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Government Software Engineering Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

AURA

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Support compliance with applicable government award terms and conditions as defined in ...

NOAO

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Support compliance with applicable government award terms and conditions as defined in ...

Rubin Obs

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155.67 - $189.56/hr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Support compliance with applicable government award terms and conditions as defined in ...

Boeing

Lead Software Engineer, Phantom Works

Mesa, AZ · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

Lead the software engineering team's agile delivery: facilitate sprint planning, daily stand-ups ... S. Security Clearance for which the US Government requires US Citizenship. (A U.S. Security ...

Boeing

Lead Software Engineer, Phantom Works

Mesa, AZ · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

Lead the software engineering team's agile delivery: facilitate sprint planning, daily stand-ups ... S. Security Clearance for which the US Government requires US Citizenship. (A U.S. Security ...

Raytheon Technologies

Software Engineer II

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is ... At Raytheon's Software Engineering Directorate (SWE) Effectors Center (EC), we deliver innovative ...

Raytheon

Software Engineer II

Tucson, AZ

$92K - $126K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is ... At Raytheon's Software Engineering Directorate (SWE) Effectors Center (EC), we deliver innovative ...

Raytheon

Software Engineer II

Phoenix, AZ

$96K - $132K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is ... At Raytheon's Software Engineering Directorate (SWE) Effectors Center (EC), we deliver innovative ...

Raytheon

Software Engineer II

Tucson, AZ

$92K - $126K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is ... At Raytheon's Software Engineering Directorate (SWE) Effectors Center (EC), we deliver innovative ...

Raytheon

Principal Real-time Software Engineer

Phoenix, AZ

$134K - $179K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is ... As part of the Software Engineering Directorate's (SWE) Effectors Center (EC) team, you will be an ...

Raytheon

Principal Real-time Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ

$127K - $171K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is ... As part of the Software Engineering Directorate's (SWE) Effectors Center (EC) team, you will be an ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsGovernment Software Engineering JobsGovernment Software Engineering Jobs in Arizona

Government Software Engineering information

See Arizona salary details

$59.2K

$137.5K

$191.5K

How much do government software engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for government software engineering in Arizona is $137,475.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,800.00 and $161,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are government jobs in software engineering?

Government software engineering jobs involve working at the local, state, or federal levels to provide assistance to an area or government agency. In this role, you may set up a network or system, develop customized software, or use testing techniques to see whether or not existing software and hardware are performing as expected. Some government software engineering jobs are directly with the government, while contractors who specialize in specific areas fill other roles. Many government software engineering jobs are geographically centralized. In other words, the more government offices there are in an area, the more software engineering jobs you can expect to find.

What are some unique challenges faced by software engineers working in government agencies?

Software engineers in government agencies often work within strict regulatory and security frameworks, which can mean longer approval cycles and more documentation compared to private sector roles. Collaboration across multiple departments is common, as systems must integrate with legacy infrastructure and comply with public sector standards. While these constraints can be challenging, they also offer opportunities to contribute to projects that have a significant impact on public services and society. Engineers typically work in multidisciplinary teams and gain exposure to large-scale, mission-critical applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a government software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Government Software Engineer, you typically need a solid background in computer science, proficiency in programming languages like Java or Python, and a relevant degree or security clearance. Familiarity with government-specific systems, secure coding practices, and tools such as Git, CI/CD pipelines, and project management software is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and attention to detail help you navigate complex regulations and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are vital for building secure, reliable software solutions that support government operations and protect sensitive data.

What is government software engineering?

Government software engineering involves designing, developing, and maintaining software systems for government agencies and public sector organizations. These professionals work on projects that support public services, such as healthcare, transportation, security, and administration. Their work often requires adherence to strict security and privacy standards, as well as compliance with government regulations. Government software engineers may collaborate with other IT professionals and stakeholders to create reliable, efficient, and user-friendly solutions that serve citizens and government employees. This field offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on society through technology.
More about Government Software Engineering jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona?

The most popular types of Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona are:

What are popular job titles related to Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona?

For Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona look for?

The top searched job categories for Government Software Engineering jobs in Arizona are:

What cities in Arizona are hiring for Government Software Engineering jobs?

Cities in Arizona with the most Government Software Engineering job openings:

Government Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Government Software Engineering job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,475 per year, or $66.1 per hour.

