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Distinguished Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Capital One

Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Distinguished AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA

Distinguished AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Distinguished AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Distinguished AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Sr. Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$133K - $176K/yr

Sr. Distinguished AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Sr. Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$133K - $176K/yr

Sr. Distinguished AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

Capital One

Senior Distinguished AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA

$133K - $176K/yr

Senior Distinguished AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine ...

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All JobsDistinguished Engineer JobsDistinguished Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA

Distinguished Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$33.7K

$104.1K

$138.5K

How much do distinguished engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for distinguished engineer in Boston, MA is $104,067.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,000.00 and $126,000.00 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.
What are popular job titles related to Distinguished Engineer jobs in Boston, MA? For Distinguished Engineer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Distinguished Engineer jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Distinguished Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
Distinguished Engineer jobs near you
Distinguished Systems Developer - SQL Engine

Distinguished Systems Developer - SQL Engine

InterSystems

Boston, MA • On-site

$49.25 - $67.25/hr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

At InterSystems, we're redefining the future of analytics and intelligent data platforms. Our high-performance, hyper-capacity engine supports a multi-model storage layer-blending structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data-to power a new generation of AI-native and real-time workloads.

We believe in technical craftsmanship, deep collaboration, and a culture where ambitious people can build bold systems. The SQL Engine group is the nerve center of our product-where query processing meets distributed intelligence. We consider engineering a science, an art, and a craft, and we cultivate an environment where the most talented minds can thrive, innovate, and make a lasting impact.

This is your chance to design the core foundations of a data platform trusted by the world's most mission critical systems and AI research teams.

What You'll Do

As a Distinguished Developer in the SQL Engine group, you'll help build the next-generation query processing stack, optimizing across both traditional analytics and emerging AI-driven workloads. You'll contribute to:

  • Query parsing, validation, and transformation
  • Logical/physical optimization over multi-model data (row, columnar, stream, document, vector)
  • Plan generation and adaptive execution strategies
  • Code generation and vectorized execution
  • Compiler-accelerated storage access patterns for AI workflows
  • Collaborative integration with our multi-model storage engine

You'll design data processing abstractions and execution engines that enable AI-native features like fast vector search, graph traversal, and probabilistic joins-all within a familiar SQL interface.

Your Impact

  • Architect and implement query optimization and execution components that scale across petabytes
  • Design tooling and frameworks that make AI and analytics convergence seamless
  • Collaborate with platform and storage teams to leverage multi-model indexing and caching strategies
  • Contribute to building programmable, intelligent data pipelines that drive downstream ML model performance
  • Mentor engineers, guide technical debates, and influence long-term system direction
  • Champion a culture of quality, rigor, and innovation

What We're Looking For

  • 10+ years of experience in systems-level or database internals engineering
  • Proven expertise in SQL query engines, optimizers, execution runtimes, or data compiler toolchains
  • Experience with multi-model data systems (SQL + JSON, vector search, graph traversal)
  • Expert in at least one systems programming languages, or LLVM-based codegen environments
  • Strong grasp of relational algebra, compiler construction, and data-intensive workloads
  • Familiarity with AI infrastructure or ML inference pipelines is a strong plus
  • Passion for designing software that balances performance, correctness, and usability
  • PHD degree or published research experience is highly advantageous.

Our Engineering Culture

  • Innovation is expected: Engineers propose, prototype, and lead from the front
  • Excellence over ego: Code is debated, ideas are tested, and the best ones win
  • Long-term vision: We optimize for architectural clarity and product longevity
  • Cross-domain thinking: We solve storage, processing, and AI problems together
  • Sane pace, deep focus: We value craft, creativity, and time to do both well

Ready to Build What's Next?

If you dream of working on deep query systems, love systems-level programming, and want to help create a platform that bridges SQL, multi-model data, and AI-we'd love to talk.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression or any other legally protected category. InterSystems is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.

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