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Senior Backend Developer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

C-MCI

Java Backend Developer - Senior

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$123K - $160K/yr

JAVA Backend Developer (Senior) Location: Ashburn VA Why CMCI? CMCI provides management consulting and IT services that empower enterprises to achieve their business goals in today's highly ...

Chenega Corporation

Mid Backend Developer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Mid Backend Developer - Vienna, VA As a Mid Backend Developer on our team, you will build software ... From entry‑level employees to senior leaders, we believe there's always room to learn. We offer ...

Quevera

Senior Backend API Engineer

Linthicum, MD · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

Quevera is seeking a highly skilled Senior Backend API Engineer with an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph to support mission‑critical programs in Linthicum, Maryland. In this role, you will ...

nitra

Senior Backend Engineer

Washington, DC · Hybrid

... senior staffers, and a co-founder of CityMD. Nitra maintains a hybrid work policy, with team ... A Backend Engineer with experience in Fintech or marketplaces who will be at the forefront of our ...

nitra

Senior Backend Engineer

Washington, DC · Hybrid

... senior staffers, and a co-founder of CityMD. Nitra maintains a hybrid work policy, with team ... A Backend Engineer with experience in Fintech or marketplaces who will be at the forefront of our ...

SmartIPlace

Senior Java Backend Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$121K - $158K/yr

Senior Java Backend Developer Location: McLean, VA Interview Type: In Person Interview Work Authorization: This requirement is open to sponsored candidates through sub-vendors - one layer deep. Must ...

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Senior Backend Developer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$72.3K

$157.9K

$215.1K

How much do senior backend developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior backend developer in Washington, DC is $157,907.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,100.00 and $176,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior backend developer do?

A Senior Backend Developer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the server-side logic of web applications. They work with databases, APIs, and server infrastructure to ensure that applications run smoothly, securely, and efficiently. In addition to writing robust code, they often mentor junior developers, contribute to architectural decisions, and collaborate with frontend teams to deliver seamless user experiences. Their expertise is crucial for scaling applications and implementing best practices in software development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior backend developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Backend Developer, you need advanced proficiency in server-side programming languages (such as Java, Python, or Node.js), deep understanding of API design, and experience with database management, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and relevant certifications in backend technologies are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior developers. These competencies ensure robust, scalable backend systems and drive successful project delivery in complex technical environments.

What are common challenges senior backend developers face when leading complex projects, and how can they address them?

Senior Backend Developers often encounter challenges such as integrating legacy systems with new technologies, ensuring scalability under increased load, and coordinating cross-functional teams for seamless feature delivery. Addressing these challenges typically involves proactive architectural planning, clear communication with frontend and DevOps teams, and adopting best practices like code reviews and automated testing. Staying updated on emerging technologies and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing within the team also help in overcoming technical obstacles and driving successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Senior Backend Developer vs Backend Developer?

AspectSenior Backend DeveloperBackend Developer
Required Experience5+ years, leadership skills1-3 years, foundational skills
ResponsibilitiesDesign architecture, mentor juniors, optimize systemsImplement features, fix bugs, write code
Skills & CertificationsAdvanced coding, system design, relevant certificationsBasic coding, database knowledge
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with cross-functional teams, often in larger projectsFocuses on individual tasks within projects

The main difference between a Senior Backend Developer and a Backend Developer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior Backend Developers typically have more years of experience, take on complex system design, and mentor junior staff, whereas Backend Developers focus on implementing features and fixing bugs. Both roles are essential in backend development teams, but the senior role involves more strategic and leadership duties.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC?

For Senior Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Backend Developer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Senior Backend Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Backend Developer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $157,907 per year, or $75.9 per hour.

Senior Backend Engineer

Antithesis Operations LLC

Vienna, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

About Antithesis
We've been quietly reinventing how the world thinks about software reliability, and we're just getting started! At Antithesis, we start at the foundations - we run entire software systems inside a deterministic simulation and break them in every way imaginable. Every issue then comes with a perfect reproduction, so you can identify root causes fast instead of spending days trying to recreate what went wrong.
The rise of AI-generated code has made this work more urgent than ever. Agents can write code faster than any human, but speed doesn't matter much when the output is buggy, stuck in review, or slipping through undetected. The verification bottleneck is real, it's growing, and solving it is one of the most consequential problems in software right now. That's what you'd be working on.
We're well-funded and deeply technical, the kind of place where the hardest problems get the most attention and the best ideas win regardless of who has them. If you want to do work that actually moves the needle on how reliable software can be, keep reading.
About the Role
The Platform team is the engine room of Antithesis - we own the infrastructure, services, and tools that are at the core of the product. As a Senior Backend Engineer here, you won't be maintaining someone else's abstractions. You'll be designing them from scratch, owning them end-to-end, across the full stack: from raw binary formats and block compaction all the way up to the external APIs our customers depend on. Correctness and performance aren't nice-to-haves here - they're the job.
If you get unreasonably excited about systems design, performance, storage efficiency, clean API contracts, and finding the bottleneck nobody else noticed, we'd love to talk.
What You'll Do
  • Design, build, and operate core platform systems - including backend infrastructure, data processing pipelines, storage layers, and the scalable APIs, integrations, and interfaces that power internal and external consumers.
  • Contribute to Pangolin, our purpose-built database designed from the ground up to meet the unique demands of our platform.
  • Build and evolve foundational platform primitives such as data access layers, authorization frameworks, and service orchestration.
  • Own reliability end-to-end - from system design and capacity planning to incident response, with a sustainable on-call rotation shared across the team.
  • Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks across the stack; mentor engineers; contribute to long-term technical strategy.

What We're Looking For
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience. Rust is a strong preference, but exceptional systems engineers from other backgrounds are welcome.
  • Experience building APIs, services, storage engines, query engines, or data-intensive backend systems.
  • Deep understanding of distributed systems: consistency, fault tolerance, replication, observability.
  • Hands-on experience designing and shipping APIs with attention to correctness and contract stability.
  • Strong fundamentals - you care about correctness, test coverage, and well-designed abstractions.
  • Bonus: query planning/optimization experience, multi-tenant platform or authz background, C/C++ familiarity, or open-source contributions.

About Our Team
Our team has backgrounds spanning CS degrees, philosophy, mathematics, and everything in between - or nothing formal at all. What everyone shares is a high bar for engineering quality, regardless of title. We work in-person because it's how we build trust and tackle hard problems together.
Location: This position is in office in Vienna, VA.

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