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Senior Software Engineer Jobs in Ames, IA (NOW HIRING)

Senior Automation Engineer Robotics Software for Ankeny, IA to build & configure robotics automation applications; investigate mechanical failures & unexpected maintenance problems; install ...

Senior Mobile Developer

Nevada, IA ยท On-site

$125K - $135K/yr

... Software Engineer with a focus on designing and building complex, scalable systems. - Deep understanding of software engineering principles, design patterns, algorithms, and system architecture ...

Get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey as a Staff Software Engineer! As a technical leader on the team, you'll be a driving force behind their success, providing them with the technical ...

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Ankeny, IA ยท On-site

$102K - $132K/yr

PURPOSE The Senior Electrical Engineer serves as a subject matter expert in electrical systems ... Produce and review drawings using Revit; familiarity with related software packages is a plus

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Ankeny, IA ยท On-site

$102K - $132K/yr

PURPOSE The Senior Electrical Engineer serves as a subject matter expert in electrical systems ... Produce and review drawings using Revit; familiarity with related software packages is a plus

Senior Engineer - SCADA

Nevada, IA ยท On-site

$120 - $150/hr

Step into leadership as a Senior SCADA Engineer at Qualus, where innovation meets expertise. In ... Evaluate process computer systems and recommend software modifications. * Develop operational logic ...

Sr. Automation Engineer

Ankeny, IA ยท On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Non-Exempt PURPOSE The Senior Automation Engineer provides technical start-up, checkout and ... Uploading, downloading, and modification of control software and programs. * IP network ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Ankeny, IA ยท On-site

$100K - $131K/yr

... software. They will have 15+ years of relevant electrical engineering experience and have the ability and willingness to teach and mentor others. A successful Sr. Electrical Engineer will showcase ...

Sr. Automation Engineer

Ankeny, IA ยท On-site

$98K - $129K/yr

Senior Automation Engineer Department: Automation FLSA Designation: Non-Exempt PURPOSE The Senior ... Uploading, downloading, and modification of control software and programs. * IP network ...

Senior Drainage Engineer

Nevada, IA ยท On-site

$130 - $180/hr

Senior Drainage Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Reno, NV ... Expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic software, including HEC-1, HEC-2, HEC-RAS, etc.Experience ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Software Engineer information

See Ames, IA salary details

$62.5K

$118.7K

$159K

How much do senior software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software engineer in Ames, IA is $118,661.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,400.00 and $133,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior software engineer?

A senior software engineer designs, codes, tests, and maintains computer software. While these are your primary responsibilities as a senior software engineer, you may also have supervisory duties. These include overseeing a team of junior software engineers or developers. The senior software engineer title is sometimes used interchangeably with senior developer, and positions for both may share similar job duties and responsibilities. In general, software engineers are distinguished from developers in that software engineers apply engineering principles to software development.

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

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer, you need advanced programming skills, deep understanding of software architecture, and several years of experience in software development, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with tools like Git, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and expertise in technologies such as Java, Python, or JavaScript are typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for mentoring teams and collaborating across departments. These skills ensure the delivery of robust, scalable solutions and drive successful project outcomes in complex technical environments.

What are some common challenges senior software engineers face when mentoring junior team members?

Senior Software Engineers often mentor junior colleagues, which can be incredibly rewarding but also presents challenges. Balancing mentorship with project deadlines can be demanding, as it requires strong time management and communication skills. Additionally, adapting explanations to different learning styles and levels of experience can be tricky. However, effective mentorship helps build a stronger team and can lead to enhanced leadership opportunities for the senior engineer.

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

AspectSenior Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; experience often 5+ yearsBachelor's in CS or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesigning complex systems, leading projects, mentoringWriting code, developing features, debugging
Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, enterpriseCommon in software firms, startups, freelance work
Search & ComparisonOften compared for experience level, responsibilitiesCompared for entry-level to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Senior Software Engineer and a Software Developer lies in experience, responsibilities, and scope. Senior Software Engineers typically have more experience, lead projects, and mentor others, while Software Developers focus on coding and feature development. Both roles are essential in tech companies, but the Senior Software Engineer position involves higher-level planning and leadership.

What does a senior software engineer do?

A senior software engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications, often leading projects and mentoring junior team members. They analyze requirements, write code, perform testing, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and efficiency. Proficiency in programming languages, problem-solving skills, and experience with development tools are essential for this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA?

The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:

What cities near Ames, IA are hiring for Senior Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Ames, IA with the most Senior Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Software Engineer job openings in Ames, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $140,166 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Software Engineer - Computer Vision & Machine Learning

Rogers Freels & Associates Inc

Urbandale, IA โ€ข On-site

$70K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) supports industry-leading clients through the full software development lifecycle to build cutting-edge precision agriculture, machine guidance, vehicle automation and autonomy applications. We are seeking passionate, talented engineers to work on exciting projects using the latest tools and technologies including robotics, computer-vision, machine learning, IoT, cloud computing, and much more. Collaborate with a team of industry experts onsite at our client's world-class engineering center and contribute to developing innovative solutions that drive sustainable agriculture practices.

This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.

Software Engineer – Computer Vision & Machine Learning 

RFA Engineering is seeking a Software Engineer in the field of Robotics, Perception, Vision Processing and Machine Learning to architect, develop and integrate new intelligent features into the next generation of agricultural and off-highway equipment.

 Responsibilities

  • Develop machine learning and computer vision algorithms for automation and autonomy product development.
  • Design, implement, and optimize machine learning algorithms and computer vision solutions for production intent hardware. Work with Stereo, monocular cameras, Lidar, radar, edge compute devices.
  • Data collection and processing for CVML algorithms development. Utilize data-driven insights to inform your development process and improve models/algorithms.
  • Quickly learn new technologies, tools, and methodologies in the fields of computer vision and machine learning. Stay abreast of the latest research and trends, applying this knowledge to your work and sharing insights with the team.
  • Primary needs relating to theoretical geometric computer vision - involving concepts like singletons, SLAM (localization, mapping), triangulation, projective geometry, feature detection, depth estimation, camera models/calibration/rectification
  • Secondary needs relating to Machine Learning algorithm development. All aspects of model architecture development including: problem definition, data collection/prep, model selection, architecture design, training , evaluation, optimization, deployment, monitoring/maintenance.

Technical Qualifications:

  • Experience with data visualization, data management, data querying (eg SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, matplotlib)
  • Experience developing and understanding computer vision and machine learning algorithms (models development in pytorch, tensorflow, experience with linear algebra, optimization etc.)
  • Ability to quickly learn state of the art technologies, state of the art research in the domains of computer vision, AI, robotics and be able to implement.
  • Competent in generating, interpreting, and communicating statistical data well and measuring the right statistics to answer the right questions
  • Comfortability reading documentation to read and write good code
  • Proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
  • Experience with Databricks, AWS, cloud
  • Technical expertise matters less in comparison to intelligence, work ethic, and willingness to learn.

Personal Qualification

  • Exceptional work ethic and willingness to learn.
  • Trailblazing spirit: Eager to solve problems in the autonomous robotics and AI space that have never been solved after.
  • Passionate about artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, autonomy, and automation.
  • Eager to OWN work fully and to make decisions with autonomy to deliver. 

Pay Range: $70,000-$140,000 – Commensurate with experience

Visa Sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

About RFA Engineering

RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits

  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • TelaDoc Healthiest You
  • Supplemental Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid Life Insurance
  • Company Paid Long-Term Disability
  • Short-term Disability
  • Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
  • HSA for Medical Expenses
  • Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Education Assistance

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly