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Senior Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia

DevSecOps Systems Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site +1

$160K - $200K/yr

... complex, distributed systems. You will work closely with government partners, development ... Craft and deliver concise technical briefings to senior leaders , stakeholders, and diverse ...

Systems Engineer, Senior

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc. (BCI) is seeking to fill full-time Senior Systems Engineer / Senior Navy Subject Matter Expert (SME) positions in support of the Naval Surface Warfare Center ...

Senior Systems Engineer

King George, VA · On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Job Title Senior Systems Engineer Location King George, VA 22485 US (Primary) Category Engineering Job Type Full-time Career Level Experienced (Non-Manager) Education Bachelor's Degree Travel ...

... distributed systems. Responsibilities : • Provide DevSecOps technical guidance to strengthen ... senior leaders, stakeholders, and diverse audiences across the mission space. Qualifications

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Senior Distributed Systems Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$55.5K

$123.7K

$174.5K

How much do senior distributed systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior distributed systems engineer in Virginia is $123,662.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,600.00 and $141,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Distributed Systems Engineer vs Cloud Solutions Architect?

AspectSenior Distributed Systems EngineerCloud Solutions Architect
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, experience with distributed systemsBachelor's/Master's in CS, IT, or related, cloud certifications (AWS, Azure)
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and maintaining distributed systems in tech companiesDesigning cloud infrastructure solutions for clients or internal teams
Industry UsageTech, finance, e-commerce, and enterprise sectorsIT consulting, cloud service providers, enterprise IT departments

The Senior Distributed Systems Engineer focuses on building and optimizing distributed computing systems, while the Cloud Solutions Architect designs cloud infrastructure solutions. Both roles require technical expertise and often overlap in cloud environments, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills in cloud infrastructure, and leadership roles. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options in large tech companies or startups with high growth potential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Distributed Systems Engineer, and why are they important?

A Senior Distributed Systems Engineer requires deep expertise in computer science fundamentals, scalable system architecture, and proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Go, or Python, often supported by a relevant degree and significant experience in distributed systems. Familiarity with tools like Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is typically expected, along with knowledge of monitoring and CI/CD pipelines. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help in tackling complex engineering challenges and collaborating across teams. These skills are crucial for designing robust, scalable, and reliable systems that support organizational growth and high availability.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior distributed systems engineers often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud computing, and expertise in scalable architecture. Compensation can vary based on industry, location, and company size, with some roles in tech giants or specialized fields reaching or exceeding this level.

What are some common challenges Senior Distributed Systems Engineers face when designing scalable systems?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing data consistency, ensuring fault tolerance, and minimizing latency across multiple nodes. Balancing trade-offs between availability and partition tolerance (as outlined by the CAP theorem) is a frequent consideration. Additionally, coordinating between development and operations teams to maintain system reliability and efficiently resolve issues that arise in production environments is crucial. Strong communication skills and a deep understanding of distributed architectures help address these complexities effectively.

What are Senior Distributed Systems Engineers?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers are experienced professionals who design, build, and maintain large-scale computing systems that run across multiple machines or locations. They focus on ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance of distributed applications, often dealing with challenges like data consistency, fault tolerance, and network latency. These engineers typically have deep expertise in distributed computing principles, programming languages, and cloud infrastructure. They also mentor junior team members and help architect robust solutions for complex technical problems.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior distributed systems engineers, software engineers in specialized fields like cloud infrastructure, and senior engineers with extensive experience and advanced skills can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation often depends on expertise in areas such as distributed architecture, performance optimization, and familiarity with tools like Kubernetes and cloud platforms, along with relevant certifications and a strong track record of project delivery.

Is L5 at Google Senior?

L5 at Google typically corresponds to a senior-level engineering role, often called Software Engineer II or equivalent, with significant experience and technical expertise. It is considered a mid-to-senior level position, with responsibilities including project leadership and mentorship. Advancement to higher levels generally requires demonstrated impact and leadership in projects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Distributed Systems Engineer job openings:
Senior Systems Engineer

Senior Systems Engineer

Systems Planning and Analysis

Springfield, VA • On-site

$109K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

Overview
Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.
The Space and Intelligence Division provides professional services to the US Space Force, Combatant Commands, Intelligence Community, and NASA. Our work includes enterprise architectural assessments, systems engineering and integration, test, planning and execution, cost estimating and analysis, acquisition support, and cybersecurity. We are trusted partners developing approaches and concepts to meet emerging high priority needs, assessing cutting-edge technologies, and supporting capabilities for our National Defense. Come join the fastest growing Division at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.!
The Intelligence Programs Group (IPG), part of SPA's Space and Intelligence Division, is a specialized provider of systems engineering and trusted advisory services to the Space and National Intelligence community. We utilize mission-proven, data-driven advisory tools and capabilities. We provide highly technical support to ensure the government acquires cutting edge technology necessary for our National Defense. Our portfolio includes the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Come where you will be part of our high-caliber team!
SPA has an immediate need for a Senior Systems Engineer.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will assist in leading engineering teams in taking a multi-discipline and comprehensive systems perspective to GEOINT ground architecture.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
  • Leading and assisting with the acquisition, refactoring, and integration of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) ground systems to introduce capabilities that support emerging use cases.
  • Collaborate with technical experts to design systems that will seamlessly fit into Systems of Systems (SoSs) and Families of Systems (FoSs) architectures.
  • Assist the Government in directing requirements engineering, solutions engineering, scheduling, reliability, resiliency, services development, integration, test and evaluation, maintainability and analysis across the National System of Geospatial-intelligence (NSG), Allied System of Geospatial-intelligence (ASG) and Federal Agencies.
  • Assist with planning, analysis/traceability of user requirements, architectures traceability, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review cloud service capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations.
  • Advise the Government on proposed changes to the solutions designs based on analysis of requirements and new technology.
  • Assist the Government in the capture and translation of mission and customer requirements/needs into systems/capability requirements and solutions.
  • Support the analyses and allocation of requirements to systems architecture components and executing programs.
  • Assist the Government in performing systems integration activities.
  • Assist in leading Analysis of Alternatives (AoAs), Course of Actions (CoAs), Trade Studies, and Engineering Assessments.
  • Assist the Government in strategic technical planning, project management, performance engineering, risk management, and interface design.
  • Provide expert advice to the Government in the areas of relating vision, strategy, plans, needs, requirements, and process and capability developments.
  • Operate at the level of integrating multiple Major Systems Acquisitions across organizational, agency, department, governmental/national boundaries.

Qualifications
  • Active TS/SCI clearance
  • Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering or in related technical or scientific fields such as Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Operations Research, Engineering Management, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, or related STEM degree program; or 18 years of experience as a Systems Engineer in lieu of a degree
  • 10 years of working experience in government or industry in relevant work areas, including DoD/IC Acquisition Process, Requirements Process, PPBES Process, or System Engineering of large complex System of Systems or Service Oriented Architecture/Cloud environments
  • Experience with and strong understanding of systems engineering lifecycle
  • Documented work experience and demonstrated knowledge of:
    • GEOINT TCPED cycle and familiarity with systems / services that comprise TCPED
    • NGA and its Mission Partners
  • Ability to report to designated work location in Springfield, VA, up to full time, based on the needs of the customer

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc.
Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Pay Transparency Range: $175,000 - $190,000
Pay Range Information
At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Virginia, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $175,000.00/Yr. - USD $190,000.00/Yr.