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Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance Jobs

GNC ENGINEER - TOP SECRET CLEARANCE As a guidance, navigation, and control mission design engineer ... Build software tools and construct scenarios to perform system-of-systems performance analysis of ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท Hybrid

$120K - $160K/yr

Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC is looking for a Senior Software Engineer for a position located in San Diego, CA

New

GNC ENGINEER - TOP SECRET CLEARANCE As a guidance, navigation, and control mission design engineer ... Build software tools and construct scenarios to perform system-of-systems performance analysis of ...

GNC ENGINEER - TOP SECRET CLEARANCE As a guidance, navigation, and control mission design engineer ... Build software tools and construct scenarios to perform system-of-systems performance analysis of ...

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Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance information

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$75.5K

$143.3K

$192K

How much do senior software engineer top secret clearance jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software engineer top secret clearance 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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software engineer with Top Secret Clearance, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer with Top Secret Clearance, you need advanced software development expertise, a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, and eligibility for a U.S. government Top Secret security clearance. Proficiency in programming languages (such as Java, C++, or Python), secure coding practices, and familiarity with tools like Git, Jenkins, and classified government systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, leadership, and clear communication skills help you collaborate effectively and solve complex problems in secure environments. These competencies are essential to deliver robust, secure software solutions while adhering to strict security protocols in sensitive projects.

What is a senior software engineer with Top Secret Clearance?

A Senior Software Engineer with Top Secret Clearance is an experienced software developer who is authorized to access classified government information up to the Top Secret level. These professionals typically work on sensitive projects for federal agencies or defense contractors, designing, developing, and maintaining complex software systems. The Top Secret clearance indicates a high level of trust and requires a comprehensive background investigation. This role often involves working in secure environments and following strict security protocols to protect national security interests.

What are some unique challenges senior software engineers with Top Secret Clearance might face in their day-to-day work?

Senior Software Engineers with Top Secret Clearance often encounter unique challenges such as working within highly secure environments where strict protocols limit access to tools, data, and collaboration platforms. Communication and code sharing may be restricted, requiring creative problem-solving and vigilant adherence to security measures. Additionally, projects may have unpredictable timelines due to security reviews and compliance checks, making flexibility and patience essential. Despite these challenges, the role offers the opportunity to work on impactful, mission-critical projects alongside a highly skilled, security-cleared team.
What cities are hiring for Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance jobs? Cities with the most Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance jobs? The most popular types of Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Software Engineer Top Secret Clearance jobs include:

Senior Software Engineer - Backend

Data Driven Engineering LLC

Ladson, SC โ€ข On-site

$119K - $157K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Description:About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Backend Software Engineer with experience in containerized environments and orchestration platforms, specifically OpenShift, to join our mission-focused team. You’ll be responsible for designing and implementing secure, scalable backend services that operate within regulated government environments. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex systems that contribute directly to national security, with significant responsibility and technical ownership. As a senior software engineer, you will be mentoring junior personnel and could be responsible for budget and program management tasking.

This position requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.


What is a Senior Software Engineer – Backend

A Senior Software Engineer (Backend) is a highly skilled technical leader responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power applications. They focus on scalability, security, and performance, taking ownership of complex features from design to production while mentoring junior engineers and defining technical standards.


Key Responsibilities

· Design, implement, and maintain robust backend services, APIs, and data pipelines.

· Build and deploy containerized applications in OpenShift and Kubernetes-based environments.

· Collaborate with DevOps, security, and infrastructure teams to ensure high-availability and compliant deployments.

· Lead architecture and design discussions with a focus on secure and scalable systems.

· Implement logging, monitoring, and alerting to support production systems.

· Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement.

· Support incident response and root cause analysis for production issues.

· Author technical documentation for internal and external stakeholders, with an emphasis on compliance and system security.


What We Offer

· Competitive salary and equity opportunities

· Security clearance sponsorship and support

· Flexible remote or hybrid work arrangements (depending on clearance and contract)

· Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

· 401(k) with employer matching

· Paid time off, federal holidays, and parental leave

· A mission-driven team culture supporting national defense and public service


Work Environment

  • Collaborative Agile development team supporting secure web application delivery.
  • May involve testing in multiple environments (Dev, Test, Integration).
  • Some testing may occur on classified or controlled networks.
  • Operates in a professional office environment and uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones

Physical Demands


The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Ability to sit/stand for up to 8 hours per day (with breaks)
  • Ability to move freely for up to 8 hours per day

DISCLAIMER: The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description doesn't constitute a contract of employment and the company may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.


Requirements:Required Qualifications

· U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a Secret or Top Secret clearance with SCI access.

· Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

· 5+ years of backend software development experience.

· Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Python, Go, Java, Node.js, C#).

· Hands-on experience with OpenShift (or Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform) in production environments.

· Strong understanding of microservices architecture and API development.

· Experience with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis).

· Familiarity with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes, OpenShift).

· Knowledge of CI/CD tools and secure deployment pipelines.

· Understanding of system security, authentication, and role-based access control (RBAC).


Preferred Qualifications

· Active Secret or Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is highly preferred.

· Experience working on government contracts or in classified environments (DoD, Intelligence Community, etc.).

· Experience deploying and managing applications in OpenShift on premises or in secure cloud environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government).

· Familiarity with STIGs, NIST 800-53, RMF, or other compliance frameworks.

· Background with messaging systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ), GraphQL, or gRPC.

· Experience with infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) in secure environments.