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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Washington

Senior Software Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$68.43 - $112.91/hr

PEMCCO is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, integration, testing, and sustainment of software applications and systems supporting critical ...

Senior Software Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$68.43 - $112.91/hr

PEMCCO is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, integration, testing, and sustainment of software applications and systems supporting critical ...

Senior Software Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$68.43 - $112.91/hr

PEMCCO is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, integration, testing, and sustainment of software applications and systems supporting critical ...

Showing results 21-40

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 Aug 6, 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?

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 is a senior software development engineer?

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 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, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $162,292 per year, or $78 per hour.

Senior Software Development Engineer, Engagement Security

Amazon

Herndon, VA • Hybrid

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,062 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

AWS Engagement Security (EngSec) enables AWS colleagues, partners, and contractors to meet AWS's high security bar when working with the public and our customers. We seek a Senior Software Development Engineer (SDE) to build and operate large-scale, distributed systems that power internal security services. You will lead the design, implementation, and operation of infrastructure and tooling that enable AWS teams to deliver for our customers while meeting our strict security requirements.

This role includes supporting AI/ML workloads, including Large Language Model (LLM) applications.
As an SDE, you will work closely with security engineers, machine learning engineers, project managers, and other SDEs. Your solutions will reduce the effort to deliver secure results, speed up and simplify security activities like code scanning and compliance analysis, and collect data about security to help AWS leaders make informed decisions.
Key job responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain reliable, scalable infrastructure that leverages AI to deliver faster, more resilient services to customers.
- Develop automation tools and frameworks to eliminate manual operational work
- Mentor one or more developers on the team
- Own the operational health of services, including monitoring, alerting, and incident response
- Participate in on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 service availability
- Collaborate with security and ML teams to improve system architecture and operational excellence
A day in the life
Software Development Engineers embody Amazon's Leadership Principles, particularly:
- Ownership: Design for long-term operational health
- Dive Deep: Leverage the AWS platform to its fullest
- Invent and Simplify: Innovate ways to reduce operational complexity
- Learn and Be Curious: Stay current with emerging technologies including AI/ML and LLMs
- Are Right, A Lot: We uphold the security bar for a large number of diverse global teams

We must be right.
- This role works from the office
- This role participates in on-call rotation
About the team
Diverse Experiences
AWS Security values diverse experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description.

If your career hasn't followed a traditional path, don't let it stop you from applying.
Why AWS Security?
Security is central to how AWS maintains customer trust and delivers delightful customer experiences. We are responsible for maintaining a high security bar across all of AWS's products and services.
Inclusive Team Culture
In AWS Security, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness

Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.
Training & Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture

When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there's nothing we can't achieve.


What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

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