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Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer Jobs in Minneapolis, MN

Senior Software Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · Remote

$124K - $164K/yr

... defense-in-depth practices * Participate in intake discussions, solution design, and support ... Collaborate with solution engineering, development teams, partners, and vendors to maintain a ...

Contractor Location: Remote micro1 is engaging Computational Biology & Cheminformatics Experts to contribute their expertise to a customer's computational drug discovery project. In this role, you'll ...

Contractor Location: Remote micro1 is engaging Computational Biology & Cheminformatics Experts to contribute their expertise to a customer's computational drug discovery project. In this role, you'll ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Saint Paul, MN · On-site +1

$130K - $165K/yr

... remote access and automation), Secrets Manager (credential security), and CloudWatch (logging ... In-depth understanding of the aerospace and defense industry. * Knowledge of DoD software ...

Showing results 41-60

Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer information

See Minneapolis, MN salary details

$66.3K

$154K

$214.5K

How much do remote defense contractor software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote defense contractor software engineer in Minneapolis, MN is $153,985.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,300.00 and $180,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a remote defense contractor software engineer?

A Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer is a software developer who works for a company contracted by government defense agencies to build, maintain, or secure software systems, but does their work from a remote location instead of a traditional office or on-site facility. These engineers often develop applications for military or national security use, which can include communication systems, cybersecurity tools, or mission-critical platforms. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, they may require special security clearances and must adhere to strict security protocols even while working remotely.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote defense contractor software engineer?

To excel as a Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer, you typically need a strong background in computer science or engineering, proficiency in programming languages like C++ or Java, and active security clearance. Familiarity with secure coding practices, embedded systems, and tools such as Git, Jira, and specialized defense software development environments is crucial. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and self-motivation are standout soft skills for remote collaboration and meeting strict project requirements. These competencies ensure secure, reliable software delivery and effective teamwork in sensitive, mission-critical defense projects.

How does a remote defense contractor software engineer typically collaborate with team members and stakeholders given security and communication constraints?

Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineers often work with multidisciplinary teams, including developers, project managers, and cybersecurity specialists. Collaboration is facilitated through secure, government-approved communication platforms and version control systems that comply with strict security protocols. Regular virtual meetings and documentation are essential to ensure alignment on project requirements and updates. While remote work offers flexibility, engineers must be diligent in following procedures for handling sensitive information and may sometimes need to access secure facilities for classified work. Effective communication and adaptability are key to overcoming the challenges of working in a highly regulated, remote environment.

What is the difference between Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer vs Remote Cybersecurity Software Engineer?

AspectRemote Defense Contractor Software EngineerRemote Cybersecurity Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, security clearances often preferredBachelor's in CS, Cybersecurity, or related; certifications like CISSP beneficial
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government projects, secure facilitiesTech companies, security firms, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military sectorsPrimarily cybersecurity and IT sectors
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for security clearance and defense projectsCompared for network security and threat mitigation roles

The Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer typically works on defense and military projects requiring security clearances, while the Remote Cybersecurity Software Engineer focuses on protecting networks and systems from cyber threats. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their industries and project types differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Minneapolis, MN?

For Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Minneapolis, MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Minneapolis, MN look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Minneapolis, MN are:

What cities near Minneapolis, MN are hiring for Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Minneapolis, MN with the most Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer job openings in Minneapolis, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,985 per year, or $74 per hour.

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Shutterfly

Eden Prairie, MN • Remote

$128K - $176K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 18 days ago


Shutterfly rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 46 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

234th of 739 rated retailers


Job description

At Shutterfly, we make life’s experiences unforgettable. We believe there is extraordinary power in the self-expression. That’s why our family of brands helps customers create products and capture moments that reflect who they uniquely are.

We are seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of next-generation Agentic AI platforms and applications that power personalization, lifecycle engagement, and customer journeys across Shutterfly. This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role responsible for shaping the architecture, design and implementation of AI systems that directly drive conversion, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth.

Note: This position is a remote role that will be based in the United States with preference given to candidates in the metro areas of Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX and/or Charlotte, NC areas.

