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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Washington

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Senior Software Development Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$85.5K

$162.3K

$217.5K

How much do senior software development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development engineer in Washington is $162,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $138,700.00 and $182,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Software Development Engineer, you need deep expertise in software engineering principles, advanced programming skills in languages such as Java, Python, or C++, and a bachelor's or higher degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, and experience with CI/CD pipelines are typically required, and certifications in these technologies can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help you mentor junior engineers and collaborate effectively across teams. These competencies are critical for delivering robust solutions, driving technical innovation, and ensuring project success in complex engineering environments.

What are some common challenges Senior Software Development Engineers face when leading cross-functional projects?

Senior Software Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as aligning priorities across diverse teams, managing technical debt while delivering new features, and ensuring effective communication among stakeholders. Balancing hands-on coding with mentorship responsibilities and architectural decision-making can also be demanding. Success in this role typically requires strong interpersonal skills, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to adapt to shifting project requirements while maintaining high code quality.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior Software Development Engineers in high-demand industries or companies, especially those with expertise in areas like machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in large tech firms or startups with significant funding.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Senior Software Development Engineers in many regions can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with experience, specialized skills, and working at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living areas. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, and reaching this level typically requires advanced technical expertise and a strong track record.

What are Senior Software Development Engineers?

Senior Software Development Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and maintain complex software systems. They often lead technical projects, mentor junior developers, and ensure software quality and best practices within a team. Their responsibilities include writing code, conducting code reviews, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and solving challenging technical problems. Senior Software Development Engineers typically have several years of industry experience and a deep understanding of software engineering principles.

What is the difference between Senior Software Development Engineer vs Software Development Engineer?

AspectSenior Software Development EngineerSoftware Development Engineer
ExperienceTypically 5+ years, with leadership responsibilitiesEntry to mid-level, 1-3 years of experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigning complex systems, mentoring juniors, leading projectsImplementing features, fixing bugs, collaborating on code
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in multiple programming languages, system design, often with certificationsStrong coding skills, foundational knowledge, less emphasis on certifications
Work EnvironmentOften leads teams, involved in architecture decisionsFocused on individual contributions, team collaboration

The main difference between a Senior Software Development Engineer and a Software Development Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Seniors typically lead projects and mentor others, while juniors focus on coding and task completion. Both roles are vital in software development teams, with seniors bringing more strategic input and mentorship.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Software Development Engineers at top tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like distributed systems or machine learning, and a track record of significant contributions or leadership roles.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Senior software development engineers at large tech companies or with extensive experience and specialized skills can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires advanced expertise, leadership roles, or working in high-paying industries or regions with competitive compensation packages.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Software Development Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Senior Software Development Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Senior Software Development Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $162,292 per year, or $78 per hour.
Sr Software Development Engineer , AXU

Sr Software Development Engineer , AXU

Amazon.com Services LLC

Arlington, VA • On-site

$141K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,972 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

As a Software Development Engineer for Amazon eXperiences & Upskilling (AXU), you will be responsible for delivering the tools and processes required to ensure ensure every experience built with Amazon technologies naturally makes customers feel ‘this was designed for people like me.’ Our technology enables Amazon’s product, engineering, user experience, and science teams to understand how to build across Amazon broad range of customers, employees, and communities. We give teams scalable tools to deeply understand and connect with their customers, focusing on reaching and delighting a broader customer base.. You'll be at the forefront of building next-generation AI-powered solutions. This role is perfect for someone who combines deep technical expertise in large language models with hands-on experience architecting intelligent agent systems.
In this highly strategic, individual contributor role, you will work closely with cross-functional teams across Amazon to enable the delivery of transformative inclusive experiences. You will be relentlessly focused on providing Amazon's builders with the processes and tools that will make it effortless for teams to build truly inclusive products.
There will be ample opportunities to pitch ideas, design global systems and mentor junior engineers across the org. This is a rare opportunity to leave the world better than you found it by creating the tools that shape the future of inclusive experiences at Amazon. Apply now!
Key job responsibilities
As a Senior SDE on our team, you'll design and build sophisticated AI agent systems that leverage LLM & SLM technologies. You'll architect scalable solutions using Amazon Bedrock's agent core technologies, develop custom MCP servers, and create intelligent automation that transforms how our customers interact with AI. Your work will directly impact millions of users as you push the boundaries of what's possible with generative AI. In this highly strategic, individual contributor role, you will work closely with cross-functional teams across Amazon to enable the delivery of transformative experiences. You will be relentlessly focused on providing Amazon's builders with the processes and tools that will make it effortless for teams to meet even more customers, with everything they build.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Experience managing and deploying ML products
- Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Model fundamentals, including architecture, training/inference lifecycles, and optimization of model execution, or experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Experience working with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to track and measure training results and learning effectiveness
- Advanced prompt engineering expertise (few-shot, chain-of-thought, ReAct, self-consistency techniques)
- Hands-on experience with MCP Tools and integrating agent frameworks
- Strong knowledge of Amazon Bedrock's agents, guardrails, knowledge bases, and model evaluation capabilities
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- Experience developing cloud native CI/CD workflows and tools, such as Jenkins, Bamboo, TeamCity, Code Deploy (AWS) or GitLab
- Experience selling AI/ML solutions
- Experience in developing and deploying LLMs in production on GPUs, Neuron, TPU or other AI acceleration hardware, or experience with interrupt service routines
- Experience in A/B testing
- Experience with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) using Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases and OpenSearch
- Familiarity with multi-agent orchestration, workflow automation using AWS Step Functions and Bedrock Agents
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.


USA, VA, Arlington - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US