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Search Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Elastic Search Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$107K - $195K/yr

As an Elastic Search Engineer, you'll be a member of our platform engineering team and help develop, deploy and maintain nosql databases as foundational elements of our microservice eco-system using ...

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data architecture, search technologies, and ... The Elastic Architect/Engineer is a critical role responsible for the design, implementation ...

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data architecture, search technologies, and ... The Elastic Architect/Engineer is a critical role responsible for the design, implementation ...

DevOps Automation Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$53.50 - $73.25/hr

Job Summary : Tech Search Pros is a global IT services, consulting and business solutions ... Automation Engineer with strong automation experience and expertise in various tools and ...

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Search Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$56

$70

$92

How much do search engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for search engineer in Virginia is $70.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60.77 and $81.01 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a search engineer?

Search Engineers are specialized software engineers who design, build, and improve search systems that help users find relevant information quickly and efficiently. Their work often involves developing algorithms for indexing, querying, and ranking large volumes of data, as well as optimizing search accuracy and speed. Search Engineers may also work with natural language processing, machine learning, and relevance tuning to enhance the user search experience on websites, apps, or internal databases.

What does a search engineer do?

A search engineer has two primary responsibilities: to develop and program search engines and to optimize web content to achieve the best possible rankings in search results. As a search engineer, your job duties depend on your employer. If you work for a search engine company, like Google or Bing, then your job is to create the web application and algorithms that index websites and web pages to aggregate and rank search results. If you work for an e-commerce website or another business reliant on products or services, then your focus is on website analysis, keyword research, and content marketing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a search engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Search Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, expertise in information retrieval, and strong programming skills, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with search platforms like Elasticsearch or Solr, experience with large-scale distributed systems, and knowledge of ranking algorithms are typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for building efficient, relevant search experiences that meet both user and business needs.

How does a search engineer typically collaborate with other teams to improve search functionality?

Search Engineers often work closely with product managers, data scientists, and UX designers to understand user needs and analyze search performance. They collaborate with data engineering teams to ensure high-quality and well-structured data feeds, and frequently participate in cross-functional meetings to align on feature priorities and technical requirements. Effective communication skills are essential, as Search Engineers must translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that improvements enhance both search accuracy and overall user experience.

What is the difference between Search Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectSearch EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related; experience in search algorithmsBachelor's or higher in CS, Statistics, or related; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentTech companies, search engine teams, e-commerce platformsResearch labs, tech firms, finance, healthcare
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in search technology, e-commerce, and online servicesAcross industries like tech, finance, healthcare, and research

Search Engineers focus on developing and optimizing search algorithms and systems, while Data Scientists analyze data to extract insights and inform decisions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but Search Engineers are more specialized in search technology development, whereas Data Scientists work broadly with data analysis and modeling.

What job categories do people searching Search Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Search Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

Infographic showing various Search Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,400 per year, or $70.4 per hour.

Elastic Search Engineer

Leidos

Arlington, VA • On-site

$107K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 496 rated business services


Job description

Description

Leidos is looking for our next TS/SCI-cleared Elastic Search Engineer to join a high-energy team building and deploying a cutting-edge technology stack to support our client’s mission to centralize and standardize Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (TCPED) of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) across the DoD and IC enterprise. We integrate off the shelf and newly development software to sustain and enhance the TCPED platform. We leverage cloud-based computing, artificial intelligence (Al), machine learning (ML) and cross-domain transfer systems to provide cutting edge data exploitation, enrichment, triage, and analytics capabilities to Defense and Intelligence Community members. DTP advances the state of the art in mission-focused big data analytics tools and micro-service development spanning the breadth of Agile sprints to multiyear research and development cycles.

As an Elastic Search Engineer, you’ll be a member of our platform engineering team and  help develop, deploy and maintain nosql databases as foundational elements of our microservice eco-system using a Kubernetes as foundational platform. You’ll also support the adoption of GitOps best practices across cross-functional engineering teams. In this fast-paced environment, you’ll collaborate closely with systems engineering, architecture, development, security, operations, and integrations teams.

Work is conducted on-site at our client location in Bethesda, MD.

Key Responsibilities Include:

  • Deploy, triage, debug, and maintain production class databases like Elasticsearch and Redis
  • Design and support database configuration management strategies across air-gapped network fabrics
  • Partner with Systems Engineers to architect solutions for new capabilities
  • Contribute to operational monitoring capabilities to provide proactive system notifications
  • Contribute technical input to engineering documentation, diagrams, and models
  • Participate in Agile release planning, scrums, design sessions, bug triage, and related team activities

To be successful in this role you need (required):

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience) with 8+ years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with 6+ years of experience.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Polygraph.
  • Current DoD 8570.01M IAT Level II (or higher) certification, such as Security+, CySA+, SSCP, CCNA Security, or CISSP (or Associate).
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Privileged User Account (PUA) certification.
  • Experience with Kubernetes and container platforms such as EKS, Rancher, or RKE2.
  • Experience with one or more of the following: Elasticsearch, Keycloak, Redis, Strimzi.
  • Experience working with open-source technologies and modern infrastructure platforms.
  • Experience hardening databases to comply with NIST 800-53 security controls.
  • Strong knowledge of Linux system administration.
  • Experience deploying, managing, and troubleshooting containerized applications.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with customers, engineers, architects, and cross-functional teams.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with team members from diverse technical backgrounds.

You will wow us even more if you have:

  • Experience with micro services architecture. 
  • Proficiency in scripting for automation and operational tooling (UNIX shell, Perl, or similar).
  • Experience with Helm Chart templating.
  • Experience with ArgoCD
  • Knowledge of REST APIs, web services, networking, and internet protocols.
  • Experience and domain knowledge related to data processing.
  • Experience with big data applications.
  • Experience supporting DIA, NDOC, and/or D3P.
  • OSINT familiarity.

#NMECDTP-All

#ASBA

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:July 17, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.


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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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