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Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer Jobs in Washington, DC

Software Engineer 1

Linthicum, MD · On-site

$65 - $90/hr

... novel algorithm development, manipulation of extremely large data sets, real-time systems, and ... software trade offs, software reuse, use of Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS)/Government Off-the ...

Software Engineer III

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$63.25 - $84.75/hr

... algorithm development, and real-time systems in accordance with documented requirements. Capable of ... trade-offs, software reuse, and synthesizing requirements analysis from the system level down to ...

... novel algorithm development, manipulation of extremely large data sets, real-time systems, and ... software trade-offs, software reuse, use of Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS)/Government Off-the ...

Showing results 41-60

Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$45.9K

$91.4K

$126.9K

How much do freelance algorithmic trading programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance algorithmic trading programmer in Washington, DC is $91,360.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,000.00 and $104,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance algorithmic trading programmer?

A Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer is a professional who designs, develops, and implements trading algorithms for financial markets on a contract or project basis. They use programming languages like Python, C++, or Java to create automated systems that can execute trades based on predefined strategies without human intervention. These programmers often collaborate with traders, investment firms, or hedge funds to build, backtest, and optimize trading algorithms that aim to maximize profits and minimize risks. Working independently, they may also advise clients on best practices, maintain trading infrastructure, and ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations.

What are some typical challenges freelance algorithmic trading programmers face when working with clients?

Freelance algorithmic trading programmers often encounter challenges such as aligning with clients' diverse strategies, accommodating rapid changes in trading requirements, and ensuring robust backtesting for different market conditions. Effective communication is key, as clients may have varying levels of technical understanding and expectations regarding performance and risk management. Additionally, freelancers must stay updated on compliance standards and platform-specific APIs, which can differ significantly between projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance algorithmic trading programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer, you need strong programming skills (often in Python, C++, or Java), a solid understanding of financial markets, and experience with quantitative analysis. Familiarity with trading platforms (like MetaTrader, NinjaTrader, or Interactive Brokers API), backtesting frameworks, and relevant certifications such as CFA or CQF can be highly valuable. Outstanding problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication with clients set top performers apart. These skills are crucial for building reliable, profitable trading algorithms and translating complex financial requirements into robust, real-world solutions.

What is the difference between Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer vs Quantitative Analyst?

AspectFreelance Algorithmic Trading ProgrammerQuantitative Analyst
CredentialsProgramming skills, trading platform knowledge, sometimes certifications like CQFAdvanced degrees in finance, mathematics, or statistics, certifications like CFA or FRM
Work EnvironmentIndependent, remote, project-basedIn-house or consulting, often office-based
Industry UsageDevelops trading algorithms for clients or personal tradingAnalyzes financial data to inform trading strategies and risk management

While both roles involve quantitative skills and financial markets, Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmers focus on coding and developing trading algorithms independently, whereas Quantitative Analysts analyze data to support trading decisions within organizations.

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer jobs in Washington, DC?

For Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Infographic showing various Freelance Algorithmic Trading Programmer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,360 per year, or $43.9 per hour.

A/AI Research Engineer Stf - E4

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Bethesda, MD • On-site, Remote

$150K - $280K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Lockheed Martin rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 397 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Standard Job Description Focuses on research & development of technologies that enable and advance semi and fully autonomous systems for both defense and commercial customers. Serves as the algorithm expert with up-to-date knowledge on modern AI research and may be involved in the inception of ideas and drive the development cycles from research to test of prototypes for a major project or component of a major project.Researches and discovers improvements to machine learning and robotic algorithms; Drives advancements in techniques used in signal processing, computer vision (CV), and control systems; Develops AI algorithms for mission systems; Applies latest research on AI algorithms and trains machine learning / deep learning models to solve a variety of problems; Investigates and applies the latest machine learning and deep learning techniques; Optimizes the performance of AI algorithms, applications, and platforms; Develops and documents algorithm and implementation requirements; Develops prototypes that will enable autonomous functionality in LM products and platforms; Interfaces with other teams involved the development lifecycle for perception, mission and motion planning, simulation and modeling, testing, etc. The Astris AI Sales Engineer serves as the technical backbone of our AI Factory go-to-market motion

