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Senior Federal Government Software Engineer Jobs

ThinkTek

Senior Software Engineer

Quantico, VA · On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Who We Are: ThinkTek LLC is a fast-growing Certified SBA 8(a) and Service ... Federal Government. ThinkTek was formed with the specific purpose of providing its clients a ...

ThinkTek LLC

Senior Software Engineer

Quantico, VA · On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Who We Are: ThinkTek LLC is a fast-growing Certified SBA 8(a) and Service ... Federal Government. ThinkTek was formed with the specific purpose of providing its clients a ...

ThinkTek

Senior Software Engineer

Quantico, VA · On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Who We Are: ThinkTek LLC is a fast-growing Certified SBA 8(a) and Service ... Federal Government. ThinkTek was formed with the specific purpose of providing its clients a ...

SAIC

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Indianapolis, IN · Hybrid

$120K - $165K/yr

ORA_HYBRID Description SAIC is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer for the Naval Air ... S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately ...

Rancher Government Solutions

Sr. Software Engineer

Reston, VA · Remote

$127K - $168K/yr

Senior Software Engineer (Go & Kubernetes Expertise) Location: Remote Company Description Rancher ... United States federal government. As part of this team, you will help design scalable, secure ...

SAIC

Senior Software Engineer

Patuxent River, MD

$80K - $120K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer will work as part of the PMA-275 government Software integrated ... federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end ...

Nvidia

OR · On-site

S. Federal software ecosystem, working with ISVs building critically important platforms for ... Engage senior technical leaders (Chief Architects, CTOs, AI platform teams) at federal ISVs and ...

SAIC

Senior Software Engineer

Patuxent River, MD

$80K - $120K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer will work as part of the PMA-275 government Software integrated product team responsible for modifying aircraft and ground system software to correct defects, implement ...

SAIC

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Indianapolis, IN · Hybrid

$120K - $165K/yr

ORA_HYBRID Description SAIC is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer for the Naval Air ... The software engineer will work as part of the PMA-275 government Software Integrated Product Team ...

SUSE RGS

Sr. Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

Senior Software Engineer (Go & Kubernetes Expertise) Location: Remote COMPANY DESCRIPTION Rancher ... United States federal government. As part of this team, you will help design scalable, secure ...

DLS Engineering

Senior Software Engineer

Saint Louis, MO · On-site

$118K - $126K/yr

About DLS Engineering DLS is an engineering firm with 30 years of Federal Government contracting ... Senior Software Engineer at DLS Engineering (on-site) DLS Engineering is seeking a Senior Software ...

SAIC

Senior Software Engineer

Patuxent River, MD · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer will work as part of the PMA-275 government Software integrated product team responsible for modifying aircraft and ground system software to correct defects, implement ...

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All JobsSenior Federal Government Software Engineer Jobs

Senior Federal Government Software Engineer information

See salary details

$75.5K

$143.3K

$192K

How much do senior federal government software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior federal government software engineer in the United States is $143,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,500.00 and $161,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Federal Government Software Engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Federal Government Software Engineers often navigate complex security requirements, legacy systems integration, and strict regulatory compliance. Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and communicating technical solutions to non-technical stakeholders are also frequent challenges. Staying up to date with evolving federal standards and adopting agile methodologies can help address these issues. Building strong relationships with project managers, cybersecurity experts, and other engineers is key to successfully delivering robust, compliant solutions.

What is the difference between Senior Federal Government Software Engineer vs Federal Government Software Developer?

AspectSenior Federal Government Software EngineerFederal Government Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; often requires security clearanceBachelor's in CS or related; security clearance may be preferred
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and testing software systems within government agenciesWriting and maintaining code for government projects, often under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageFederal agencies, defense, intelligence, and related sectorsFederal agencies, defense contractors, and government IT departments

The main difference is that Senior Federal Government Software Engineers typically lead complex projects, require more experience, and may have additional responsibilities like system architecture. Developers focus on coding and implementing features under guidance. Both roles require security clearances and work within government IT environments, but engineers often have a broader scope and higher level of expertise.

What does a Senior Federal Government Software Engineer do?

