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Senior Api Developer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

540

Senior API Solutions Architect

Arlington, VA · On-site

540 is seeking a Senior API Solutions Architect to support a mission-critical technology ... Working with engineers, architects, cybersecurity teams, and mission stakeholders, you will define ...

CTAC

Sr. Drupal Developer

Falls Church, VA · On-site

Job Title Sr. Drupal Developer # of Hires Needed 1 Date Needed By 2/12/2026 Category Information ... API-driven development (REST / JSON APIs) * Search implementations (Search API, OpenSearch ...

Hirekeyz Inc

Senior Software Developer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$55.75 - $73.50/hr

Senior Software Developer Location: Onsite- Fairfax, VA 3 Days and in Washington, DC 2 Days per ... This role emphasizes backend architecture, distributed systems, API development, and cloud-native ...

CTAC

Sr. Drupal Developer

Falls Church, VA · On-site

CTAC is seeking a Senior Drupal Developer to architect, build, and maintain customized Drupal ... Search API, and integrations • Contribute to architectural discussions and long-term ...

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Senior Api Developer information

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How much do senior api developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior api developer in Virginia is $61.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.97 and $68.65 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Api Developer vs API Engineer?

AspectSenior API DeveloperAPI Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, experience in API developmentBachelor's or higher in CS, software engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, tech companies, startupsDevelopment teams, cloud services, enterprise environments
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, SaaS providers, e-commerceCloud providers, enterprise software, API platforms
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for API design and development rolesFocuses on API infrastructure and deployment

While both roles involve working with APIs, a Senior API Developer primarily designs, develops, and maintains APIs, focusing on functionality and integration. An API Engineer often emphasizes the infrastructure, deployment, and scalability of APIs within larger systems. Understanding these distinctions helps employers and professionals choose the right role for their needs.

What is a senior API developer?

Senior API Developers are experienced software engineers who specialize in designing, building, and maintaining Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow different software systems to communicate. They often lead technical projects, mentor junior developers, and ensure APIs are secure, scalable, and well-documented. Senior API Developers typically work with a variety of programming languages and frameworks, and collaborate closely with other teams to align API solutions with business goals.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a senior API developer?

To thrive as a Senior API Developer, you need advanced programming skills (often in languages such as Java, Python, or Node.js), deep understanding of API design principles, and experience with RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs, typically supported by a relevant degree or professional experience. Familiarity with API management tools (like Postman, Swagger, or Apigee), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and knowledge of authentication protocols (OAuth, JWT) are vital. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and leadership skills help in collaborating across teams and mentoring junior developers. These competencies ensure robust, scalable API solutions that meet business needs and integrate seamlessly with other systems.

Are senior API developers in demand?

Senior API developers are in high demand due to the increasing reliance on web services and integrations across industries. They are often required to have expertise in RESTful and GraphQL APIs, programming languages like Java or Python, and experience with cloud platforms, making their skills highly sought after in the job market.

How do senior API developers typically collaborate with product managers and frontend teams during the development process?

Senior API Developers play a key role in bridging backend systems with product and frontend teams. They work closely with product managers to interpret business requirements into technical specifications for APIs. Regular collaboration with frontend developers ensures that APIs are designed for usability, performance, and scalability, often involving code reviews, feedback sessions, and iterative testing. Effective communication and proactive problem-solving are essential to align API functionality with both business objectives and user experience.
What are the most commonly searched types of Api Developer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Api Developer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Api Developer jobs in Virginia? For Senior Api Developer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Api Developer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Api Developer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Api Developer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Api Developer job openings:
Senior Api Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Api Developer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,298 per year, or $61.2 per hour.

