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Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Location: 100% remote Years' Experience: 2+ years professional experience Education: Bachelor's in computer science or software engineering related field Clearance: Applicants must be able to obtain ...

Contractor Location: Remote Job Overview We are seeking experienced CUDA Engineering Experts to support a cutting-edge GPU optimization project. You will apply your expertise in CUDA, C++, and GPU ...

Software Engineer

Annapolis, MD Β· On-site +1

$86K - $198K/yr

Remote Work: No Job Number: R0243588 Location: Annapolis Junction,MD,US Share job via: Share Software Engineer The Opportunity: As a full stack developer, you can resolve a problem with a complete ...

Remote Work: Hybrid Job Number: R0247155 Location: McLean,VA,US Share job via: Share Software Engineer The Opportunity: As an AI software engineer, you know that good software is more than just a ...

This is a hybrid position with the possibility of some remote work. This position is for a Future ... of Defense and Civilian missions to provide forward leaning technical, professional, and ...

New

Remote Work: Hybrid Job Number: R0247157 Location: McLean,VA,US Share job via: Share Software Engineer The Opportunity: As an AI software engineer, you know that good software is more than just a ...

This is a hybrid position with the possibility of some remote work. This position is for a Future ... of Defense and Civilian missions to provide forward leaning technical, professional, and ...

New

Software Engineer

Suitland, MD Β· On-site +1

$160K - $200K/yr

None Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE Description ο»ΏVaren, an SAIC company is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join our team. This position in located in Suitland, MD and requires ...

Software Engineer

Arlington, VA Β· On-site +1

$69K - $158K/yr

Remote Work: Hybrid Job Number: R0243537 Location: Arlington,VA,US Share job via: Share Software Engineer The Opportunity: As a full-stack developer, you can resolve a problem with a complete end-to ...

IoT / Edge Software Engineer

Bethesda, MD Β· On-site +1

$68K - $141K/yr

We are currently seeking a IoT / Edge Software Engineer to join our team in Bethesda (REMOTE), Maryland (US-MD), United States (US). Job Summary: The IoT Edge Software Engineer is responsible for the ...

Showing results 41-60

Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$71.9K

$167.1K

$232.7K

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

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote defense contractor software engineer in Washington, DC 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 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 the most commonly searched types of Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Defense Contractor Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Remote Defense Contractor Software Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,085 per year, or $80.3 per hour.

Forward Deployed Engineer - Software Modernization (TS/SCI Clearance Required)

Washington, DC β€’ On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Deploy, customize, and extend Vannevar's agentic software modernization platform to support mission-critical defense systems.

  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customer stakeholders to understand mission requirements and deliver technical outcomes.

  • Collaborate with engineers, product teams, and mission experts to design and deliver software solutions addressing complex systems engineering challenges.


Job description

About the role

Our Mission teams operate like small startups within the Vannevar umbrella. As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) supporting software modernization for the Department of War, you will serve as the technical lead for customer engagements focused on modernizing mission-critical software systems. You will work directly with technical stakeholders across government and other defense primes supporting national security missions, owning the architecture, development, deployment, and fielding of agentic solutions tailored to real-world systems engineering challenges.

In this role, you will act as a senior technical counterpart to customer stakeholders - translating mission requirements into scalable software, navigating government technical environments, and ensuring capabilities are delivered reliably into production. You will collaborate closely with product, design, platform engineering, and mission teammates to deliver high-impact outcomes, while remaining a hands-on individual contributor.

U.S. Persons status with at least a current Top Secret US DoD or IC clearance is required.Β This is a customer-facing role required to be based in Washington D.C. Work will require time in secure or classified environments and frequent travel (40-50%).

What you'll do
  • Deploy, customize, and extend Vannevar's agentic software modernization platform to accelerate refactoring, architecture modernization, testing, and software delivery for mission-critical defense systems.
  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customer stakeholders, partnering with government and industry teams to understand mission requirements and deliver technical outcomes.
  • Collaborate with engineers, product teams, and mission experts to design and deliver software solutions that address complex systems engineering challenges.
  • Analyze existing massive software architectures, development workflows, and technical constraints to identify modernization opportunities and guide implementation strategies.
  • Develop technical recommendations, demonstrations, and modernization plans that help government program offices adopt AI-enabled software engineering capabilities.
What we're looking for
  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience building and deploying production systems across the DoW or IC.
  • Experience working directly with customers or stakeholders to translate mission requirements into technical solutions. Candidate should have strong technical communication skills and the ability to lead complex technical discussions with both engineers and senior stakeholders.
  • Experience supporting modernization, integration, or sustainment efforts for large-scale software systems.
  • Proficiency in one or more of TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, or similar programming languages.
  • Experience with modern software development and deployment practices, including cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and DevSecOps.
  • Experience operating in regulated or secure environments, including DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) and NIST 800-53.
What we value
  • Experience with Ada, CMS-2, C++, Java, or other legacy systems languages.
  • Experience building, evaluating, or operating coding agents, software engineering agents, code intelligence systems, or agentic developer tools using LangGraph, OpenAI SDK, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent2Agent (A2A), and more.
  • Experience with software architecture reviews, systems engineering, requirements management, verification, and validation.
  • Prior experience working with defense primes or government program offices.
What we offer
We're proud to offer competitive benefits that support our employees. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Remote friendly with WeWork access
  • Unlimited PTO, shared downtime during the federal holiday calendar, and company-wide off time at the end of each year
  • 401(k) match
  • Lifestyle & wellbeing stipends
  • Salary top-up during military reserve duty
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Child and pet care reimbursement during travel