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Software Development Contractor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Portland Webworks

Software Development Manager

$126K - $166K/yr

They are seeking a motivated and versatile Software Development Manager to oversee a remote team of ... onboarding, and contractor relationships • Serve as a technical leader across CMS projects ...

New

Teledyne

Software Development Manager

Huntsville, AL · On-site +1

$121K - $160K/yr

Background in aerospace, government contracting, or mission-critical software, with an ... development in a supportive, innovative workplace. If you're ready to lead our team through this ...

Agilent

Software Development Director

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

$213K - $333K/yr

Oversee full software development lifecycle across multiple concurrent projects * Ensure compliance ... Experience managing offshore teams, contractors, and vendors Key Skills * Proven leadership of ...

Agilent

Software Development Director

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$213K - $333K/yr

Oversee full software development lifecycle across multiple concurrent projects * Ensure compliance ... Experience managing offshore teams, contractors, and vendors Key Skills * Proven leadership of ...

KBR

Ground Systems Software Engineer

Denver, CO

$137K - $188K/yr

Title: Ground Systems Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security ... Develop productive relationships with development contractor counterparts, functional counterparts ...

KBR, Inc.

Ground Systems Software Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$137K - $188K/yr

Title: Ground Systems Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security ... Develop productive relationships with development contractor counterparts, functional counterparts ...

Card Kingdom

Software Development Manager

Seattle, WA · On-site

$185K - $210K/yr

Role: We're looking for a Software Development Manager to lead our eCommerce engineering team ... Onboard and direct contractors/vendors who temporarily augment the team, holding them to the same ...

Apply Early

Card Kingdom

Software Development Manager

Seattle, WA · On-site

$185K - $210K/yr

Role: We're looking for a Software Development Manager to lead our eCommerce engineering team ... Onboard and direct contractors/vendors who temporarily augment the team, holding them to the same ...

Apply Early

Card Kingdom

Software Development Manager

Seattle, WA · On-site

$185K - $210K/yr

Role: We're looking for a Software Development Manager to lead our eCommerce engineering team ... Onboard and direct contractors/vendors who temporarily augment the team, holding them to the same ...

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All JobsSoftware Development Contractor Jobs

Software Development Contractor information

See salary details

$79.5K

$142.1K

$178.5K

How much do software development contractor jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for software development contractor in the United States is $142,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does the workflow and communication process typically differ for software development contractors compared to full-time employees?

As a software development contractor, you’ll likely experience more autonomy in your workflow but will need to be proactive in communication since you may not be embedded within the core team. Contractors often attend regular check-ins or stand-ups virtually and coordinate with project managers or technical leads to track deliverables. You may work across multiple projects or teams, so adapting quickly to different coding standards and collaboration tools is essential. Clear documentation and timely progress updates are important for ensuring alignment and meeting client expectations.

What does a Software Development Contractor do?

A Software Development Contractor is an independent professional hired to design, develop, and implement software solutions for clients on a project or temporary basis. They may work with various programming languages, frameworks, and technologies depending on the client's needs. Contractors are responsible for delivering specific project outcomes, often collaborating with in-house teams, and may also provide ongoing support or maintenance. Their work arrangement typically allows for greater flexibility compared to full-time employees, but they are usually responsible for their own business operations, such as taxes and contracts.

What is the difference between Software Development Contractor vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware Development ContractorSoftware Developer
CredentialsTypically no formal certification required; focus on experience and skillsOften holds a degree in computer science or related field; certifications like Scrum or Agile may be common
Work EnvironmentContract-based, often freelance or temporary projectsFull-time or part-time employment within a company or organization
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies hiring for specific projects or short-term needsEmployed by organizations as ongoing team members
Search & Comparison IntentPeople compare to understand contract work vs permanent rolesPeople look to distinguish between employment types

In summary, a Software Development Contractor typically works on short-term, project-based assignments without formal employment benefits, while a Software Developer is usually a full-time employee with ongoing responsibilities within a company. Both roles require technical skills, but their work arrangements and employment status differ significantly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Software Development Contractor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Development Contractor, you need strong programming skills, experience with software design and development methodologies, and typically a relevant degree or proven work history. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), cloud platforms, and frameworks relevant to client needs is crucial, along with knowledge of Agile or Scrum methodologies. Excellent problem-solving, time management, and communication skills help you adapt to diverse client environments and deliver quality solutions independently. These competencies ensure you can efficiently meet client expectations, deliver robust software, and maintain professional relationships in a contract-based role.
More about Software Development Contractor jobs
What cities are hiring for Software Development Contractor jobs? Cities with the most Software Development Contractor job openings:
What states have the most Software Development Contractor jobs? States with the most job openings for Software Development Contractor jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Software Development Contractor jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Software Development Contractor jobs are:
Software Development Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Development Contractor job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,102 per year, or $68.3 per hour.
Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor (SDET Contractor)

Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor (SDET Contractor)

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

Los Angeles, CA • Hybrid

$52 - $78/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

SDET (Contractor)

Responsibilities:

We are looking for a highly skilled Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for backend services and APIs. The ideal candidate is a strong Java engineer with deep testing expertise, capable of working closely with developers, product owners, and scrum teams to ensure high-quality delivery of complex services and integrations.

This role involves building robust automation, validating API contracts and flows, working with microservice-based systems, and contributing to continuous integration and quality strategies.


What You'll Do

  • Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and backend test suites using Java.

  • Write high-quality JUnit tests for RESTful APIs, service layers, and backend components.

  • Validate API schemas, request/response structures, and error-handling scenarios.

  • Create and execute API automation covering functional, regression, and integration layers.

  • Collaborate with developers to ensure testability, observability, and quality in new feature design.

  • Analyze logs, metrics, and service behavior to diagnose and troubleshoot failures.

  • Participate in Agile processes: refinement, planning, retrospectives, and daily scrums.

  • Drive improvements in CI/CD pipelines through automation and quality gates.

  • Contribute to scaling QE across microservices by building reusable test components and libraries.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field-or equivalent practical experience.

  • 3+ years of experience in software QE, test automation, or development roles.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative Scrum team

  • Interest in working as part of an agile, collaborative and cross-functional team that works on modern software design and development

  • Exposure to version control systems (preferably Git)

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills


Required Skills:

  • Strong experience with Java programming (advanced OOP concepts, collections, generics, lambdas).

  • Hands-on experience writing tests with JUnit (JUnit5 preferred).

  • Expertise in API testing for REST-based services (familiarity with gRPC is a plus).

  • Solid understanding of API schema validation, including OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.

  • Experience building and maintaining automation frameworks for backend or microservice architectures.

  • Familiarity with Git, branching strategies, and CI/CD tools (e.g. Jenkins, GitHub Actions).

  • Strong problem-solving and debugging skills. Including analyzing logs and diagnosing service failures.

.

Preferred Skills (Good to Have):

  • Experience designing test plans, writing detailed test scenarios, and performing domain-driven test analysis.

  • Familiarity with Spring Boot-based micro services and common backend service patterns.

  • Experience using IntelliJ IDEA or similar Java-focused development environments.

  • Hands-on experience with log analysis and observability tools (Splunk preferred).

  • Understanding of gRPC service testing and related tooling.

  • Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS).

  • Exposure to writing scripts using Python or Node.js

  • Exposure to a web-front-end technology such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Clickhere to learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$52-$78 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

Apply