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Software Development Engineer Intern Jobs in Sterling, 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

$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 ...

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

NAVA Software solutions is looking for a SDET Engineer Details: SDET Engineer Location : Merrifield, VA(Hybrid) - Weekly once onsite Duration: 12 Months Top 3 Required Skills: * Hands-on development ...

As a Software Development Engineer in S3, you get to deliver these capabilities and delight our customers through teams of talented engineers and leaders. Key job responsibilities S3 Request Shaping ...

As a Software Development Engineer in S3, you get to deliver these capabilities and delight our customers through teams of talented engineers and leaders. Key job responsibilities S3 Request Shaping ...

Showing results 21-40

Software Development Engineer Intern information

See Sterling, VA salary details

$13

$25

$38

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

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for software development engineer intern in Sterling, VA is $25.17, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.48 and $28.56 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 Sterling, VA are hiring for Software Development Engineer Intern jobs?

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

Infographic showing various Software Development Engineer Intern job openings in Sterling, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,357 per year, or $25.2 per hour.

Software Development Engineer

Herndon, VA • On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

What You'll Be Owning
GRVTY is seeking a Software Development Engineer with a TS/SCI + Poly clearance (applicable to this customer) to join one of our top projects in Herndon, VA. 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.
What You Must Have
  • Active TS/SCI with Polygraph Clearance
  • Python
  • Kafka
  • Distributed Systems
  • Event-Driven Design
  • Asynchronous Coding
  • Concurrency
  • JSON
  • Fault Tolerance
  • Observability
  • Grafana
  • ELK

What Would Be Nice to Have
  • 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

Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors-such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications.
We're proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.
Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.
Virginia Pay Range
$150,000-$250,000
Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors-such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications.
We're proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.
Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.
Virginia Pay Range
$150,000-$250,000 USD
Why Choose GRVTY
The toughest national security challenges demand vision and ingenuity, not just resources. We deliver mission and technical expertise to outpace our adversaries. We're purpose-built to tackle the most entrenched, systemic national security issues around the world.
We partner with our customers to help them overcome challenges in every corner of technology and defense-including the ones still being explored. Our growing capabilities create complementary advantages, giving on-the-ground operations the edge they need to succeed. We muster everything we have to answer every challenge presented, every day of our lives.
At GRVTY, we believe that when our employees thrive, our company thrives. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance.
• Robust health plan including medical, dental, and vision
• Health Savings Account with company contribution
• Annual Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401k with generous company match
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Award Programs
• Variety of Company Sponsored Events
EEO Statement
GRVTY, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Anyone requiring reasonable accommodations should email recruiting@grvty.com or call 703-544-7930 with requested details. A member of the HR team will respond to your request within 2 business days.
Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov)
Please review our current job openings and apply for the positions you believe may be a fit. If you are not an immediate fit, we will also keep your resume in our database for future opportunities.