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Freelance Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Walter

React/Node Developer

$52.50 - $67.75/hr

Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, marketing experts, product managers, and project managers in the world. We offer freelance ...

Mindrift

Freelance Data Scraping Engineer (Python)

$37/hr

At least 3 year of relevant experience in data engineering, web scraping, automation, or software ... Benefits Why this freelance opportunity might be a great fit for you? * Work fully remote on your ...

Step

Senior Backend Software Engineer

$125K - $165K/yr

About Step We stand for the side hustlers, the creators, the freelancers, and the investors. We are ... The role Step is looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer. What you'll do * Own features ...

Step

Senior Mobile Software Engineer

$136K - $170K/yr

About Step We stand for the side hustlers, the creators, the freelancers, and the investors. We are ... The Role Step is looking for an experienced Senior Mobile Software Engineer. As part of the team ...

SysMind Tech

Java Developer

Cary, NC · On-site

$48.50 - $62.75/hr

A * Can we use Freelancer? : No * Named Job Posting? (if Yes - needs to be approved by SCSC) : No * Remote work possibility : (No Value) * Global Role Family : 6504 Developer / Software Engineer

SysMind Tech

Sr Java Developer - PA

Westerville, OH · On-site

$55.25 - $70.50/hr

D * Can we use Freelancer? : No * Named Job Posting? (if Yes - needs to be approved by SCSC) : No * Remote work possibility : (No Value) * Global Role Family : 6504 Developer / Software Engineer

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How much do freelance software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance software engineer in the United States is $104,863.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Freelance Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, proficiency in relevant languages (such as Python, JavaScript, or Java), and a good understanding of software development methodologies. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, cloud platforms, and project management tools is highly beneficial, along with a portfolio or certifications to demonstrate expertise. Excellent communication, time management, and self-motivation are critical soft skills for managing client relationships and project deadlines independently. These competencies are essential for delivering high-quality work, maintaining client trust, and sustaining a successful freelance business.

What Does a Freelance Software Engineer Do?

Freelance software engineers design and develop applications for clients on a short- or long-term contract basis. In this role, your job duties may include coordinating with systems analysts and programmers to determine the scope of the project, developing new or modifying existing software according to your client's needs and expectations, and analyzing computer specifications and layouts to build a better system. You also troubleshoot and update the application when necessary. Freelance software engineers may work remotely from home or they may occasionally travel to their client’s office to perform job duties. You may work primarily with one client at a time, or you may choose to contract with many different clients.

How do freelance software engineers typically manage client communication and project expectations?

Freelance software engineers usually handle client communication directly, which means clear and regular updates are crucial for building trust and ensuring project success. Setting expectations early—such as deliverables, timelines, and feedback processes—helps prevent misunderstandings and scope creep. Many freelancers use project management tools, structured status reports, and scheduled check-ins to keep projects on track. Balancing multiple clients can be challenging, so effective time management and proactive communication are key to maintaining client satisfaction and repeat business.

What is a freelance software engineer?

A freelance software engineer is an independent professional who offers software development services to clients on a contract or project basis, rather than being a full-time employee at a company. They may work on a variety of projects, such as building websites, creating apps, or developing custom software solutions. Freelance software engineers typically manage their own schedules, seek out clients, and are responsible for handling business operations like billing and taxes. This flexible career path allows them to work with different clients and industries, often remotely or from any location.
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Freelance Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 72% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,863 per year, or $50.4 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$87K - $137K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication and is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation. Through a unified and fluid organization, Publicis Groupe partners with its clients across communication, media, data and technology to ensure access to the full breadth of capabilities in every market. Present in over 100 countries, Publicis Groupe employs around 103,000 professionals.
Overview
As a Staff Software Engineer, GenAI & Applied Innovation, you will be the senior hands-on engineer in a cross-functional Alpha Labs team. Your mandate: turn cutting-edge generative-AI research and data-science insights into live demonstrations that differentiates Publicis in competitive pitches and large-scale client engagements. You will architect and build cloud-native services, GenAI-powered prototypes and intelligent APIs, then collaborate with data scientists, audience strategists, creatives and media technologists to embed those solutions across the connected consumer journey.
Responsibilities
1. Core Engineering & GenAI
  • Design, build and own backend services, microservices and cloud functions (AWS, Azure, Databricks) that power GenAI and data science workflows.
  • Integrate and experiment with GenAI APIs (OpenAI, Claude, proprietary LLMs) and agent/tool frameworks; implement retrieval augmented generation and vector database pipelines where useful.
  • Develop occasional cross platform front ends (React, Next.js, Flutter) to showcase prototypes and MVPs.

2. Product & Innovation
  • Rapid prototype novel audience intelligence or ad tech concepts for new business pitches; evolve proofs of concept into scalable products.
  • Collaborate with data scientists to operationalize predictive segmentation, targeting and measurement models.
  • Embed observability, monitoring and automated CI/CD so experiments can harden into production quickly.

3. Enablement & Leadership
  • Act as the technical lead within the squad: set coding standards, review PRs and mentor engineers.
  • Translate complex AI/ML ideas into clear narratives for creative, media and C suite audiences.
  • Contribute to hackathons, design thinking sprints and CoreAI product road mapping initiatives

Qualifications
  • 6+ years professional software-engineering experience (or 4+ years with a relevant advanced degree).
  • Expert-level Python plus proficiency in at least one additional modern language (TypeScript/JavaScript, Java, Go, Dart, etc.).
  • Hands-on experience calling or fine-tuning GenAI/LLM APIs (e.g., GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini) and integrating them into user-facing or service-layer applications.
  • Working knowledge of front-end or mobile frameworks (React, Next.js, Flutter, etc.).
  • Prior work with AI-agent orchestration, vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, PGVector) or LangChain/LlamaIndex.
  • Experience deploying models or apps in Databricks and using MLflow or similar MLOps tooling.
  • Familiarity with marketing-tech or ad-tech domains, including identity graphs, segmentation and measurement.
  • Thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments; balances strategic vision with hands-on execution.

Additional Information
Our Publicis Groupe motto "Viva La Différence" means we're better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.
Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.
If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.
Compensation Range: $87,210 - $137,195 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 10/20/2025.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Veterans Encouraged to Apply.
#LI-MB5
Compensation Range: USD $87,210.00 - USD $137,195.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 8/31/2025.

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