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Contract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Washington, DC

Engineering Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$98K - $147K/yr

Position is Contingent on Award of Contract. Job Summary: The Engineering Manager is responsible ... Software applications * Enterprise network environments * Proven ability to lead engineering teams ...

Director, Software Engineering

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

$291K/yr

Title and Summary Director, Software Engineering Director, Software Engineering Mastercard ... The leader will manage a global organization of approximately 25 engineers and engineering leaders ...

... 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 ...

Director, Software Engineering

Mclean, VA · On-site

$190K - $225K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering owns delivery for that organization ... Leading managers and a team of engineers, this role is accountable for shipping the Nebula roadmap ...

Director, Software Engineering

Mclean, VA · On-site

$190K - $225K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering owns delivery for that organization ... Leading managers and a team of engineers, this role is accountable for shipping the Nebula roadmap ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Software Engineering Manager information

See Washington, DC salary details

$112.7K

$191.8K

$227.1K

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

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract software engineering manager in Washington, DC is $191,841.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $195,900.00 and $195,900.00 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 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.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract software engineering manager?

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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC? For Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC are:

Principal Software Engineering Manager - CTJ - Poly

Microsoft

Reston, VA • On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 242 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
Join the Microsoft Specialized Cloud (MSC) team, building the cloud platforms and services that enable Microsoft's security, productivity, and Azure solutions for U.S. Government and sovereign cloud customers. As a Software Engineering Manager on the MSC team, you will partner with engineering teams across Azure, Microsoft 365, and Security to build, operate, and modernize a large-scale Commerce platform that supports highly regulated cloud environments. Your team will help government and sovereign customers understand their consumption and billing, enable compliant procurement and marketplace transactions, and ensure seamless access to Microsoft cloud services while meeting stringent security, compliance, and operational requirements. We are looking for people who bring fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and a passion for solving complex challenges at scale to help deliver cloud capabilities that support critical government and national mission outcomes.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
  • Guides partnership with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., project manager, technical lead) to determine user requirements within and across teams.
  • Guides teams and leads identification of dependencies and the development of design documents for a product, application, service, or platform.
  • Optimizes, debugs, refactors, and reuses code to improve performance and maintainability, effectiveness, and return on investment (ROI).
  • Guides team to drive multiple group's project plans, release plans, and work items in coordination with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., project managers).

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related technical discipline AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements:
Security Clearance Requirements: Candidates must be able to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
  • The successful candidate must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) based on a Single Scope Background Investigation
    (SSBI) with Polygraph. Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required pre-offer and post-hire for this role. Failure to maintain or obtain the appropriate U.S. Government clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in employment action up to and including termination.
  • Clearance Verification: This position requires successful verification of the stated security clearance to meet federal government customer requirements. You will be asked to provide clearance verification information prior to an offer of employment.
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
  • Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customer and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or verified US government Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 4+ years people management experience.

Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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