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Founding Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

GRVTY

Software Developer (SME)

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

... founding in 2013. We've grown on this effort by providing the customer with Engineers who have done ... What You'll be Owning GRVTY is seeking a Software Developer (SME) with a TS/SCI + Poly clearance ...

GRVTY

Software Developer (SME)

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

... founding in 2013. We've grown on this effort by providing the customer with Engineers who have done ... What You'll be Owning GRVTY is seeking a Software Developer (SME) with a TS/SCI + Poly clearance ...

Neuroscale AI

Forward Deployed Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

... software. This is not a maintenance role. This is a hands-on, high-ownership opportunity for someone who has operated at a full-stack engineer, architect, or founding/lead engineer level and knows ...

KOJU Tech Solutions

Senior C# Developer

Reston, VA

$56.75 - $75/hr

Since our founding in 2009, we provide results that adhere to industry standards as well as ... O.L.I.D. principles of software development * Familiarity and working experience in Agile ...

KTS

Senior C# Developer

Reston, VA · On-site

$56.75 - $75/hr

Since our founding in 2009, we provide results that adhere to industry standards as well as ... O.L.I.D. principles of software development * Familiarity and working experience in Agile ...

BTree Solutions, Inc.

AZURE DEVOPS ENGINEER

Vienna, VA · On-site

$53 - $72.50/hr

You will be a founding individual contributor supporting client DevEx initiative. Our mission is to ... Solid knowledge of software delivery metrics (DORA, SPACE) and improvement methods. * Advanced ...

Uzurv

Test Automation Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$105K - $115K/yr

Since our founding in Richmond, VA, in 2017, we have grown into a leading national assisted ... Partner with software engineers, product owners, and DevOps teams throughout the software ...

UZURV

Test Automation Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$45.75 - $60.25/hr

Since our founding in Richmond, VA, in 2017, we have grown into a leading national assisted ... Partner with software engineers, product owners, and DevOps teams throughout the software ...

Uzurv

Test Automation Engineer

Richmond, VA

$45.75 - $60.25/hr

Since our founding in Richmond, VA, in 2017, we have grown into a leading national assisted ... Partner with software engineers, product owners, and DevOps teams throughout the software ...

UNISSANT

SeniorPalantir Data Engineer

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$117K - $141K/yr

This founding role has significant influence over technical standards and hiring as the practice ... Partner with Foundry Developers and Solution Architects on ontology and pipeline alignment.

JTEC Consulting

Full Stack Developer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

Our founding members have decades of experience delivering a wide range of solutions to Air Force ... the software solution (front end, back end, database). * Work closely with Chief Engineer and ...

JTEC Consulting LLC

Full Stack Developer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

Our founding members have decades of experience delivering a wide range of solutions to Air Force ... the software solution (front end, back end, database). * Work closely with Chief Engineer and ...

Digital Consultants LLC

Systems Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

Our founding principles, Fairness, and Common Sense make working here more than a job, it's the ... Experience with automation software Preferred Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in computer ...

Digital Consultants, LLC

Systems Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

Our founding principles, Fairness, and Common Sense make working here more than a job, it's the ... Experience with automation software Preferred Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in computer ...

Digital Consultants LLC

Systems Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

Our founding principles, Fairness, and Common Sense make working here more than a job, it's the ... Experience with automation software Preferred Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in computer ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsFounding Software Engineer JobsFounding Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Founding Software Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$63K

$146.3K

$203.7K

How much do founding software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding software engineer in Virginia is $146,258.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,000.00 and $171,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founding software engineer?

Founding Software Engineers are among the first technical hires at a startup or newly formed company. They play a critical role in building the initial product, setting up the technical foundation, and often shaping the company's engineering culture and processes. In addition to coding, they may also be involved in architecture decisions, hiring, and even strategic business discussions. This role typically requires broad technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding software engineer?

To thrive as a Founding Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, full-stack development, and problem-solving, often demonstrated by a strong technical background and relevant degrees. Familiarity with cloud platforms, version control systems (like Git), and modern programming languages or frameworks is essential, along with startup exposure or experience. Initiative, adaptability, and outstanding communication are crucial soft skills for shaping the product vision and collaborating in a small, fast-moving team. These capabilities are vital for efficiently building robust products from scratch and driving early-stage company growth.

What are some unique challenges faced by founding software engineers in an early-stage startup environment?

Founding Software Engineers in early-stage startups often navigate rapidly shifting priorities and must wear multiple hats, from architecting core systems to handling on-call troubleshooting. The role typically requires balancing the need for quick feature delivery with building scalable, maintainable code. Close collaboration with co-founders and other early team members is essential, as decisions made at this stage have a lasting impact on the product and company culture. Adaptability, strong communication, and ownership are key, as resource constraints and ambiguity are common.

What is the difference between Founding Software Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectFounding Software EngineerSoftware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; startup experience often preferredBachelor's degree in CS or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentEarly-stage startup, high responsibility, flexible rolesEstablished companies or startups, structured teams, defined roles
Employer & Industry UsageFounding teams of startups, tech companiesTech firms, corporations, startups
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding startup roles, early-stage responsibilitiesStandard software development roles, career progression

The main difference is that a Founding Software Engineer is an early team member in a startup, often taking on broader responsibilities and helping shape the company's technical foundation. A Software Engineer typically works within established teams on specific projects, with more defined roles and responsibilities.

How much do founding software engineers make?

Founding software engineers often receive higher compensation than standard engineers, including equity or stock options, as they help establish the company's technology. Salaries typically range from $100,000 to $200,000 or more, depending on the company's size, funding stage, and location, with early-stage startups sometimes offering lower salaries but greater equity potential.

What does a founding software engineer do?

A founding software engineer is a key early team member responsible for designing, developing, and implementing the core software products of a startup or new project. They often work closely with founders to establish technical architecture, write code, and set development standards, typically using programming languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

What are popular job titles related to Founding Software Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Founding Software Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Founding Software Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Founding Software Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

Founding Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Software Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,258 per year, or $70.3 per hour.

Android Platform Engineer with Security Clearance

Elite Government Strategy

Sterling, VA • On-site

Other

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Senior Android Platform Engineer Sterling, VA Full-Time U.S. Citizenship Required About the Role We are building a hardened, custom Android platform for deployment across managed device fleets. We are hiring engineers who can own this domain end to end: custom OS builds, OTA delivery, kernel maintenance, device security, and fleet management infrastructure. This is a founding platform engineering role. You will define the architecture, set the standards, and lead as we scale. You will work alongside a growing engineering organization focused on clients ore product lines. What You'll Do • Maintain and extend a custom AOSP-derived platform build, including device trees, vendor partitions, HAL customizations, and system image signing • Design and operate reproducible build pipelines with CI/CD automation and secure release key management • Build an end-to-end OTA update system engineered for reliability in degraded environments - including phased rollout, rollback, and fault-tolerant installation • Build, patch, and maintain custom Linux kernel images for the target platform, including kernel module development and upstream security patch integration • Own the secure boot chain: AVB key infrastructure, bootloader security, SELinux policy authoring, and code signing with proper key lifecycle management • Implement encryption, remote wipe, tamper detection, and rollback protection appropriate for high-assurance environments • Evaluate and integrate cryptographic modules aligned with U.S. government cybersecurity frameworks and standards • Architect device management strategy - enrollment, provisioning, policy enforcement, health monitoring, and compliance reporting across the fleet Required Qualifications • 7+ years software engineering experience, with 4+ years focused on Android platform and system-level development (not application development) • Experience building, modifying, and flashing custom Android system images from AOSP or comparable open-source base • Hands-on experience with Android Verified Boot, bootloader security, and the secure boot chain • Linux kernel development: building from source, module development, devicetree, debugging • Familiarity with Android OTA internals: update_engine, A/B partitioning, payload generation, boot control HAL • Strong security engineering fundamentals: PKI, code signing, chain of trust, FDE/FBE, key management • Proficiency in C/C++, Python, and Shell; working knowledge of Java/Kotlin for framework
level modifications • U.S. citizenship required Preferred Qualifications • Experience with FIPS 140-2/3 cryptographic module integration • Familiarity with U.S. government and regulated environment security frameworks (NIST 800
53 or equivalent) • Experience managing device fleets at scale in operational environments • Experience with Android Enterprise device owner and fully managed device APIs • Contributions to AOSP or open-source Android platform projects • Experience designing update and delivery systems for intermittent or degraded connectivity • HSM-backed signing infrastructure experience

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