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Defense Engineer Salary Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Sr Active Defense Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$144K - $258K/yr

About the Team Our Active Defense team is a group of highly skilled and dedicated professionals who ... salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ...

Sr Active Defense Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$144K - $258K/yr

About the Team Our Active Defense team is a group of highly skilled and dedicated professionals who ... salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ...

... defense sectors. As a Software Engineer, your responsibilities will look similar to those of a ... Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity ...

... Cyber Defense Engineer, Network Security Engineer, SIEM Administrator, Security Architect, etc ... Excellent Salaries * Flexible Work Schedule * Cafeteria Style Benefits * 10% - 401k Matching ...

... Cyber Defense Engineer, Network Security Engineer, SIEM Administrator, Security Architect, etc ... Excellent Salaries * Flexible Work Schedule * Cafeteria Style Benefits * 10% - 401k Matching ...

... Cyber Defense Engineer, Network Security Engineer, SIEM Administrator, Security Architect, etc ... Excellent Salaries * Flexible Work Schedule * Cafeteria Style Benefits * 10% - 401k Matching ...

SIEM Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

... Cyber Defense Engineer, Network Security Engineer, SIEM Administrator, Security Architect, etc ... Excellent Salaries * Flexible Work Schedule * Cafeteria Style Benefits * 10% - 401k Matching ...

Release Train Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Release Train Engineer Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 annually About the Role Hunter Strategy is ... Experience supporting federal civilian or defense programs, particularly multi-contractor ...

... Cyber Defense Engineer, Network Security Engineer, SIEM Administrator, Security Architect, etc ... Excellent Salaries * Flexible Work Schedule * Cafeteria Style Benefits * 10% - 401k Matching ...

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Showing results 1-20

Defense Engineer Salary information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$39.3K

$119.8K

$198K

How much do defense engineer salary jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense engineer salary in Silver Spring, MD is $119,778.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,800.00 and $156,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the average salary of a defense engineer?

The average salary of a defense engineer in the United States typically ranges from $75,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience, education, location, and the specific employer. Entry-level positions may start around $70,000, while more experienced engineers or those in specialized roles can earn upwards of $130,000 or more. Defense engineers working in high-demand areas or with advanced security clearances may also receive additional compensation or bonuses.

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

To thrive as a Defense Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, problem-solving, and security protocols, typically supported by a degree in electrical, mechanical, or aerospace engineering. Familiarity with defense-specific software, CAD tools, and security clearance requirements is often necessary. Attention to detail, teamwork, and strong analytical skills help professionals excel in this high-stakes environment. These competencies are crucial for designing, testing, and maintaining systems that ensure national security and operational effectiveness.

What are some common challenges defense engineers face when working on classified or sensitive projects?

Defense engineers frequently encounter the challenge of adhering to strict security protocols when working on classified projects. This often means limited access to information, restricted collaboration with external parties, and additional layers of approval for design changes or data sharing. Navigating these security requirements while meeting project deadlines and ensuring technical excellence requires strong attention to detail and adaptability. Teamwork and clear communication within secure environments are crucial for overcoming these challenges and successfully delivering on project goals.

What is the difference between Defense Engineer Salary vs Systems Engineer?

AspectDefense EngineerSystems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Security ClearancesBachelor's in Engineering or related field, certifications like INCOSE
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government agenciesTechnology firms, aerospace, defense
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military projectsBroad industry use including defense, IT, aerospace

Defense Engineer salaries typically align with those of Systems Engineers due to overlapping credentials and work environments. However, Defense Engineers often require security clearances and work specifically on military projects, which can influence salary differences. Both roles are vital in defense and technology sectors, with salary variations based on experience, location, and security requirements.

What are popular job titles related to Defense Engineer Salary jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

For Defense Engineer Salary jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Defense Engineer Salary jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Defense Engineer Salary jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Defense Engineer Salary jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Defense Engineer Salary job openings:

Infographic showing various Defense Engineer Salary job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,778 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Sr Active Defense Engineer

Reston, VA • On-site


Workday
Software Development • 10K+ employees

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

158th of 246 rated software companies

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Respectful managers


$144K - $258K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

Your work days are brighter here.

