ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Founding Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Integral

Systems Engineer III

Tysons Corner, VA

... software, networking, and human-system interfaces. · Integrate Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS) and ... Since our founding in 1998, we have helped clients leverage existing and emerging technologies to ...

Integral

Systems Engineer III

Tysons, VA · On-site

... software, networking, and human-system interfaces. • Integrate Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS ... Since our founding in 1998, we have helped clients leverage existing and emerging technologies to ...

Alpha Omega Integration

Sr .Net Developer

Vienna, VA · Remote

$115K - $150K/yr

Develop documentation throughout the software development life cycle. * Upgrading, configuring and ... Since our founding in 2016, we have grown to over 800 employees nationwide with $230m in revenue.

Alpha Omega Integration LLC

Sr .Net Developer

Vienna, VA · Remote

$115K - $150K/yr

Develop documentation throughout the software development life cycle. * Upgrading, configuring and ... Since our founding in 2016, we have grown to over 800 employees nationwide with $230m in revenue.

Alpha Omega Integration

Sr .Net Developer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$115K - $150K/yr

Develop documentation throughout the software development life cycle. * Upgrading, configuring and ... Since our founding in 2016, we have grown to over 800 employees nationwide with $230m in revenue.

Rosendin

Engineer II

Sterling, VA

Since our founding over 100+ years ago, Rosendin has been driven to positively impact the ... Proficient in Autodesk, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.); illumination software

Rosendin Electric, Inc.

Engineer II

Sterling, VA · On-site

Since our founding over 100+ years ago, Rosendin has been driven to positively impact the ... Proficient in Autodesk, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.); illumination software

VHB

Structural Bridge Engineer

Williamsburg, VA · Hybrid

Proficiency with structural engineering software (AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

VHB

Structural Bridge Engineer

Virginia Beach, VA · Hybrid

Proficiency with structural engineering software (AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

VHB

Structural Bridge Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

Proficiency with structural engineering software (AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

VHB

Structural Bridge Engineer

Richmond, VA · Hybrid

Proficiency with structural engineering software (AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

VHB

Structural Bridge Engineer

Richmond, VA · Hybrid

Proficiency with structural engineering software (AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH ... Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

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 Jun 10, 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 are Founding Software Engineers?

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 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.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Founding Software Engineer, and why are they important?

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 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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, and 89% Full Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, 11% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,258 per year, or $70.3 per hour.
Systems Engineer III

Systems Engineer III

Integral

Tysons Corner, VA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

The Systems Engineer III provides comprehensive Systems Engineering support for the Product Manager Biometrics (PM BIO), under Project Manager Terrestrial Sensors (PM TS), Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE), Layered Protection and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN).


· Lead or contribute to the end-to-end system architecture of biometric collection and processing systems, including hardware, software, networking, and human-system interfaces.

· Integrate Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products and tools into connected or disconnected environments, adhering to stringent security and customer requirements.

· Participate in and lead various technical, requirements, and design reviews throughout the system lifecycle.

· Assess, engineer, and support compliance with DoW cybersecurity policies, directives, and regulations, such as the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and NIST guidelines.

· Ensure configuration control of systems and associated documentation.


Required:

· Bachelor's Degree in a relevant engineering discipline

· Seven (7) years of professional experience in systems engineering

· Experience with software integration or testing, including analyzing and implementing test plans and scripts. Understanding of ANSI/NIST ITL and DoW Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS).

· Familiarity with biometric systems. Knowledge of system-of-systems engineering and integration directorate processes.

· Experience with DevOps practices and tools, including Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD).

· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

· Secret security clearance.


Integral partners with federal defense, intelligence, and civilian leaders to tackle their most important challenges and deliver positive outcomes. Since our founding in 1998, we have helped clients leverage existing and emerging technologies to transform their enterprises, empower growth, drive innovation, and build sustainable success. The forward-leaning solutions we deliver are tailored to each mission with a focus on keeping our nation safe and secure.

Integral is headquartered in McLean, VA and serves clients throughout the country.

We offer a comprehensive total rewards package including paid parental leave and immediate vesting in our 401(k). Give us a try and become part of a curated group of professionals at Integral Federal!

Our package also includes:

· Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

· Flexible Spending Accounts

· Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

· Life Insurance

· Paid Time Off & Holidays

· Earned Bonuses & Awards

· Professional Training Reimbursement

· Employee Assistance Program

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability

Apply