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Hourly Software Engineer Jobs in Durham, NC (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer About CoVar CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the ...

Your Superhero Uniform Includes (Required Experience and Skills) * 2+ years of experience as a full stack software engineer developing scalable and resilient event-driven and API-based microservices ...

Software Engineer

Carrboro, NC · On-site

$80 - $110/hr

Role Overview Kitware is seeking a Software Engineer to join the Computer Vision team. This position offers an opportunity to help Kitware's customers build meaningful software that will stand the ...

New

IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking Software Engineers who have a passion for technology and education to help us add new ...

IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking Software Engineers who have a passion for technology and education to help us add new ...

They are seeking a motivated Software Engineer to develop and maintain applications that involve data processing and machine-learning algorithm integration. Responsibilities : • develop and ...

The Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining custom software applications, workflow automations, integrations, microservices, and internal tools that ...

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

## Software Engineer### Raleigh-Durham, NCIXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking Software Engineers who have a passion for technology ...

New

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$96K - $154K/yr

As a Software Engineer, your main focus will be on designing, developing, testing and collaborating with other contributors over the world to bring features on existing components or bootstrap new ...

Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

About the Job The RedHat Performance and Scale Organization is seeking a software engineer to join our OpenShift Platform Performance and Scale Team. This role involves testing, measuring, and ...

Software Engineer 2

Cary, NC · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

Overview We are seeking a full-time Software Engineer 2 at our location in Cary, NC for our Marine Telematics Engineering team. We are seeking someone who is passionate about on-device technology and ...

Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team. In this role, you will research, design, develop, and test software solutions that address complex ...

Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team. In this role, you will research, design, develop, and test software solutions that address complex ...

Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team. In this role, you will research, design, develop, and test software solutions that address complex ...

Position Summary Vadum is seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team. In this role, you will research, design, develop, and test software solutions that address complex ...

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Showing results 1-20

Hourly Software Engineer information

See Durham, NC salary details

$61.4K

$142.6K

$198.6K

How much do hourly software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for hourly software engineer in Durham, NC is $142,553.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $167,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an hourly software engineer?

An Hourly Software Engineer is a software developer who is paid based on the number of hours worked rather than a fixed salary. These engineers typically work as contractors, freelancers, or part-time employees, giving them flexibility in their schedules. They may take on short-term projects, assist with specific tasks, or provide ongoing support for businesses. Their compensation is usually determined by an agreed-upon hourly rate, which can vary based on experience, location, and project complexity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an hourly software engineer?

To excel as an Hourly Software Engineer, you need a solid knowledge of programming languages (such as Python, Java, or JavaScript), familiarity with software development life cycles, and typically a degree in computer science or related field. Experience with development tools like Git, version control systems, and cloud platforms, as well as certifications such as AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer, are commonly valued. Flexibility, time management, and strong communication skills are important soft skills for adapting to project needs and collaborating effectively on a contract or hourly basis. These skills and qualities ensure you can contribute efficiently, meet project deadlines, and maintain high code quality in a dynamic work environment.

What is the typical work structure and environment for an hourly software engineer?

Hourly Software Engineers often work on a contract or freelance basis, joining teams for specific projects or limited timeframes. Depending on the employer or client, you may work remotely, onsite, or in a hybrid setting with flexible hours set around project milestones. You’ll typically collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and sometimes clients, focusing on tasks like coding, debugging, and feature implementation within specific deliverable timelines. The work environment is usually fast-paced and goal-oriented, requiring the ability to quickly integrate with teams and adapt to varying work styles. This role is well-suited for professionals seeking variety in projects and schedules, as well as the opportunity to enhance their technical skills across different platforms and industries.

How much does a hourly software engineer get paid an hour?

Hourly software engineers typically earn between $25 and $80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and specialization. Entry-level positions may pay closer to the lower end, while experienced engineers with specialized skills or certifications can earn toward the higher end of this range.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in Durham, NC?

The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in Durham, NC are:

What cities near Durham, NC are hiring for Hourly Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Durham, NC with the most Hourly Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Hourly Software Engineer job openings in Durham, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 89% In-person, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,553 per year, or $68.5 per hour.

Software Engineer

CoVar

Durham, NC

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

Software Engineer

About CoVar

CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the Department of Defense detect threats in high-stakes environments and enable biomedical researchers to accelerate discoveries that save lives. Our team is composed of curious, passionate engineers who care deeply about using AI to solve real-world problems that matter.

About this position

We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented Software Engineer who thrives in an environment where reading, understanding, and improving complex codebases is just as important as writing new code. In this role, you will develop and maintain real-time, computationally intensive applications involving data processing, real-time communications, and machine-learning algorithm integration.

You'll work closely with a team of ML engineers and software developers, contribute to system architecture and performance optimization, and help ensure our tools are robust, efficient, and production ready. You will have the opportunity to work on meaningful, high-impact projects in a close-knit engineering team. If you enjoy building systems end-to-end, optimizing performance, and understanding how software interacts with hardware at a deep level, you'll fit right in.

Important Note:

This is a software engineering role and not a prompt engineering role. Candidates with strong LLM prompting skills but limited understanding of software engineering fundamentals will not be successful here.

Minimum qualifications

  • B.S. in Computer Science or related field, preferably M.S., Ph.D, and/or 3+ years of experience
  • Expertise in Python with a minimum of two years of demonstrated hands-on professional development experience and exposure to scientific/computational libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch, etc.
  • Experience developing real-time, computationally-focused applications
  • Working knowledge of SQL and experience with one or more of MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite
  • Strong fundamental understanding of computing hardware architectures and how they influence software architectural decisions
  • Experience with software development processes, including version control, documentation, testing, and code review
  • Excellent technical communication skills and a customer-service mindset
  • Ability to work in Durham, NC (relocation assistance available)
  • Eligibility for US security clearance (US citizenship is required)

Preferred qualifications

  • Linux application development
  • Experience with embedded systems or deploying AI/ML solutions on edge hardware (highly desirable)
  • Familiarity with real-time systems, edge hardware optimization, and performance profiling
  • Experience with signal processing, pattern recognition, image processing, and/or machine learning techniques
  • Prior Department of Defense project experience

Benefits

  • Competitive salary, cash bonus, equity structure, and 401k with employer contributions
  • Excellent health care coverage, including dental and vision plans
  • Parental leave
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Tuition support
  • PTO and paid holidays

Visit us: www.covar.com