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Senior Software Engineer Contract Jobs in Minnesota

TestingXperts

Senior Software Engineer

Eagan, MN · On-site

$124K - $164K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Location: Eagan, MN Senior Software Engineer Developer will be joining Agile team working on our eLearning platform. This team works on the UI, business and data layers plus ...

IPG Photonics

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$110 - $160/hr

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Material Processing Systems Group in the development of advanced laser-based manufacturing systems. This position serves as a senior technical ...

IPG Photonics

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Material Processing Systems Group in the development of advanced laser-based manufacturing systems. This position serves as a senior technical ...

Refinitiv

Senior Software Engineer

Eagan, MN · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Senior Software Engineer -- Content Tools Content Tools • CoCounsel Legal Integrations Overview of the Role The CoCounsel Legal Integrations team within Thomson Reuters is seeking Senior Software ...

Nextern

Senior Software Engineer

Maple Grove, MN

$125K - $165K/yr

Nextern is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our product realization team. At Nextern, we develop innovative medical technologies and connected solutions that improve patient outcomes and ...

Nextern

Senior Software Engineer

Maple Grove, MN · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Nextern is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our product realization team. At Nextern, we develop innovative medical technologies and connected solutions that improve patient outcomes and ...

Nextern

Senior Software Engineer

Maple Grove, MN · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Nextern is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our product realization team. At Nextern, we develop innovative medical technologies and connected solutions that improve patient outcomes and ...

Husch Blackwell LLP

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site +1

$127K - $168K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer designs, builds, and maintains the technical systems and application infrastructure that power high-quality, human-centered information experiences. This role is ...

Husch Blackwell Llp

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site +1

$127K - $168K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer designs, builds, and maintains the technical systems and application infrastructure that power high-quality, human-centered information experiences. This role is ...

Ryan Companies

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN

$121K - $151K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer position is responsible produce scalable software solutions for Ryan Companies. This role is expected to work both independently and as part of a cross-functional and ...

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All JobsSoftware Engineer Contract JobsSenior Software Engineer Contract JobsSenior Software Engineer Contract Jobs in Minnesota

Senior Software Engineer Contract information

See Minnesota salary details

$73.9K

$140.3K

$188K

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

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software engineer contract in Minnesota is $140,341.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $158,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior software engineer contract?

A Senior Software Engineer Contract refers to a temporary employment agreement where an experienced software engineer is hired for a specific period or project rather than as a permanent employee. These professionals bring advanced technical skills and leadership to design, develop, and maintain complex software systems. Contract roles often focus on delivering specialized expertise, meeting project deadlines, and providing mentorship to junior team members. Compensation and benefits may differ from full-time positions, and contracts can range from a few months to a year or more depending on the project's scope.

What are senior software engineer contract jobs?

Senior software engineer contract jobs involve working on software engineering projects on a temporary contract basis. Your duties and responsibilities in this career vary depending on the needs of each client. In general, you utilize your coding skills and computer program knowledge to create software, applications, or operating systems. You typically work with a software company or information technology organization. As a contractor, you work with clients to assess their needs and create or update software or systems to meet the needs of each client.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software engineer on a contract basis, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer on contract, you need advanced programming skills, a strong understanding of software architecture, and several years of experience, often supported by a relevant degree or certifications. Proficiency with development tools like Git, CI/CD systems, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), and familiarity with Agile methodologies are typically expected. Outstanding problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for collaborating with diverse teams and adjusting to new projects quickly. These skills and qualities enable contract engineers to deliver high-quality solutions efficiently, integrate smoothly into client environments, and meet project goals within tight timelines.

What are the typical challenges faced by senior software engineers working on contract assignments?

Senior Software Engineers on contract often navigate challenges such as quickly acclimating to new codebases and team cultures, managing time effectively across multiple projects, and balancing client expectations with technical feasibility. Since contracts are temporary, there may be less onboarding support and less time to build deep relationships with permanent team members, making communication skills especially important. However, this environment also allows for exposure to diverse technologies and problem-solving scenarios, which can significantly enhance your expertise and professional network.

