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Defense Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

CoVar

Software Engineer

Durham, NC

Software Engineer About CoVar CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in ... We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the Department of Defense detect ...

Vadum Inc.

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC

... defense research and development. If you're passionate about innovation and want to make a ... Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team.

Vadum, Inc.

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

... defense research and development. If you're passionate about innovation and want to make a ... Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team.

Vadum Inc

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

... defense research and development. If you're passionate about innovation and want to make a ... Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team.

CoVar

Software Engineer

Durham, NC · On-site

They are seeking a motivated Software Engineer to develop and maintain applications that involve ... Defense project experience Company : CoVar is a leader in machine learning and artificial ...

Vadum Inc

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

... defense research and development. If you're passionate about innovation and want to make a ... Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team.

Vadum Inc

Junior Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

... defense research and development. Our engineers work on cutting-edge technologies that solve ... If you're an early-career software engineer who enjoys solving challenging problems and wants to ...

Berriehill Research

Senior Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC

$108K - $142K/yr

... Defense (DoD) programs. In this role, you will take high-level program goals and turn them into ... Senior Software Engineer Responsibilities: * Help lead the design and implementation of software ...

ARA

Senior Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$108K - $142K/yr

... Defense (DoD) programs. In this role, you will take high-level program goals and turn them into ... Senior Software Engineer Responsibilities: * Help lead the design and implementation of software ...

Redhat

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$96K - $154K/yr

Practice defensive programming to deliver stable and high-quality software for Red Hat customers and upstream communities. * Communicate and collaborate with developers and teams inside and outside ...

Red Hat Inc.

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$96K - $154K/yr

Practice defensive programming to deliver stable and high-quality software for Red Hat customers and upstream communities. * Communicate and collaborate with developers and teams inside and outside ...

Teledyne FLIR LLC

Software Engineer

Durham, NC · On-site

These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality ... Software Engineer to support advanced research and development projects that require algorithm and ...

Teledyne

Software Engineer

Durham, NC

These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality ... Software Engineer to support advanced research and development projects that require algorithm and ...

Redhat

Senior Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$118K - $195K/yr

Practice defensive programming to deliver stable and high-quality software for Red Hat customers and upstream communities. * Communicate and collaborate with developers and teams inside and outside ...

Signalscape, Inc

Signal Software Engineer

Cary, NC · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Signalscape has supplied engineering services and products used for defense, intelligence, and law ... Signal Software Engineer develops, maintains, and enhances signal processing software such as ...

Productive Resources

Embedded Software Engineer

Cary, NC · On-site

$60/hr

Embedded Software Engineer Cary, NC - Full Time Productive Resources (www.productiveresources.com ... defense, mining, recreational, industrial, and specialty machines. We lead with our reputation for ...

Productive Resources LLC

Embedded Software Engineer

Cary, NC · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

Embedded Software Engineer Cary, NC - Full Time Productive Resources (www.productiveresources.com ... defense, mining, recreational, industrial, and specialty machines. We lead with our reputation for ...

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All JobsDefense Software Engineer JobsDefense Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Defense Software Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$61.7K

$143.4K

$199.8K

How much do defense software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense software engineer in Raleigh, NC is $143,405.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,600.00 and $168,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Defense Software Engineer job?

A Defense Software Engineer develops, tests, and maintains software for military and defense applications. They work on secure, mission-critical systems such as weapons control, cybersecurity, and communication networks. Their role requires proficiency in programming languages, security protocols, and compliance with defense standards. Due to the nature of the industry, security clearances and adherence to classified information policies are often required.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Defense Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Defense Software Engineer, you need expertise in software development, a strong grasp of cybersecurity principles, and familiarity with defense industry standards, typically demonstrated by a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Experience with programming languages such as C++, Java, or Python, knowledge of real-time operating systems, and certifications like Security+ or CISSP are often required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams are valuable soft skills. These competencies ensure that complex, secure, and mission-critical software solutions are effectively developed and maintained to meet stringent defense requirements.

What types of projects and technologies do Defense Software Engineers typically work on?

Defense Software Engineers often work on projects involving the development and maintenance of software for military systems, such as radar, communications, simulation, or weapons control platforms. They frequently use technologies like embedded systems, secure coding practices, and specialized hardware interfaces. Project work can range from upgrading legacy systems to designing cutting-edge capabilities, often requiring adherence to rigorous security and compliance protocols. Collaboration with systems engineers, hardware teams, and government stakeholders is typical, offering a dynamic and mission-driven work environment. This exposure helps engineers build specialized expertise while contributing directly to national security initiatives.

What are popular job titles related to Defense Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Defense Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Defense Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Defense Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Defense Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Defense Software Engineer job openings:
Defense Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Defense Software Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,405 per year, or $68.9 per hour.
Software Engineer

Software Engineer

CoVar

Durham, NC

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer

About CoVar

CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the Department of Defense detect threats in high-stakes environments and enable biomedical researchers to accelerate discoveries that save lives. Our team is composed of curious, passionate engineers who care deeply about using AI to solve real-world problems that matter.

About this position

We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented Software Engineer who thrives in an environment where reading, understanding, and improving complex codebases is just as important as writing new code. In this role, you will develop and maintain real-time, computationally intensive applications involving data processing, real-time communications, and machine-learning algorithm integration.

You'll work closely with a team of ML engineers and software developers, contribute to system architecture and performance optimization, and help ensure our tools are robust, efficient, and production ready. You will have the opportunity to work on meaningful, high-impact projects in a close-knit engineering team. If you enjoy building systems end-to-end, optimizing performance, and understanding how software interacts with hardware at a deep level, you'll fit right in.

Important Note:

This is a software engineering role and not a prompt engineering role. Candidates with strong LLM prompting skills but limited understanding of software engineering fundamentals will not be successful here.

Minimum qualifications

  • B.S. in Computer Science or related field, preferably M.S., Ph.D, and/or 3+ years of experience
  • Expertise in Python with a minimum of two years of demonstrated hands-on professional development experience and exposure to scientific/computational libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch, etc.
  • Experience developing real-time, computationally-focused applications
  • Working knowledge of SQL and experience with one or more of MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite
  • Strong fundamental understanding of computing hardware architectures and how they influence software architectural decisions
  • Experience with software development processes, including version control, documentation, testing, and code review
  • Excellent technical communication skills and a customer-service mindset
  • Ability to work in Durham, NC (relocation assistance available)
  • Eligibility for US security clearance (US citizenship is required)

Preferred qualifications

  • Linux application development
  • Experience with embedded systems or deploying AI/ML solutions on edge hardware (highly desirable)
  • Familiarity with real-time systems, edge hardware optimization, and performance profiling
  • Experience with signal processing, pattern recognition, image processing, and/or machine learning techniques
  • Prior Department of Defense project experience

Benefits

  • Competitive salary, cash bonus, equity structure, and 401k with employer contributions
  • Excellent health care coverage, including dental and vision plans
  • Parental leave
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Tuition support
  • PTO and paid holidays

Visit us: www.covar.com