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Entry Software Engineer Jobs in Columbia, SC (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$111K - $155K/yr

As a Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex software capabilities for computer-based systems. Will work closely with other talented engineers ...

This Software Engineer role will be focused on developing software tools supporting system design, development, and manufacturing for customers in the defense, and aerospace, and maritime industries.

About the role This Software Engineer role will be focused on developing software tools supporting multiple stages of the system lifecycle, including design, modeling, development, manufacturing, and ...

In this role, you'll work at the intersection of software engineering, reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and cloud technologies. You'll analyze complex software systems, identify critical ...

Senior Software Engineer

North, SC · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will help deliver an exceptional product experience to our customers all around the world. This could be for hotel guests, creating a user experience that makes ...

Senior Software Engineer

North, SC · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will help deliver an exceptional product experience to our customers all around the world. This could be for hotel guests, creating a user experience that makes ...

Senior API Platform Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Job Title - Senior API Platform Software Engineer Locations: Lafayette, LA | Knoxville, TN | Birmingham, AL | Columbia, SC Work Arrangement: Hybrid Employment Type: Full time Experience Required: 5+ ...

Senior API Platform Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Job Title - Senior API Platform Software Engineer Locations: Lafayette, LA | Knoxville, TN | Birmingham, AL | Columbia, SC Work Arrangement: Hybrid Employment Type: Full time Experience Required: 5+ ...

Senior API Platform Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$100K - $131K/yr

Job Title - Senior API Platform Software Engineer Locations: Lafayette, LA | Knoxville, TN | Birmingham, AL | Columbia, SC Work Arrangement: Hybrid Employment Type: Full time Experience Required: 5+ ...

Senior API Platform Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Job Title - Senior API Platform Software Engineer Locations: Lafayette, LA | Knoxville, TN | Birmingham, AL | Columbia, SC Work Arrangement: Hybrid Employment Type: Full time Experience Required: 5+ ...

Senior API Platform Software Engineer

Columbia, SC · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Job Title - Senior API Platform Software Engineer Locations: Lafayette, LA | Knoxville, TN | Birmingham, AL | Columbia, SC Work Arrangement: Hybrid Employment Type: Full time Experience Required: 5+ ...

Sr. Software Engineer I

North, SC · Remote

$113K - $149K/yr

We are seeking a highly capable Senior Software Engineer to deliver high-quality, scalable software solutions across complex systems. This role requires a deep understanding of modern cloud-native ...

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Showing results 1-20

Entry Software Engineer information

See Columbia, SC salary details

$22.2K

$97K

$174.9K

How much do entry software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry software engineer in Columbia, SC is $97,012.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,100.00 and $111,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry software engineer?

Entry software engineers are professionals who have recently started their careers in software development, typically with less than two years of experience. They are responsible for writing, testing, and maintaining code under the supervision of more experienced engineers. Entry software engineers often work on smaller tasks, bug fixes, and learn industry best practices while contributing to larger projects. Their role provides a foundation for building advanced technical skills and growing into senior engineering positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Software Engineer, you need a solid grasp of programming fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with languages such as Java, Python, or C++, and experience with tools like Git, integrated development environments (IDEs), and basic software development methodologies are commonly required. Strong communication, teamwork, and a willingness to learn help you collaborate effectively and adapt to evolving technical challenges. These skills ensure you can contribute to projects, work well within a team, and grow quickly in the fast-paced software industry.

What are some common challenges faced by entry software engineers when joining their first development team?

Entry software engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting to large codebases, understanding team workflows, and getting comfortable with collaborative development tools like version control systems. Navigating code reviews and learning to communicate technical ideas clearly can also be new experiences. However, most teams provide onboarding resources, mentorship, and regular feedback to help new engineers integrate smoothly and grow their skills.

What is the difference between Entry Software Engineer vs Junior Software Developer?

AspectEntry Software EngineerJunior Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, some internshipsBachelor's in CS or related field, internship experience helpful
Work EnvironmentTeam-based, collaborative projects, entry-level tasksSupportive team, learning-focused, entry-level coding
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, corporate IT departmentsTech firms, software companies, startups
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles, career pathClarifying job responsibilities, entry-level positions

Both roles are entry-level positions in software development, often requiring similar educational backgrounds and internships. The term "Entry Software Engineer" emphasizes a broader engineering role with potential involvement in design and architecture, while "Junior Software Developer" typically focuses on coding and implementation tasks. Employers may use these titles interchangeably, but understanding the nuances helps candidates target the right opportunities.

How to get a job as an entry software engineer with no experience?

Entry software engineer roles often require foundational programming skills in languages like Python, Java, or C++, which can be gained through online courses, coding bootcamps, or self-study. Building a portfolio with personal projects, contributing to open-source, and obtaining relevant certifications can help demonstrate skills to employers despite limited professional experience.