This role owns the demo environments, proof-of-concept architectures, and technical narrative that show prospective enterprise customers what AI Factory platform - can do. It combines hands-on AI/ML engineering skill with strong presentation ability to support Account Executives across the full commercial sales cycle, from first technical discovery call through proof-of-concept and close. Demo & Technical Asset Development Build and maintain reusable MLOps demo environments on Panel covering the full model lifecycle: experiment tracking, versioning, CI/CD for ML, deployment, and production monitoring Develop industry-specific demo narratives and datasets (predictive maintenance, fraud detection, supply chain forecasting, and similar) that map Panel's capabilities to a prospect's actual workflows Maintain demo infrastructure, including containerized and Kubernetes-based environments, so demos run reliably across customer meetings, trade shows, and remote sessions Build reusable technical assets: reference architectures, ROI calculators, solution briefs, and competitive comparison sheets Customer Engagement Support Partner with Account Executives throughout the commercial sales cycle - qualification through close Lead technical discovery sessions to understand a prospect's existing infrastructure, data environment, team structure, and integration constraints Deliver customized demonstrations and technical presentations to audiences ranging from data scientists and ML engineers to CTO/CIO-level executives Respond to RFIs/RFPs with accurate technical content and MLOps-specific competitive positioning Build trusted-advisor relationships with customer technical stakeholders and support technical handoffs to Customer Success Engineers and Solution Architects once a deal closes Technical Enablement & Collaboration Maintain deep expertise in Panel and general MLOps best practices (model versioning, experiment tracking, CI/CD for ML, monitoring, governance) Stay current on the broader MLOps and Kubernetes ecosystem (Kubeflow, MLflow, KServe, Ray, Argo, and similar) to keep demos and competitive positioning sharp Collaborate with Product and Engineering to feed customer feedback and market signal into the Panel roadmap Support partner-channel enablement (ISVs, SIs, cloud partners) with MLOps-focused technical training and co-selling assets Basic Qualifications 5-9 years in Sales Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Pre-Sales Technical Consulting, or a hands-on ML engineering / MLOps role Working proficiency in Python and at least one ML framework (PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, or similar) Demonstrated ability to build and maintain demo or POC environments end-to-end Desired Skills Hands-on experience with MLOps platforms such as Astris AI Factory, MLflow, Kubeflow, Weights & Biases, or similar tools Working knowledge of generative AI / LLM concepts (RAG, agent frameworks) Experience selling into manufacturing, supply chain, financial services, or technology verticals Practical experience with Kubernetes (deploying, debugging, or operating workloads) and containerization Pay Information GeoZone Definition: GeoZones are geographic groupings created by Lockheed Martin to align compensation ranges with regional labor markets and cost-of-labor differences across the United States.

Locations are assigned a Geo Zone based on the primary work location of the role. Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 1): $150800.00 - $280000.00 Includes metropolitan areas such as Sunnyvale CA; Pal Alto, CA; New York City metropolitan area; Newark, New Jersey; etc. Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 2): $135700.00 - $251900.00 Includes metropolitan areas such as Denver, CO; King of Prussia, PA; Stratford, CT; Moorestown, NJ; etc

Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 3): $120600.00 - $224000.00 Includes metropolitan areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Orlando, FL; Grand Prairie, TX; Marietta, GA; etc. Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 4): $108600.00 - $201600.00 Includes metropolitan areas such as Camden, AR; Lexington, KY; Ocala, FL; Lufkin, TX; etc. At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people

Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow-both professionally and personally. The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only.

Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer. Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability. Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position

Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics. For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays

PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.


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About Lockheed Martin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

As a global security and aerospace company, the majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies.The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin's business is comprised of international government and commercial sales of products, services and platforms.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bethesda, MD, US

Year founded

1912