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

AspectSenior Software Engineer ContractSoftware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, experience, possibly certificationsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentProject-based, temporary contracts, often freelance or consultingFull-time employment, ongoing projects within companies
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, startups, consulting agenciesTech companies, software development firms, startups
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for contract roles, freelance opportunities, project-based workSeeking permanent positions, career growth, or full-time roles

The main difference between a Senior Software Engineer Contract and a Software Engineer lies in employment type and work setup. Contract roles are temporary, project-focused, and often freelance, while Software Engineers typically work full-time within a company. Both roles require similar technical skills and credentials, but their work arrangements and career paths differ.

More about Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Senior Software Engineer jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Senior Software Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs in Minnesota?

For Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs in Minnesota are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Senior Software Engineer Contract job openings:

Senior Software Engineer Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Software Engineer Contract job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,341 per year, or $67.5 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

Backburner Labs, Inc

Saint Paul, MN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Welcome to Backburner Labs 

Metal to Mobile 

Some companies build software. Others build hardware. We build whatever the problem demands. 

Backburner Labs is a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy where mechanical, electrical, systems, and software engineers work together to solve complex technical challenges. From embedded systems and industrial automation to robotics, medical devices, IoT, cloud platforms, and AI-enabled applications, we help our clients build products that often don't exist yet. 

Our clients come to us when the engineering is difficult, the timeline is ambitious, and there isn't a roadmap waiting to be followed. They're looking for engineers who can create one. 

If that sounds exciting rather than intimidating, you'll probably enjoy working here. 

You'll collaborate with talented engineers across disciplines, influence technical decisions, learn new technologies, and help turn ideas on a whiteboard into products used in the real world. We move quickly, trust our engineers, and expect everyone to contribute ideas, not just code, designs, or specifications. 

If you're the kind of engineer who asks, "What's the hardest problem we're solving?" before asking, "What's the tech stack?", you'll probably feel right at home. 

Come build what doesn't exist yet. 
Quick Facts

  • Founded: 2019  
  • Company: ~50 people (full-time and contract employees)  
  • Current location: St Paul - St Anthony Park area 
  • Future location: Minneapolis - Prospect Park area (we have leased a 43,000 sq ft building) 
  • Revenue: doubled every year for 5 years (more details shared later) 
  • Client retention: 93% 
The Position

Backburner Labs is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to become an integral part of our team! You will be responsible for creating and modifying computer application software for embedded, industrial, medical, IoT, Cloud, Linux and real-time systems. 

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who can operate at a Senior Software Engineer level. 

You will work closely with four principal-level software engineers. Because our engineering projects are diverse and complex, you will need to be very open to learning new technologies. You are expected to bring a wealth of valuable career knowledge to bear in solving software systems engineering problems for our customers. 

Details:

  • Reports to: Principal Software Engineer
  • Team: ~8
  • Status: Full-time employee
  • Salary range: $!20,000 - $170,000
  • Interview process: (~2.5 weeks):
    • Head of Talent - video call
    • Principal Software Engineer - video call
    • Panel interview and tour - in person
      • Peers
      • Leadership
    • Decision

Responsibilities: 

  • Write great code 

  • Analyze requirements and needs and develop software solutions 

  • Work with the project manager or product owner to meet specification needs 

  • Lead teams of engineers 

  • Research open source technologies to find the best solution to a problem 

  • Design and implement large software systems 

  • Document all programming tasks and procedures 

  • Perform software maintenance 

Qualifications: 

  • 8+ Years of related industry experience 

  • Degree in electrical, software, or computer engineering. Experience in software development or computer engineering 

  • Strong proficiency with C, C++, C#, and Python 

  • Experience with Rust is preferable 

  • Experience with Dart (Flutter) is a plus 

  • Strong understanding and proficiency with Linux 

  • Experience developing GUI and parallelized high-performance software 

  • FPGA and electrical experience is a plus 

  • Knowledge of cloud technologies 

  • Kubernetes and IAC is a plus 

  • Familiarity with relational, graph, vector, and time series databases such as Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, NoSQL technologies, InfluxDB, Neo4j, pgvector. 

  • Deadline and detail-oriented 

  • Self-starter and excited to learn 

  • Ability to work within multi-discipline engineering teams (mechanical and electrical) 

  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills 

  • Strong math skills a plus 

  • Strong communication and documentation skills 


ALL ARE WELCOME
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people of all backgrounds and believe different experiences, perspectives, and ideas make our team and our work better. If you're excited about the role, we encourage you to apply.

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