ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Founding Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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 · 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Somatus, Inc.

Machine Learning Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$105K - $115K/yr

Since our founding in 2016, our growth trajectory isn't just a milestone - it's a signal. Our ... Partner with ML engineers, data engineers, software developers, product managers, data analysts ...

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 Jul 14, 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
Senior Full Stack Developer

Senior Full Stack Developer

Open Systems Technologies Corporation

Alexandria, VA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Open Systems Technologies Corporation is a leader in the government contracting marketplace, providing Enterprise Security and Cloud Computing solutions to support large organizations. Our capabilities include supplying federal government entities and private businesses with software development, scientific and engineering technical assistance, systems integration, and enterprise security. Since its founding in 1996, OST has been committed to delivering high-quality, best-in-class results that bring added value to our clients while investing in our employees’ futures by providing exciting projects to work on, and robust benefits to include technical training and certifications, relocation assistance and a 401K match with immediate vesting.

Open Systems Technologies is searching for an experienced Full Stack Software Developer to provide software maintenance and engineering support under the Foundation Sustainment Services contract.

Job Description:

OST has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Software Developer to help enable NGA's Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) mission collecting sciences, technology and tradecraft measuring and modeling the Globe to provide three-dimensional accuracy of every point in, on, or above the Earth.

Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities will involve coding, developing, integrating, and debugging software artifacts; writing validation tests against existing baselines to ensure integrity of the code during Agile development efforts; assisting with unit testing; programming; and developing in Python, Java Spring, or other frameworks.

Core Qualifications:

  • Requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 4+ years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 2+ years of prior relevant experience; OR 6 years of experience in lieu of degree
  • Must possess an active Top Secret Security Clearance with ability to obtain SCI post-hire
  • Proficient in software development projects or software integration projects in a service-oriented environment (Cloud, SOA, Web-Services).
  • Experience with GNU based compilers
  • Experience programming in C++, Java, Typescript, and Bash
  • Experience developing in the following frameworks: Spring/Gradle/OpenJDK, React/Node
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience with relational and non-relational database systems such as Amazon RDS, Postgres
  • Strong experience coding in Python
  • Experience using GitLab for version control, CI/CD pipelines, and resource management
  • Experience using Docker to package and run applications
  • Experience with Web-related protocols and technologies, such as web servers, HTTP, SSL
  • Familiar with AWS/Cloud technologies
  • Strong communication skills both verbal and written.
  • Team Collaboration tools (Jira, Confluence)


    Preferred Qualifications:

  • Previous experience supporting the NGA customer.
  • Proficient in AWS/Cloud technologies
Ability to work in a high-paced environment, multi-task (prioritize and manage), and work both independently and as a team.

BENEFITS

OST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and has been operating since 1996 providing support on various contracts with Government agencies. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 3 weeks paid time off, 11 Federal Holidays, medical/dental coverage, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, AD&D, 401k with up to 4% match, and end-of-year profit sharing.

Apply