What You’ll Do

Own and Build Agentic AI Platforms

  • Architect and build scalable agentic AI systems that power various seamless experiences for customers that drive conversion and customer delight.
  • Develop multi-agent systems that reason, plan, and take actions across tools and services 
  • Build Autonomous agents operating across end-to-end customer journeys 
  • Build reusable platforms, not one-off solutions 
  • Enable multiple teams to innovate independently

Drive End-to-End Technical Strategy

  • Define platform abstractions and reusable capabilities that enable teams across the organization to build and deploy AI-powered experiences independently
  • Contribute to, define and lead architecture for AI platforms integrated into Shutterfly
  • Build foundational capabilities including: 
    • Evaluation frameworks for AI quality, safety, and business impact 
    • Scalable inference and orchestration infrastructure 
  • Ensure systems are highly available, performant, and production-grade at scale 

Be Deeply Hands-On

  • Maintain deep hands-on involvement in prototyping, architecture, and critical production systems, setting the standard for engineering excellence.
  • Leverage modern AI tooling (LLMs, agents, vector databases, orchestration frameworks) 
  • Set the standard for AI-driven engineering productivity and development practices 
  • Lead by example in coding, design reviews, and system debugging 

Deliver Measurable Business Impact

  • Define and track AI-specific success metrics, including model quality, latency, cost efficiency, and business KPIs
  • Partner with Product, UX, and Data teams to translate AI capabilities into: 
    • Increased conversion and revenue 
    • Improved customer experience and engagement 
    • Faster time-to-market for new capabilities 
  • Drive experimentation (A/B testing) and ensure AI systems deliver quantifiable outcomes 

Lead Across the Organization

  • Influence architecture and execution across multiple teams and domains: 
    • Ecommerce platform (shopping, cart, checkout) 
    • Creation flows and personalization systems 
    • Marketing technology and lifecycle platforms 
  • Mentor senior engineers and leaders; raise the bar on AI and system design excellence 
  • Champion adoption of agentic AI and AI-first development practices across engineering 

What Success Looks Like

  • Agentic AI systems measurably improve conversion, AOV, and engagement 
  • AI capabilities are deeply embedded across customer journeys 
  • Teams adopt AI-first development practices at scale 
  • Platform enables rapid experimentation and innovation across orgs

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in distributed systems 
  • Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale, high-impact systems 
  • Experience influencing and leading cross-organizational technical strategy 
  • Strong hands-on coding and system design skills 
  • Experience operating large-scale, highly available cloud systems 
  • Demonstrated ability to translate advanced technology into business impact

Preferred Qualifications

  • Masters degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
  • Experience building 0→1 AI platforms or products in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
  • Experience building AI/ML systems, especially with: 
    • LLMs, agent frameworks, and retrieval systems 
    • Multi-agent architectures and orchestration 
  • Experience in consumer-facing products or ecommerce platforms 

Supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to Shutterfly not only because it directly reflects our value of Embracing our Differences, but also because it’s the right thing to do for our business and for our people. We welcome all applicants and evaluate them based on their qualifications. Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on our Career Site.

The compensation package for this role is based on multiple factors, such as job level, responsibilities, location, and candidate experience. The base pay ranges included below are specific to the locations listed, and may not be applicable to other locations.

Supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to Shutterfly not only because it directly reflects our value of Embracing our Differences, but also because it’s the right thing to do for our business and for our people. We welcome all applicants and evaluate them based on their qualifications. Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on our Career Site.

The compensation package for this role is based on multiple factors, such as job level, responsibilities, location, and candidate experience. The base pay ranges included below are specific to the locations listed, and may not be applicable to other locations.

California : [$159,750-225,500]

Connecticut and New York: [$159,750-206,250]

Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington: [$159,750-191,000]

Nevada: [$150,000-206,250]

Maryland and New Jersey: [$172,500-206,250]

Hawaii : [$150,000-179,500]

This position may be eligible for a bonus incentive, health benefits, a 401K program, and other employee perks. More details about our company benefits can be found at https://shutterflyinc.com/benefits/.

This opportunity can be remote, but candidates must reside in a state in which Shutterfly is registered to do business. This includes all US states except District of Columbia, North Dakota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.

This position will accept applications on an ongoing basis until filled.

#SFLYTechnology


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