Advanced Technical Skills

  • Experience with .NET Aspire for cloud-native application orchestration and service discovery
  • Experience with CQRS and Mediator patterns (MediatR or equivalent)
  • Event Grid and Event Hubs for event-driven architectures
  • Agile/Scrum certifications including Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or SAFe Agilist
  • Experience in professional services industry (legal, financial services, accounting, consulting)
  • Understanding of enterprise security and compliance requirements (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)
  • Familiarity with legal technology or document management systems
  • Deep Azure networking expertise including VNETs, subnets, Network Security Groups, private endpoints, Private DNS Zones, VNET peering, Application Gateway, and NAT Gateway
  • Ability to diagnose Azure networking problems including DNS resolution failures, private endpoint connectivity issues, and Application Gateway routing problems
  • Expert-level Bicep or Terraform proficiency with ability to read, write, and debug complex Infrastructure-as-Code modules (500+ lines)

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

  • Strong organizational skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Good judgment
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
  • Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
  • Able to work under pressure
  • Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

#LI-OE1

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the future

The target salary range for this role is:

$195,000 - $234,400 if located in Illinois, New York, Massachusetts or Washington, D.C.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.