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Software Development Engineer Intern Jobs in McLean, VA

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

As a Software Development Engineer in this role, you will focus on designing and implementing robust event-driven architectures that enhance observability and enable comprehensive tracking of events ...

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$100K - $173K/yr

Software Development Engineer Full Time Professional Herndon, VA, US 3 days ago Requisition ID: 1422 Salary Range: $100,744.00 To $173,655.00 Annually Help build the software infrastructure that ...

New

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$100K - $173K/yr

Join NS2 Mission as a Software Development Engineer in Herndon, VA , where you'll design and develop distributed, event-driven solutions that support reliable data processing and real-time ...

As a Software Development Engineer in this role, you will focus on designing and implementing robust event-driven architectures that enhance observability and enable comprehensive tracking of events ...

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

As a Software Development Engineer in this role, you will focus on designing and implementing robust event-driven architectures that enhance observability and enable comprehensive tracking of events ...

Software Development Engineer (SDET)

Merrifield, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $64.25/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer (SDET) Location: Hybrid Work Model Reporting to Vienna, VA, Pensacola, FL, San Diego, CA Pay Rate: Open to Both C2C and W2 options Position Type: Multiyear ...

Software Development Engineer (SDET)

Merrifield, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $64.25/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer (SDET) Location: Hybrid Work Model Reporting to Vienna, VA, Pensacola, FL, San Diego, CA Pay Rate: Open to Both C2C and W2 options Position Type: Multiyear ...

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Software Development Engineer Intern information

See McLean, VA salary details

$13

$25

$39

How much do software development engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for software development engineer intern in McLean, VA is $25.69, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.91 and $29.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a software development engineer intern do?

A Software Development Engineer Intern assists in designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software applications under the guidance of experienced engineers. Interns typically work on real projects, write code, debug issues, and collaborate with team members to learn the software development lifecycle. This role helps interns gain practical experience, improve programming skills, and understand how software teams operate in a professional environment.

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

To thrive as a Software Development Engineer Intern, you typically need proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or C++, and a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, often supported by coursework or personal projects. Familiarity with development tools like Git, integrated development environments (IDEs), and sometimes cloud platforms or version control systems is expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, eagerness to learn, and effective communication help interns collaborate and adapt quickly. These skills and qualities enable interns to contribute meaningfully to projects while growing their technical and teamwork abilities in a real-world environment.

What types of projects do software development engineer interns typically work on, and how much ownership do they have over their work?

As a Software Development Engineer Intern, you will often contribute to real-world projects that may range from feature development and bug fixes to prototyping new tools or improving existing systems. Interns are usually paired with a mentor and integrated into agile teams, where they are encouraged to take ownership of their assigned tasks and present their solutions. While guidance and code reviews are standard, interns are trusted to design, implement, and test their code, allowing for meaningful hands-on experience and a direct impact on product outcomes.

What is the difference between Software Development Engineer Intern vs Software Engineer?

AspectSoftware Development Engineer InternSoftware Engineer
CredentialsTypically pursuing or recently completed a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or related fieldUsually holds a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science or related discipline
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, often part-time or summer roles within tech companiesFull-time employment in software development teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, and large corporations for entry-level rolesFull-time professional role in similar environments
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for entry-level experience and career progressionRepresents a standard professional role in software development

The main difference between a Software Development Engineer Intern and a Software Engineer is the experience level and employment status. Interns are typically students gaining practical experience, while Software Engineers are full-time professionals responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software products.

What cities near McLean, VA are hiring for Software Development Engineer Intern jobs?

Cities near McLean, VA with the most Software Development Engineer Intern job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Development Engineer Intern job openings in McLean, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,441 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA • On-site

Bespoke Technologies, Inc.
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 11 - 50 employees

Other

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

BT-424 – Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA (fully on-site, no remote option)

As a Software Development Engineer in this role, you will focus on designing and implementing robust event-driven architectures that enhance observability and enable comprehensive tracking of events across diverse data pipelines. Your work will involve developing modular systems that support seamless integration with new data formats and domains, ensuring scalability and adaptability as business needs evolve. You will be responsible for building solutions that prioritize access control, fault tolerance, and real-time alerting, all while maintaining high standards for record keeping in a digital environment. Leveraging your expertise, you will help create frameworks that allow for granular monitoring and rapid response to system events, supporting the organization’s commitment to operational excellence.

To excel in this position, you should be comfortable working with technologies such as Python for asynchronous and concurrent programming, Kafka for distributed messaging, and JSON for data interchange. Familiarity with observability tools like Grafana and the ELK stack will be essential for building dashboards and monitoring system health. Experience with distributed systems, event-driven design patterns, and implementing fault-tolerant architectures will be highly beneficial. Exposure to best practices in modular software design, access management, and scalable pipeline development will further support your success as you contribute to expanding the organization’s data infrastructure.

Desired Skills:

  • Python
  • Kafka
  • Distributed Systems
  • Event-Driven Design
  • Asynchronous Coding
  • Concurrency
  • JSON
  • Fault Tolerance
  • Observability
  • Grafana
  • ELK

Preferred Skills/Experience:

  • Experience with access control in event-driven architectures
  • Expertise in modular system design for data pipelines
  • Familiarity with alerting and record-keeping solutions
  • Knowledge of expanding architectures to support multiple data domains and formats
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