ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Federal Government Software Engineer Jobs

Precise Systems

Senior Software Architect

Lexington Park, MD · On-site

$125K - $170K/yr

Coordinate across government, contractor, cybersecurity, engineering, and operational stakeholders ... federal, state, or local law. Visit www.GoPrecise.com for a listing of current openings and our ...

Omni Federal

Software Engineer

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Full Stack Software Engineer Location: Colorado Springs, CO Security Clearance: TS/SCI We question ... the Federal government. Our past performance is a mix of commercial and federal business that ...

Apply Early

GliaCell Technologies

Senior Software Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$170K - $260K/yr

Are you a Senior Software Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to ... Up to 40 hours of PTO Carryover * 11 Federal Government Holidays * Work From Home Opportunities ...

GliaCell Technologies

Senior Software Engineer

Aurora, CO · On-site

$170K - $260K/yr

Are you a Senior Software Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to ... Up to 40 hours of PTO Carryover * 11 Federal Government Holidays * Work From Home Opportunities ...

GliaCell Technologies

Senior Software Engineer

Aurora, CO · On-site

Are you a Senior Software Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to ... Up to 40 hours of PTO Carryover * 11 Federal Government Holidays * Work From Home Opportunities ...

Apply Early

next page

Showing results 1-20

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 30, 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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,292 per year, or $68.9 per hour.
Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer

Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Aurora, CO • On-site

$149K - $234K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Provide custom software design and development of CNO tools and techniques.

  • Design and develop end-to-end data flow and tasking into CNO tools developed.

  • Provide and author documentation, and participate in design, code, and software readiness reviews as prescribed by the Government's software development procedures and processes.

Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 346 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

110th of 527 rated manufacturers

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: PolygraphTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We're looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we'll support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman you'll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems would like you to join our team as a Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer. Places of performance for this position are Annapolis Junction MD, San Antonio TX, Aurora CO, and Carey, NC.

What You'll Get to Do:

Provides custom software design and development of CNO tools and techniques. Designs and develops end-to-end data flow and tasking into CNO tools developed.

Provides/authors documentation, participate in design, code, and software readiness reviews in accordance with the Government's software development procedures and processes. The Level 2 CNO Analyst/Programmer shall possess the following capabilities: Program in Assembly, C, C++, Java, Perl, or Python.

Develop Windows applications using Visual Studio or .NET environments; UNIX applications using make files or comparable build environments; or, Embedded or mobile platform development using proprietary, GOTS, or open-source build environments. Provide/author documentation, participate in design, code, and software readiness reviews as prescribed by the Government's software development procedures and processes.

Design and develop end-to-end data flow and tasking for CNO tools developed.

Provide/author documentation, design, code, and software readiness reviews as prescribed by the Government's software development procedures and processes.

Provide/author and participate in technical presentations on assigned projects.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree and experience must be in computer science, information systems, or network engineering with 8 years of experience, Masters degree with 6 years of experience, PhD with 4 years of experience.
  • Experience in programming with CNO Tools and techniques.
  • Experience using network sockets programming, including developing packet-level programs, expert packet-level understanding of IP, TCP, and application-level protocols.
  • Software development experience in one or more of the following: 1. Windows application using Visual Studio or.NET environments, or 2. Unix/Linux applications using make files or comparable build environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience analyzing user requirements to derive software design and performance requirements
  • Software analysis or reverse engineering
  • CNO development concepts
  • Unit testing frameworks and practices

This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

What We Can Offer You:

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.

Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including: Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!

Primary Level Salary Range: $149,300.00 - $234,600.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, 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. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

What Northrop Grumman employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Northrop Grumman logo

About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939

View All Northrop Grumman Jobs

Apply