1

Graduate Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Staff AI Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$161K - $249K/yr

Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating ... Strong proficiency in Python and software engineering fundamentals with a focus on quality, testing ...

Staff AI Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$161K - $249K/yr

Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating ... Strong proficiency in Python and software engineering fundamentals with a focus on quality, testing ...

Senior AI Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$161K - $249K/yr

Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating ... Proficiency in Python and strong software engineering fundamentals, including system design and CI ...

Senior AI Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$161K - $249K/yr

Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating ... Proficiency in Python and strong software engineering fundamentals, including system design and CI ...

... Work alongside graduate and undergraduate researchers on hardware/software integration ... Programming experience in Python and C/C++ * Experience with embedded systems and microcontrollers

Senior Bridge Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$101K - $139K/yr

Mentor junior bridge designers and new graduate engineers, including training to use software, how to perform design tasks, and plan production. Assign work tasks to junior bridge designers and ...

College Graduate - 2 years experience RoviSys offers a broad opportunity to grow your career with ... Design and implement industry software applications to aggregate manufacturing systems information ...

College Graduate - 2 years experience RoviSys offers a broad opportunity to grow your career with ... Design and implement industry software applications to aggregate manufacturing systems information ...

This is a full-time opportunity designed for a recent graduate or early-career professional who is ... Utilize CAD software to prepare detailed engineering drawings and plans for roadway projects ...

Fire Protection Engineer EIT

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$80K - $108K/yr

Proficient in discipline specific design software Required Experience * Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from an ABET accredited university or a post-graduate degree in Fire ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Graduate Software Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$61.7K

$143.4K

$199.8K

How much do graduate software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate software engineer in Raleigh, NC is $143,397.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,600.00 and $168,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Graduate Software Engineer job?

A Graduate Software Engineer is an entry-level role for individuals who have recently completed a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. They typically work as part of a development team, assisting in coding, testing, debugging, and maintaining software applications. This role provides hands-on experience with software development methodologies, programming languages, and industry tools. Graduate Software Engineers often receive mentorship and training to build their technical skills and industry knowledge. The job serves as a foundation for career growth in software development and engineering roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Graduate Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Software Engineer, you need a solid grasp of programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems like Git, and common frameworks or libraries is highly valued. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and a willingness to learn are standout soft skills in this position. These skills are crucial for developing high-quality software, adapting to evolving technologies, and collaborating efficiently within dynamic engineering teams.

What does a typical day look like for a Graduate Software Engineer?

As a Graduate Software Engineer, your day often includes writing and reviewing code, participating in daily stand-up meetings, collaborating with other developers and cross-functional teams, and troubleshooting issues within the software. You may also be involved in testing, debugging, and learning new technologies, as well as working on ongoing projects under the mentorship of senior engineers. The role offers a mix of individual tasks and teamwork, allowing you to develop both technical skills and professional relationships. This collaborative environment provides an excellent foundation for growth and learning within the software industry.

What are popular job titles related to Graduate Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Graduate Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Graduate Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Graduate Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Graduate Software Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,397 per year, or $68.9 per hour.
Staff AI Engineer

$161K - $249K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Western Governors University rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

67th of 560 rated colleges and universities


Job description

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Technical 412 Pay Range: $161,000.00 - $249,500.00

Job Description

As a Staff AI Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader and force multiplier within the AI Engineering Enablement team. You will define how AI systems are architected, deployed, and scaled across the organization. Operating at the intersection of deep technical expertise and organizational leadership, you will shape platform strategy, influence roadmaps, and elevate engineering capabilities across multiple teams.
What You'll Do
  • Define and own AI engineering architecture standards, design patterns, and platform conventions for LLM-based systems
  • Lead complex, cross-functional AI initiatives from inception through delivery, aligning engineering, product, data science, and research stakeholders
  • Drive build-vs-buy and vendor evaluation decisions for AI frameworks, models, and infrastructure
  • Design and scale internal AI platforms including shared tooling, reusable components, prompt libraries, and evaluation infrastructure
  • Establish and mature LLMOps practices including governance, cost management, observability, and safe deployment standards
  • Lead AI safety initiatives including red-teaming, adversarial testing, and responsible AI policy development
  • Mentor and develop Senior and II-level engineers through coaching, design reviews, and technical leadership
What You'll Bring
  • Expert-level, production-proven experience across the AI engineering stack including LLM APIs, agentic systems, RAG pipelines, evaluation frameworks, and LLMOps
  • Demonstrated ability to define and drive architectural patterns and engineering standards at team or organizational scale
  • Deep expertise in agentic system design including multi-agent architectures, state management, and reliability engineering for non-deterministic systems
  • Strong platform engineering experience designing shared infrastructure, reusable tooling, and developer-facing systems
  • Advanced knowledge of LLM fine-tuning, alignment techniques, and evaluation methodologies including safety and bias assessment
  • Experience leading vendor evaluations and technical due diligence for AI frameworks and infrastructure
  • Strong proficiency in Python and software engineering fundamentals with a focus on quality, testing, and reliability standards
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Machine Learning, Math, or a related field. Master's Degree strongly preferred.
  • 7+ years of experience in software engineering, data science, or machine learning
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying LLM-based or AI systems in production at scale
  • Demonstrated experience setting architectural direction across teams or organizations
  • Experience leading complex AI projects across multiple teams or functional areas
  • Proven mentorship of Senior and/or II-level engineers
  • Experience designing and operating shared AI platforms or internal AI infrastructure
  • Experience owning LLMOps or MLOps practices including governance, rollout strategy, and production monitoring
  • Experience with AWS cloud architectures including scalable inference, data pipelines, and cost optimization
  • Hands-on experience with fine-tuning, PEFT, and model evaluation in production environments
Bonus Points
  • Master's Degree or PhD in Computer Science, AI/ML, or a related field
  • Experience with Databricks and related certifications
  • AWS certifications such as AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty
  • Experience with open-source model ecosystems and self-hosted inference infrastructure
  • Experience in EdTech, personalized learning, or student-facing AI platforms
  • Published research, conference presentations, or open-source contributions in AI/ML
  • Experience with enterprise AI governance, compliance frameworks, or regulatory requirements
Experience in Lieu of Education
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for graduate education degree preferences or requirements.
What to Expect
At WGU, our mission drives everything we do, including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations and collaboration.
We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission.
  • Introductory call
  • Hiring manager interview
  • Technical interview
  • Final panel interview
Work Location
This is a full-time, in-office position requiring five days per week in our Raleigh, NC office, designed to foster the collaboration and connection that fuel our best work.
Visa Sponsorship
While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.
Travel Requirement
This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

#LI-AW2

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.


What Western Governors University employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom