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Senior Federal Government Software Engineer Jobs

SAIC

Software Engineer

North Charleston, SC

Serve as the full-stack engineer for a government software system, overseeing backend services ... Prior experience in a DoD, IC, or other federal contracting environment. * Proficiency with React ...

L3HHCM20

Sr. Assoc, Software Engineering

Nashville, TN · On-site

$118K - $156K/yr

Nashville, TN Schedule: 9/80-Every other Friday off The Software Engineer, Specialist Level is an ... or government software development experience * 1 years experience C# and Visual Studio required ...

Tines

Senior Software Engineer - Government Cloud

OR · Remote

$122K - $161K/yr

Senior Software Engineer - Government Cloud We're hiring a software engineer to join the team responsible for bringing Tines to federal customers in AWS GovCloud. You'll build and improve the product ...

Cherokee Federal

Software Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$210K - $240K/yr

Level 3 (Staff): $180,000 - $200,000 Level 4 (Senior Staff): $210,000-$240,000 Pay commensurate ... federal, state or local law. Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or ...

Refinitiv

Senior Software Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$102.20 - $189.80/hr

Senior Software Engineer** to support our DoD/DoW customers. Software Engineers supporting these ... S. Citizenship essential to comply with government contract/agency or department of Federal ...

Cherokee Federal

Software Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$210K - $240K/yr

Level 3 (Staff): $180,000 - $200,000 Level 4 (Senior Staff): $210,000-$240,000 Pay commensurate ... federal, state or local law. Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or ...

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Senior Federal Government Software Engineer information

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$75.5K

$143.3K

$192K

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

As of Aug 12, 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?

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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 1% Contract. 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.

Software Engineer

SAIC

North Charleston, SC

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

SAIC rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 79 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 223 rated it services

Job description

Job ID: 2614867

Location: North Charleston, SC, US

Date Posted: 2026-07-27

Category: Software

Subcategory: SW Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Interim_Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE


Description

SAIC is seeking a Software Engineer to own full stack development and technical maturation of a government software prototype as it transitions from research/prototype status to a Program of Record (PoR) for our customer site in North Charleston, SC.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the full-stack engineer for a government software system, overseeing backend services, frontend applications, and supporting infrastructure.
  • Design, develop, and maintain APIs and services using Go and Python, while driving the technical roadmap to transition a research prototype into a production-ready system for a Program of Record.
  • Refactor, re-architect, and harden prototype code to meet security, scalability, maintainability, and supportability standards required for fielded DoD/government systems.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity/ISSO personnel to implement RMF-compliant technical controls, support ATO accreditation, and contribute to required security documentation/artifacts.
  • Enforce secure software development practices, including secure coding standards, vulnerability management, container hardening, secrets management, logging/auditing, and secure CI/CD pipelines.
  • Integrate and advocate for AI-assisted development tools to enhance code quality, security posture, and software delivery efficiency.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

  • Bachelors and five (5) years or more work experience; (4) four years of additional work experience accepted in lieu of degree.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Go, Python.
  • Active, hands-on use of AI development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar AI coding assistants) as part of daily engineering work.
  • Practical experience with cybersecurity-conscious software engineering — secure coding practices, vulnerability remediation, container/infrastructure hardening, or similar. 
  • Experience taking prototype/research-grade code and maturing it into a production, supportable system.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Direct experience supporting an ATO package (SSP development, control implementation, POA&M management, eMASS).
  • Experience with containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipeline security.
  • Familiarity with DoD software acquisition processes and prototype-to-Program-of-Record transitions.
  • Experience with cloud environments (AWS GovCloud or similar) in an accredited/compliance-driven context.
  • Prior experience in a DoD, IC, or other federal contracting environment.
  • Proficiency with React and Rust.
  • Familiarity with the general lifecycle of moving a system through security accreditation (RMF, ATO, or equivalent commercial/compliance frameworks) — prior direct ATO experience is a strong plus but not mandatory. 

Required Security Clearance:

  • Must be a US Citizen with an active Interim Secret clearance to start and the ability to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.

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