We're obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you'll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We're in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you'll do meaningful work with Workmates who've got your back. In return, we'll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you've found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

About the Team

Our Active Defense team is a group of highly skilled and dedicated professionals who are passionate about protecting our organization from cyber threats. We source, evaluate, and analyze both internal and external data, providing critical insight to a variety of security and business teams. We use emerging and relevant intelligence to test our defenses rapidly. We perform detailed analysis while meeting the challenge to scale to the business' needs. We are a core function of the overall Cyber Defense organization at Workday that helps keep the company and its customer data safe every day.
Our team members have a strong background in cybersecurity, data analysis, AI and machine learning, offensive security and detection engineering. We use innovative tools and technologies to analyze and visualize data, including Splunk, Spark, Python, and AI-assisted analysis and automation tools. We value teamwork and collaborate closely with other security teams to ensure that our organization stays ahead of emerging cyber threats.

About the Role

As a member of the Active Defense team, you will get an opportunity to collaborate with a large cross-section of teams across Workday to understand the threat landscape, execute threat hunting and offensive security exercises and discover potential vulnerabilities. You will test detection coverage, perform gap analysis and then use this information to develop and refine alerting logic. You will also help develop adaptive and AI-assisted detection and response capabilities.

About You

Basic Qualifications

  • 8+ years of proven abilities in one or more of: incident response, intelligence analysis, vulnerability assessment, security engineering or security operations

  • Experience researching cybersecurity threats and creating security solutions

  • Experience using AI-based discovery and exploit creation tools to mimic adversary capabilities.

  • Experience in a general-purpose programming language like Python, Java, Kotlin, Scala, or JavaScript


Other Qualifications

  • Experience responding to cybersecurity incidents and helping to mitigate threats

  • Experience executing red team engagements and bypassing security controls

  • Experience reverse engineering malware, suspicious code and vulnerabilities

  • Experience developing or applying agents, automation, or workflow orchestration to create or improve detection and response workflows

  • Enthusiastic about new emerging topics in security/intelligence, data science and/or machine learning

  • Dedication to maintain domain proficiency and a professional network with our partners and other interest groups

  • Strong communication skills and an ability to present technical information to a non-technical audience


Workday Pay Transparency Statement

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate's compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things. For more information regarding Workday's comprehensive benefits, please click here.

Primary Location: USA.VA.Reston


Primary Location Base Pay Range: $159,600 USD - $239,400 USD


Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $144,400 USD - $258,000 USD


Our Approach to Flexible Work

With Flex Work, we're combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

Pursuant to applicable Fair Chance law, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Workday is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.


Workday is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, in order to perform one or more essential functions of their job, as well as regarding the use of AI tools for employment decision-making to any degree. Please see below for more details including how to request an accommodation as a qualified veteran, due to a disability or for religious reasons, or as otherwise provided under applicable law.


Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodations, exercising a privacy right, or cooperating in an investigation in accordance with applicable law. Any employee who retaliates against a candidate or employee for doing so may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law.


If you require a reasonable accommodation, you may email accommodations@workday.com, as far in advance as possible.


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About Workday

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Workday's journey began with a transformative idea generated during a breakfast conversation between its founders in sunny California. What set us apart from the start was our people-centric culture, driven by the core value of prioritizing our employees. At Workday, the happiness, growth, and contributions of every team member are at the heart of who we are. Our collaborative and employee-focused culture is the key ingredient for our business success. We not only care for our people but also for the communities and the environment, all while maintaining profitability. Embrace your uniqueness, as we encourage our Workmates to shine brightly in their authentic selves. Our passion and energy make us distinct, and we are inspired to create a brighter workday for everyone.

Industry

Software development

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Pleasanton, CA, US

Year founded

2005


What Workday employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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