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Distinguished Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. We are seeking a hands ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. We are seeking a hands ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

Distinguished Engineer As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud. You will work alongside ...

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Distinguished Engineer information

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$31K

$95.8K

$127.5K

How much do distinguished engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for distinguished engineer in the United States is $95,796.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,000.00 and $116,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Distinguished Engineer, you need extensive expertise in software architecture, system design, and deep technical problem-solving, often supported by an advanced degree and a robust track record in engineering leadership roles. Mastery of programming languages, architectural frameworks, cloud platforms, and experience with industry-standard tools such as CI/CD pipelines is typical, along with relevant certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Engineer. Exceptional communication, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills set candidates apart by fostering innovation and guiding teams towards effective solutions. These skills and qualities are crucial for driving large-scale technical initiatives, shaping company-wide technology strategies, and mentoring engineering talent.

What is a Distinguished Engineer job?

A Distinguished Engineer is a senior-level technical expert recognized for their deep expertise, leadership, and impact on engineering and innovation. They drive complex technical strategies, mentor engineers, and influence the company's technology direction. Unlike managerial roles, they focus on solving high-impact technical challenges and setting industry standards.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced senior engineers, such as Distinguished Engineers or Principal Engineers in technology companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially when including bonuses, stock options, and other compensation. These roles typically require advanced technical skills, leadership abilities, and significant industry experience.

What jobs make $1,000,000 per year?

In the context of a Distinguished Engineer, roles at the senior technical leadership level in large technology companies can reach or exceed $1,000,000 annually, including base salary, bonuses, and stock options. These positions typically require advanced technical skills, extensive experience, and often involve strategic decision-making and innovation. Compensation varies widely based on company size, location, and individual performance.

What are typical career advancement opportunities for a Distinguished Engineer?

As a Distinguished Engineer, you have the opportunity to influence major technical decisions and take on leadership roles in shaping company technology strategy. While this position is already among the highest technical tracks, you may advance further to roles like Chief Architect or Principal Technical Fellow, or choose to expand your impact by moving into organizational leadership or executive positions. Distinguished Engineers often lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor other engineers, and represent the company in industry forums or technical communities. This role offers a blend of deep technical contribution and broad organizational influence, enabling career growth along both technical and leadership paths.

What does a Distinguished Engineer do?

A Distinguished Engineer is a senior technical role responsible for leading complex projects, setting technical strategy, and driving innovation within an organization. They often mentor other engineers, contribute to technical standards, and work on high-impact initiatives using advanced skills and industry best practices.

What engineers make 300,000 a year?

Senior and distinguished engineers in fields such as software, systems, or hardware engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership responsibilities. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in large tech companies or startups with high growth potential.
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What states have the most Distinguished Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Distinguished Engineer jobs include:
Distinguished Engineer

Distinguished Engineer

Capital One

Mclean, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago


Capital One rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 135 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

73rd of 141 rated banks


Job description

Distinguished Engineer
As a Distinguished Engineer at Capital One, you will be a part of a community of technical experts working to define the future of banking in the cloud.
You will work alongside our talented team of developers, machine learning experts, product managers and people leaders. Our Distinguished Engineers are leading experts in their domains, helping devise practical and reusable solutions to complex problems. You will drive innovation at multiple levels, helping optimize business outcomes while driving towards strong technology solutions.
At Capital One, we believe diversity of thought strengthens our ability to influence, collaborate and provide the most innovative solutions across organizational boundaries. You will promote a culture of engineering excellence, and strike the right balance between lending expertise and providing an inclusive environment where the ideas of others can be heard and championed. You will lead the way in creating next-generation talent for Capital One Tech, mentoring internal talent and actively recruiting to keep building our community.
Distinguished Engineers are expected to lead through technical contribution. You will operate as a trusted advisor for our key technologies, platforms and capability domains, creating clear and concise communications, code samples, blog posts and other material to share knowledge both inside and outside the organization. You will specialize in a particular subject area, but your input and impact will be sought and expected throughout the organization.
If you are ready to provide thought leadership and build engineering excellence across Capital One's engineering teams, come join us in our mission to change banking for good.
Key responsibilities:
  • Articulate and evangelize a bold technical vision for your domain
  • Decompose complex problems into practical and operational solutions
  • Ensure the quality of technical design and implementation
  • Serve as an authoritative expert on non-functional system characteristics, such as performance, scalability and operability
  • Continue learning and injecting advanced technical knowledge into our community
  • Handle several projects simultaneously, balancing your time to maximize impact
  • Act as a role model and mentor within the tech community, helping to coach and strengthen the technical expertise and know-how of our engineering and product community

Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • At least 7 years of software engineering or software development experience
  • At least 5 years of public cloud experience (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science or a related field
  • 10+ years of experience in software engineering or software development experience
  • 10+ years of professional experience coding in commonly used languages like Java, Python, Go, JavaScript/TypeScript, Swift, etc.
  • 10+ years of public cloud experience (AWS, GCP, Azure)
  • 5+ years of experience with financial ledger platforms
  • 5+ years of experience in Agile practices
  • 3+ years of experience in modernizing technology stacks

Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Chicago, IL: $244,700 - $279,200 for Distinguished Engineer
McLean, VA: $269,100 - $307,200 for Distinguished Engineer
New York, NY: $293,600 - $335,100 for Distinguished Engineer
Philadelphia, PA: $244,700 - $279,200 for Distinguished Engineer
Richmond, VA: $244,700 - $279,200 for Distinguished Engineer
Wilmington, DE: $244,700 - $279,200 for Distinguished Engineer
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate's offer letter.
This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.
Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.
This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.
No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.
If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com
Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.
Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

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