Senior API Solutions Architect

540

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

540 is seeking a Senior API Solutions Architect to support a mission-critical technology modernization effort for the Department of War. You will lead the architecture and governance of secure, scalable APIs that enable internal platform components and external mission systems to exchange data while aligning with DoW policies, reference architectures, and enterprise integration standards.
Working with engineers, architects, cybersecurity teams, and mission stakeholders, you will define API strategy, technical standards, and governance processes using Apigee, Gravitee, and related technologies. You will guide technical delivery, lead architecture decisions, and establish reusable patterns that enable engineering teams to deliver secure, interoperable, and reliable services across distributed systems.
Location: Arlington, VA
Citizenship & Clearance Requirement: Per client requirements, candidates must be U.S. Citizens with an active DoW Secret (or higher) clearance
Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered
540 Internal Thrive Level: Senior Solutions Architect
WHY 540?
540 is a forward-thinking company that the government turns to in order to #getshitdone. We don't just talk about innovation - we deliver it. We break down barriers, build impactful technology, and solve mission-critical problems.
HOW YOU'LL DRIVE IMPACT
  • Lead the architecture and evolution of APIs, integration patterns, and technical standards supporting WDP
  • Translate mission and technical requirements into scalable API architectures and implementation strategies
  • Establish enterprise API governance across design, review, versioning, publishing, monitoring, and retirement
  • Define standards and reusable patterns for RESTful APIs, OpenAPI specifications, JSON schemas, and data exchange
  • Guide the configuration and operation of API gateways, policies, developer portals, and lifecycle processes using Apigee and Gravitee
  • Establish versioning and change-management strategies that support backward compatibility and platform evolution
  • Define security patterns for authentication, authorization, encryption, rate limiting, threat protection, and auditing
  • Lead architecture reviews and ensure API designs align with DoW standards, security requirements, and mission objectives
  • Establish API monitoring and operational standards covering performance, availability, reliability, adoption, and capacity
  • Guide integration across cloud-native, microservices, event-driven, and service-oriented architectures
  • Resolve complex API, gateway, interoperability, and cross-system architecture challenges
  • Communicate architecture decisions, risks, and tradeoffs while mentoring engineers on API design and governance

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
  • 9+ years of relevant API architecture, integration, or software engineering experience
  • Experience leading the design and implementation of enterprise API architectures for large-scale distributed systems
  • Advanced knowledge of RESTful API design, API lifecycle management, interface governance, and integration patterns
  • Hands-on experience with Apigee, Gravitee, or comparable enterprise API management platforms
  • Experience defining API gateway architecture and configuring policies, routing, rate limits, security controls, monitoring, and developer portals
  • Experience developing API specifications using OpenAPI, Swagger, JSON Schema, or similar frameworks
  • Experience establishing API governance, standards, and reusable patterns across multiple engineering teams
  • Experience implementing versioning, backward compatibility, and change-management strategies
  • Experience implementing OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, PKI, or similar authentication and authorization technologies
  • Strong understanding of API security, zero trust principles, and secure software development practices
  • Experience integrating APIs across cloud-native, microservices, event-driven, or service-oriented architectures
  • Experience with cloud platforms, containerized applications, CI/CD, and automated testing
  • Experience leading architecture reviews, mentoring engineers, and influencing technical direction
  • Strong communication and documentation skills, including the ability to explain architecture decisions to technical and nontechnical audiences

NICE TO HAVE
  • Experience leading Apigee or Gravitee implementations, migrations, or modernization initiatives
  • Experience supporting DoW, federal, Advana, or other enterprise data platforms
  • Familiarity with DoW architecture frameworks, reference designs, and interoperability standards
  • Experience automating API governance through linting, contract testing, and CI/CD validation
  • Experience with asynchronous messaging, event-driven architectures, and streaming integration patterns
  • Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Istio, Linkerd, or other cloud-native and service mesh technologies
  • Experience designing secure APIs for classified, regulated, or mission-critical environments
  • Currently holds, or is willing to obtain within 30 days of employment, an approved certification such as SecurityX, CCSP, Cloud+, CSSLP, FITSP-D, GDSA, or GSEC

BENEFITS & PERKS
  • Flexible PTO + all Federal holidays off
  • Health, dental and vision insurance plans
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401k with employer match
  • Company-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability
  • Professional development (training, certifications, conferences)
  • Paid cloud developer accounts
  • Referral bonuses
  • HQ office perks (parking / metro reimbursement, nitro coffee & lunches)
  • Annual social events (540 Week, hackathon, charity golf tournament, etc.)
  • Access to 540's Washington Capitals & Nationals tickets

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)
540's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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