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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Washington

Samprasoft

SDET - Data Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

Senior Software Development Engineer In Test Senior resource with experience as a SDET in Application Development, Manual, Automated, Web services, Client/Server and Cloud based applications testing ...

Astrion

Senior Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

Overview Senior Software Engineer LOCATION: Arlington, VA JOB STATUS : Full-time CLEARANCE : Top ... Knowledge and experience in software design, development, test, and project management is required

Astrion

Senior Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

Overview Senior Software Engineer LOCATION: Arlington, VA JOB STATUS : Full-time CLEARANCE : Top ... Knowledge and experience in software design, development, test, and project management is required

ECS

Senior Software Developer

Washington, DC · On-site

$60.25 - $79.50/hr

This role provides senior-level application development support for mission systems operating in secure federal environments. The Senior Software Developer will design, code, test, debug, integrate ...

Ampcus

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Mid -Senior Level Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) Basic Purpose: * The Digital Delivery team develops innovative member and team member experiences that leverage the latest technologies ...

Amazon

Senior SDE, S3 Request Processing

Arlington, VA · On-site +1

$140K - $185K/yr

As a Senior Software Development Engineer in S3, you get to deliver these capabilities and delight our customers through teams of talented engineers and leaders. Key job responsibilities S3 Request ...

Amazon

Senior SDE, S3 Request Processing

Arlington, VA · On-site +1

$140K - $185K/yr

As a Senior Software Development Engineer in S3, you get to deliver these capabilities and delight our customers through teams of talented engineers and leaders. Key job responsibilities S3 Request ...

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All JobsSoftware Development Engineer JobsSenior Software Development Engineer JobsSenior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Washington

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 Jun 26, 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.

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 expertise in areas like cloud computing, machine learning, or leadership roles.

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.

Is L5 at Google Senior?

L5 at Google typically corresponds to a Software Engineer II or Senior Software Engineer level, which is considered an early to mid-career position rather than a senior role. Senior Software Development Engineers at Google usually start at L6 or higher, requiring extensive experience, technical leadership, and project management skills.

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 or those with specialized skills in areas like machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced technical expertise, and a strong track record of impact within high-paying organizations.

What is L1, L2, L3, and L4 developer?

In the context of a Senior Software Development Engineer role, L1, L2, L3, and L4 typically refer to different levels of seniority or experience within a company's engineering ladder. L1 often indicates entry-level or junior engineers, while L2 and L3 represent increasing levels of experience and responsibility, with L4 usually denoting senior or lead engineers. These levels help define expectations for skills, project scope, and leadership within the development team.
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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 6% 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.
SDET - Data Engineer

SDET - Data Engineer

Samprasoft

Washington, DC • On-site

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Senior Software Development Engineer In Test

Senior resource with experience as a SDET in Application Development, Manual, Automated, Web services, Client/Server and Cloud based applications testing – 8-10 years.

Experience in Automation Framework designing, coding/scripting, CICDE pipeline integrations etc.

Experience in performing Integration testing, Regression testing, Database testing, System testing, Data verification testing and User acceptance testing (UAT)

Firm Knowledge of different phases of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) including Agile Methodology and Waterfall

Extensive experience in preparing Test strategy, Test plan, Test scenarios, Test cases, Test scripts and Test data preparation based on User requirements and System Requirements

Experience in setting up test environment for automated script execution using Selenium WebDriver, Java and TestNG

Experience in Creation of Data Driven, Modular driven and Page Object Module Frameworks

Experience in using the Test Management Tool (JIRA XRAY, Quality Center, Test Director, Test Complete, Rational Test Manager) during entire Testing Phase.

Well versed in creation of automation test scripts for Cross Browser Testing for Firefox, Safari, Chrome and IE using Selenium Grid

Good programming experience with Core Java/Perl/Shell/Python

Experience on BDD (Behavior Driven Development), TDD (Test Driven Development) and ATDD (Acceptance Test Driven Development)

Well versed in Webservices and API testing using SoapUI tool for both SOAP and REST services

Experience in performing Automation for REST Webservices using Maven Projects integrated with TestNG and Junit frameworks

Hands on experience in designing and executing test cases for different Testing methodologies like Black Box, White Box, Smoke Testing Functional testing, Regression testing, Retesting, Unit Testing, Integration testing, GUI testing, Security Testing, System Testing, Reports Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

Hands on experience in UNIX Commands

Expertise in Bug Reporting, Bug Tracking using JIRA & Rally and actively interacted with the development team to fix crucial bugs

Experience in Selenium, Jmeter, WinRunner and Loadrunner to automate performance and load testing. Tools such as HP/Mercury QTP, Quality Center, Test Director and Test Partner

Worked on web based and cloud-based applications testing in agile environment

Experience in SQL query executions in Database as a part of backend Data Verifications and Test case data setup. Knowledge of RDBMS and proven SQL skills

Excellent analytical, problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills along with a good aptitude for learning

Testing tools: Selenium IDE/RC/Webdriver, Selenium GRID, Cucumber, Loadrunner9, JUnit, TestNG, SoapUI Pro, REST API, RIT, Jenkins 1.5, QTP, Gherkin, JMeter

Test management tools: Rally, JIRA, Test Complete and SVN

Test Build & Integration Tools: Maven, ANT, Jenkins

Programming Languages: Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, UNIX, Angular.js, and Python.

Web Development: HTML, XML, REST, JSON

Frameworks: Selenium Web Testing, Cucumber, RESTful Web Services, MySQL

Platforms: Windows, UNIX

Browsers: Edge, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera

MS Office tools: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Access

Build tools: Maven, Jenkins, and Protractor

AWS Stack: Knowledge of Lambda, SQS/SNS, ECS, EC2, IAM, Route53, S3, RDS etc.

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