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Professional Software Engineer Jobs in Washington

Junior Software Engineer

Laurel, MD · On-site

$57K - $104K/yr

No demonstrated professional software engineering experience is required for this position. Why This Role Matters Mission software must continue to evolve as requirements, technologies, and ...

Junior Software Engineer

Laurel, MD · On-site

$57K - $104K/yr

No demonstrated professional software engineering experience is required for this position. Why This Role Matters Mission software must continue to evolve as requirements, technologies, and ...

Software Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

A minimum of 7 years of professional software engineering experience. * Demonstrated experience with full-stack software development. * Experience developing Python applications or tools within the ...

Software Engineer II

Columbia, MD · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

Software Engineer -- Distributed Web Applications Cloud Columbia, MD | Full Time | TS/SCI with ... Professional software development experience in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python. * Knowledge of ...

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or another technical field * 2-4 years professional software development experience * Ability to obtain and maintain Top ...

Lead, Software Engineer

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$117K - $218K/yr

Preferred Skillsets: * 10+ years of professional software engineering experience. * Strong Java, C++, Java Spring Boot, REST API development experience. * Multi-threaded application development.

Showing results 41-60

Professional Software Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$71.9K

$167.1K

$232.7K

How much do professional software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional software engineer in Washington is $167,085.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,900.00 and $195,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional software engineer?

Professional software engineers are trained experts who design, develop, test, and maintain software applications or systems to solve problems or meet user needs. They use programming languages, tools, and engineering principles to create reliable and efficient software. In addition to coding, software engineers often collaborate with other team members, participate in code reviews, and follow industry best practices to ensure high-quality software delivery.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional software engineer?

To thrive as a Professional Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), software development frameworks, and cloud platforms is typically required, and certifications such as AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate can be beneficial. Excellent communication, teamwork, and adaptability are soft skills that help you collaborate effectively and navigate changing project requirements. These skills ensure you can build robust, scalable solutions while working efficiently within diverse technical teams.

What are some common challenges faced by professional software engineers when working on large-scale projects?

Professional software engineers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges such as managing complex codebases, ensuring effective communication across multidisciplinary teams, and maintaining high code quality under tight deadlines. Coordinating with other engineers, testers, and product managers can be demanding, especially when handling dependencies or integrating new features. Staying updated with evolving technologies and adhering to best practices in version control and documentation are also crucial for successful project delivery.

What is the difference between Professional Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectProfessional Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, certifications optionalSimilar educational background, certifications less common
Work EnvironmentOften in teams, involved in full project lifecycle, may work in corporate or enterprise settingsTypically focused on coding, testing, and implementation, in various settings including startups and freelance
Industry UsageWidely used in corporate, enterprise, and government sectorsCommon in startups, freelance, and smaller companies

The main difference lies in scope and responsibilities. Professional Software Engineers often have a broader role, including design, architecture, and project management, while Software Developers primarily focus on coding and implementation. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but the Professional Software Engineer may be expected to handle more complex projects and collaborate across teams.

What do professional software engineers do?

Professional software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and systems. They analyze user requirements, write code using programming languages, and collaborate with teams to ensure functionality, performance, and security. They often use tools like version control systems and follow industry best practices to deliver reliable software solutions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Professional Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Professional Software Engineer job openings:

Junior Software Engineer

Laurel, MD • On-site

Leidos
IT Services • 10K+ employees

$57K - $104K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Analyze user requirements to derive software design and performance requirements.

  • Design, code, and modify software to add features, and debug existing software.

  • Integrate software into new or modified systems and test software components against documented requirements.


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 153 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

About Leidos
Leidos is a FORTUNE 500® company bringing a mix of innovative technology and sector expertise to customers in the national security, engineering, and health industries. We deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success.
The Leidos Intel Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities to support Intelligence Community customers as they address evolving national security challenges.
About the Opportunity
Leidos is seeking a Junior Software Engineer to join a team developing, maintaining, and enhancing software systems supporting critical mission needs.
This is an opportunity for an early-career software engineer to contribute to real-world software development while working individually and as part of an engineering team. You'll analyze requirements, design and modify software, debug defects, integrate software into operating environments, and help test software components against documented requirements.
No demonstrated professional software engineering experience is required for this position.
Why This Role Matters
Mission software must continue to evolve as requirements, technologies, and operational needs change. As a Junior Software Engineer, you'll contribute directly to the development and improvement of software capabilities while building experience across the software engineering lifecycle.
What You'll Do
Software Development & Integration
  • Analyze user requirements to derive software design and performance requirements.
  • Design and code new software or modify existing software to add new features.
  • Debug existing software and correct defects.
  • Integrate existing software into new or modified systems and operating environments.
  • Develop simple data queries for existing or proposed databases and data repositories.

Software Quality & Engineering Practices
  • Review and test software components for adherence to design requirements and document test results.
  • Help resolve software problem reports.
  • Apply software development and design methodologies appropriate to the development environment.
  • Provide recommendations for improving documentation and software development process standards.
  • Contribute to software-related system design considerations, including hardware/software tradeoffs, software reuse, COTS/GOTS alternatives, and requirements analysis from the system level to individual software components.

This posting is for multiple opportunities
Required Qualifications
Clearance
  • TS/SCI with Polygraph required upon Application, to be considered for this position.

Education & Experience
Candidates may qualify through either of the following paths:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related discipline from an accredited college or university. No demonstrated software engineering experience is required.

OR
  • Four (4) years of Software Engineering experience on projects using similar software processes may be substituted for the bachelor's degree.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
August 26, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $57,850.00 - $104,575.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

What Leidos employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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Leidos logo

About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

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