Is 25 too late to become an entry software engineer?

Entry software engineering roles typically target recent graduates or those with limited professional experience, but age is not a strict barrier. Many employers value skills, coding ability, and relevant projects over age, and individuals can start learning programming languages and building portfolios at any age to qualify for such positions.

What job categories do people searching Entry Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, SC look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, SC are:

Infographic showing various Entry Software Engineer job openings in Columbia, SC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,626 per year, or $41.2 per hour.

Software Engineer

Columbia, SC • On-site

$111K - $155K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Enlighten, honored as a Top Workplace from USA Today, is a leader in big data solution development and deployment, with expertise in cloud-based services, software and systems engineering, cyber capabilities, and data science. Enlighten provides continued innovation and proactivity in meeting our customers’ greatest challenges. We recognize that the most effective environment for your projects doesn’t always look the same. Our hybrid work approach ensures that you can make lasting relationships with your team and collaborate in-person to get the job done—while having the flexibility to work from home when needed to achieve focused results. Why Enlighten? At Enlighten, our team’s unwavering work ethic, top talent and celebration of innovative ideas have helped us thrive. We know that our employees are essential to our company’s success, so we seek to take care of you as much as you take care of us. Here are a few highlights of our benefits package:

  • 100% paid employee premium for healthcare, vision and dental plans.
  • 10% 401k benefit.
  • Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays.
  • Education/training allowances.
Anticipated Salary Range:

$111,662.00 - $155,000.00. The salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, Enlighten takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function, internal equity and a candidate's education or training, work experience, certifications and key skills. Occasionally positions/roles may include additional non-recurrent compensation and will be addressed by the recruiter during the interview process.

Job Description

Enlighten is a cutting-edge technology company that is dedicated to developing innovative software solutions for our clients. We are currently seeking a talented and experienced Software Engineer to join our team. As a Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex software capabilities for computer-based systems. Will work closely with other talented engineers to create software solutions that meet the needs of our clients. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with modern tools and technologies, and you will be encouraged to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. You will be part of a dynamic and collaborative team that is committed to delivering high-quality software solutions to our clients. If you are a self-motivated, creative, and detail-oriented software engineer who is passionate about developing innovative software solutions, we would love to hear from you. #LI-DS1 #Mid-Senior Level

Essential Job Responsibilities
  • Must have a strong working knowledge and experience developing Java based software capabilities.
  • Should have an inquisitive nature, responsiveness, and excellent testing skills.
  • Must also possess strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to work under pressure with multiple deadlines.
  • Keep up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies in software development.
  • Experience with Next-Gen Coding Agents: Proven track record of integrating advanced AI agents, specifically Claude Code or Google's Antigravity / Gemini agentic workflows, into your daily software engineering routine.
  • Agentic Feature & Test Development: Experience using autonomous agents to handle multi-file feature implementations, complex codebase refactoring, and the automated generation of robust unit/integration tests.
  • Context & Workflow Management: Ability to guide AI agents through complex, multi-repository application architectures, managing context efficiently and critically auditing agent-generated code for security, performance, and architectural alignment.
  • Will work in a fast-paced, small business environment with our talented team.
  • Additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Clearance Requirement - Must obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance, but not required on day one; U.S. Citizenship required.
  • 5+ years of experience Software Engineering, Modern Java Frameworks and Libraries (e.g. Spring, Guava)
  • Bachelors in related field; OR 3 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; OR High School Diploma or equivalent and 9 years relevant experience.
  • Experience in designing enterprise APIs.
  • Experience in RESTful web services.
  • Experience in Microservices architecture.
  • Experience in Object Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigms.
  • Experience with the agile software lifecycle.
  • Has a proven ability to learn quickly and works well both independently as well as in a team setting.
  • Experience with the Linux operating system.
  • Experience with configuration management tools (e.g. Git, Nexus, Maven).
  • Must be able to work in a hybrid environment, spending an average of 1-2 days per week at our Columbia, MD office.
  • Flexibility is essential to adapt to schedule changes as needed.
Preferred Requirements
  • Next-Gen Coding Agents: Proven use of AI tools (Claude Code, Gemini) in daily engineering workflows.
  • Agentic Feature Delivery: Using autonomous agents for multi-file implementation, refactoring, and automated testing.
  • Experience in cloud based technologies (AWS, Azure)
  • Experience in distributed databases, NoSQL databases, full text-search engines (e.g. Elasticsearch, MongoDB, Solr)
  • Scripting experience is a huge plus.
  • Prior experience or familiarity with Data Lakes or Warehouses is a huge plus.
  • Understanding of AGILE software development methodologies and use of standard software development tool suites. (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Github Enterprise, etc.)
  • We have many more additional great benefits/perks that you can find on our website at www.eitccorp.com [eitccorp.com].
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