Principal Software Architect

AURA

Tucson, AZ • On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

NOIRLab is seeking a visionary Principal Software Architect to lead the architectural strategy and technical evolution of software systems that power world-class astronomical research, observatory operations, and scientific data management.
In this highly influential leadership role, you will define the technology roadmap for a diverse portfolio of scientific and operational platforms spanning cloud computing, distributed systems, high-performance computing (HPC), data-intensive applications, and AI-enabled technologies. You will drive modernization efforts that advance scientific discovery, improve engineering productivity, and ensure the reliability and scalability of mission-critical systems supporting some of the world's most advanced astronomical facilities.
Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you will provide hands-on technical leadership, translate complex scientific requirements into innovative software solutions, and establish architectural standards that enable long-term sustainability and growth.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of scientific software and enable transformational discoveries through technology.
Essential Functions
Architectural Leadership & Technology Strategy
  • Define and execute the architectural vision, technology roadmap, and long-term strategy for NOIRLab's scientific and operational software ecosystem.
  • Establish enterprise-scale architecture principles, engineering standards, governance processes, and best practices.
  • Lead architectural reviews and guide critical technology decisions across software, data, infrastructure, and operational domains.
  • Partner with scientific and engineering stakeholders to translate complex requirements into scalable, secure, and resilient solutions.
  • Identify and address architectural risks, technical debt, and modernization opportunities across the software portfolio.
  • Champion modernization initiatives that improve system scalability, reliability, maintainability, and operational efficiency while supporting uninterrupted scientific operations.

System Design & Engineering Excellence
  • Architect and evolve cloud-native, containerized, distributed, and HPC-based platforms supporting observatory operations, scientific data pipelines, user services, and large-scale data processing systems.
  • Design solutions capable of managing petabyte-scale datasets and computationally intensive scientific workloads.
  • Develop reference architectures, prototypes, and technical frameworks that accelerate solution delivery and consistency across teams.
  • Drive adoption of DevSecOps practices, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, observability, and site reliability engineering principles.
  • Participate in architecture reviews, design reviews, code reviews, and implementation of critical software components.

Innovation & Technical Enablement
  • Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), generative AI, and large language model (LLM) solutions, where they deliver measurable scientific, engineering, or operational value.
  • Serve as a trusted technical mentor and thought leader across engineering teams.
  • Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and architectural consistency across science, software, data, and operations organizations.
  • Help advance software engineering practices that support innovation, quality, and long-term sustainability.

Additional Responsibilities
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  • Ensure compliance with AURA property management requirements and organizational policies.
  • Support compliance with applicable government award terms and conditions as defined in organizational award management systems.

Requirements
Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
  • 15+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including experience as a Software Architect, Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, or similar technical leadership role.
  • Demonstrated success designing, delivering, and evolving large-scale distributed and data-intensive software systems.

Technical Expertise
  • Deep expertise in software architecture, system design, API design, scalability, resilience, reliability, and distributed systems.
  • Experience designing and operating cloud-native, containerized, microservices-based applications and platforms.
  • Strong background in multiple programming languages and modern software development methodologies.
  • Experience building and managing platforms that process and store petabyte-scale data.
  • Experience with scientific computing, high-performance computing (HPC), distributed computing, or large-scale computational environments.
  • Experience designing data pipelines, workflow orchestration systems, and data-intensive platforms.
  • Knowledge of event-driven architectures, messaging systems, and asynchronous processing patterns.
  • Experience with DevSecOps, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, monitoring, observability, and software delivery automation.
  • Understanding of secure software development practices, including authentication, authorization, and data protection.
  • Experience evaluating, integrating, or leveraging AI/ML, generative AI, or LLM-powered capabilities within software platforms or engineering workflows.

Leadership Skills
  • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across scientific, engineering, and operational organizations.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction, mentor engineers, and lead through architectural expertise rather than direct authority.
  • Proven hands-on leadership experience through architecture design, prototyping, technical guidance, and code reviews.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience developing software for scientific, research, or data-intensive environments.
  • Experience supporting scientific instrumentation, observatory operations, or large-scale scientific data pipelines.
  • Experience contributing to or leading open-source software projects.
  • Experience working in astronomy, astrophysics, earth sciences, national laboratories, research institutions, or other mission-driven scientific organizations.

Work Environment
This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and copiers. The work environment is generally quiet and may involve working in close proximity to others, depending on the needs of the specific function
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
  • Occasional need to move about inside the office environment to access files, office tools, attendance in a meeting room, etc.
  • Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity tools that require fine motor skills, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
  • May occasionally need to position self to maintain computer and related tools.
  • Seldomly needed to move objects up to 10 pounds.
  • Constant communication with other individuals. Must be able to discern and exchange information as appropriate to the situation.
  • Constant need to distinguish, discern, and identify a variety of objects and fine details with accuracy.
  • Occasional work at high elevation summit sites may be required (summit elevations range from 6,800 feet to 14,000 feet)

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required by personnel so classified. This Institute promotes Equal Employment Opportunity workplace that includes reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified, disabled applicants and employees.
Salary Range: $155,673 - $189,559 per year. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications and experience.
AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at Benefits by Location - Aura Human Resources
This position will remain open until it is filled. Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: LastName DocName.
Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can request assistance here.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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