A Senior Federal Government Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains complex software systems used by federal agencies. They lead software development projects, ensure compliance with federal security and quality standards, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technical solutions with government objectives. Their role often includes mentoring junior engineers and staying updated on emerging technologies and regulations relevant to federal IT environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Federal Government Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Federal Government Software Engineer, you need advanced programming skills, a degree in computer science or related field, and experience with large-scale software projects in a federal environment. Familiarity with security protocols, Agile or DevSecOps methodologies, and tools such as Java, Python, AWS GovCloud, and federal compliance systems (e.g., FISMA, FedRAMP) is typically required. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills set top performers apart, as they often lead interdisciplinary teams and coordinate with stakeholders. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering secure, reliable software solutions that meet strict government standards and mission-critical needs.
More about Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Federal Government Software Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Federal Government Software Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Federal Government Software Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs are:
Senior Federal Government Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Federal Government Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,292 per year, or $68.9 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

ThinkTek

Quantico, VA • On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

Senior Software Engineer
Who We Are: ThinkTek LLC is a fast-growing Certified SBA 8(a) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) company. We specialize in providing management and technology consulting services to support the business and technology modernization efforts of the Federal Government. ThinkTek was formed with the specific purpose of providing its clients a tailored solution around Program & Project Management, Strategic Planning, Systems Engineering, and IT Operations.
Position Description: ThinkTek is seeking a highly motivated Senior Software Engineer to support software architecture, engineering, and technical analysis support to assist the program in evaluating, designing, integrating, and improving software solutions. The role requires expertise in software architecture, systems integration, code review, performance analysis, and cybersecurity considerations for modern enterprise and simulation environments.
Key Responsibilities:
Architecture Review and Analysis
  • Provide software architecture and engineering subject matter expertise.
  • Review and analyze high-level architecture designs to ensure scalability, maintainability, and alignment with requirements.

Requirements Decomposition
  • Decompose high-level program requirements into detailed technical specifications.
  • Evaluate potential GOTS and COTS solutions against program requirements.

Code Review and Quality Assurance
  • Review code developed by external vendors to ensure compliance with technical requirements and coding standards.

Technology Evaluation
  • Test and evaluate proof-of-concept applications and emerging technologies.
  • Provide recommendations on technical feasibility and system integration.

Performance and Security Assessment
  • Analyze application performance, reliability, and security posture.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to provide improvement recommendations.

Integration and Interoperability Analysis
  • Review and assess architecture and design plans for integrating COTS/GOTS systems, APIs, middleware, communication protocols, and AI tools to ensure seamless data exchange and interoperability across simulations, software applications, and display systems.

Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution
  • Investigate complex technical issues, system bugs, and operational anomalies.
  • Provide recommendations for remediation.

Data Exchange Architecture
  • Develop or recommend centralized methods for data transfer between software systems.
  • Incorporate end-user feedback and program requirements into data architecture solutions.

Documentation and Reporting
  • Document all:
  • Technical analyses
  • Requirement decompositions
  • Code reviews
  • Testing results
  • Troubleshooting findings
  • Provide clear reports and recommendations to leadership.

Required:
  • Skills & Competencies:
  • Strong expertise in software architecture, systems design, and technical analysis for complex software environments.
  • Proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++, JavaScript) with experience performing code reviews and quality assessments.
  • Experience with system integration, including APIs, middleware, messaging frameworks, and communication protocols
  • Experience analyzing application performance, scalability, reliability, and security, and collaborating with cybersecurity teams on mitigation strategies.
  • Experience designing or supporting data exchange architectures, including secure data transfer between distributed systems.
  • Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC), DevSecOps practices, and multi-vendor development environments
  • Clearance:
  • Active Top Secret Clearance w/ SCI Eligibility
  • Education & Experience:
  • Education: Bachelor's degree (in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Information Technology, or related technical discipline). Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
  • Experience: 8+ years of experience in leading software engineering, software architecture, or systems engineering projects.

Desired:
  • Experience with DoD or Federal Government software programs.
  • Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools.
  • Knowledge of simulation environments or distributed simulation architectures.
  • Experience working with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or government cloud platforms).
  • Familiarity with containerization and microservices architectures.
  • Knowledge of AI/ML integration into operational systems.

ThinkTek LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. ThinkTek offers medical, dental, and vision insurance to all full-time employees; PTO and a variety of other paid leave options are also available. You can read more about ThinkTek benefits at .

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