1

Software Development Staff Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Land Development Staff Engineer

Louisville, CO ยท On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Dewberry is currently seeking a Land Development Staff Engineer for the Louisville, CO office. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and talented individual to join a team of ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Software Development Staff Engineer information

See salary details

$82K

$147.9K

$210.5K

How much do software development staff engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for software development staff engineer in the United States is $147,950.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,500.00 and $184,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Software Development Staff Engineer, you need advanced programming expertise, architecture design experience, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Mastery of version control systems (like Git), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and knowledge of CI/CD pipelines are commonly required, along with relevant certifications. Leadership, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are vital soft skills for mentoring teams and collaborating across departments. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering robust technical solutions, driving innovation, and guiding engineering teams toward organizational goals.

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

AspectSoftware Development Staff EngineerSoftware Development Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentLeads technical projects, mentors teams, influences architectureDevelops features, writes code, collaborates within teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large tech companies, enterprise environmentsCommon across startups, mid-sized, and large companies
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior technical roles, leadership scopeEntry to mid-level development roles, career growth

The Software Development Staff Engineer typically holds a senior technical position, leading projects and mentoring teams, whereas a Software Development Engineer focuses on coding and feature development. Both roles require strong technical skills and relevant experience, but the Staff Engineer has a broader scope of influence and leadership within an organization.

What are Software Development Staff Engineers?

Software Development Staff Engineers are highly experienced software engineers who serve as technical leaders within their organizations. They often design complex systems, set technical direction, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate across teams to solve challenging problems. Staff Engineers are expected to have deep expertise in software development and architecture, and they play a critical role in ensuring high-quality code and scalable solutions. They may not directly manage people, but their influence and leadership are felt through technical guidance and strategic decision-making.

How does a Software Development Staff Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams?

As a Software Development Staff Engineer, you'll regularly work with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, QA engineers, and operations specialists. Collaboration often involves leading technical discussions, aligning on project goals, and ensuring that architectural decisions support business objectives. You may also mentor junior engineers and facilitate communication between development and other departments to address dependencies and resolve potential roadblocks. This role requires strong communication and leadership skills to drive projects forward and deliver high-quality software solutions.
More about Software Development Staff Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Software Development Staff Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Software Development Staff Engineer job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Software Development Staff Engineer jobs? The top employers for Software Development Staff Engineer jobs are:
Staff Software Development Engineer

Staff Software Development Engineer

Fortinet, Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA โ€ข On-site

$150K - $215K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

Job Description
Fortinet is calling for an experienced Staff Software Development Engineer who can think outside the box, has a logical approach to coding, and is looking to grow their career in the network security industry.
Responsibilities:
  • Developing and enhancing features in signature engine, header security, CSRF, WAF scripting, API security, Bot mitigation and so on
  • Enhance debugging and unit testing tools for Web security features
  • Keep abreast of the latest Web security events and provide expertise on Web security event response and internal training
  • Work with the Cloud and Intelligence teams to improve the features and intelligence DB in cloud deployment, especially on false positive and evasion cases
  • Work with the Product Management teams on the product roadmaps, new features design, and product certifications
  • Work with R&D and QA throughout the product development lifecycle to deliver high quality features
  • Research new technologies and common tools in the industry and be able to devise new solution

Requirements:
  • 8+ years of relevant work experience
  • Have a Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related technical program
  • Proficient in C language, proficient in development tools and environments under Linux, such as gcc gdb libc, etc., able to understand GNU Makefile.
  • Solid knowledge of the HTTP/HTTPS/HTTP2 protocol.
  • Familiarity with network firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPN, SSL, WAF, ADC.
  • Experience with Linux systems and networking related troubleshooting.
  • Hands-on experience with developing in common web servers and proxies(like Nginx/Apache/Haproxy)
  • Understanding of Web technologies like HTML/CSS/Javascript/JSON/XML, and common Web security issues like OWASP top 10, including SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, MITM, DoS.
  • Experience with popular security detecting, penetration testing, web crawling tools is a plus, like ModSecurity, Snort, Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Metasploit, Sqlmap, Selenium, Puppeteer, etc.
  • High self-learning abilities

  • US citizenship is required

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $150,000-$215,000. Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.
Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.
All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program, Bonus eligibility is reviewed at time of hire and annually at the Company's discretion.
Why Join Us:
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply. We offer a supportive work environment and a competitive Total Rewards package to support you with your overall health and financial well-being. Embark on a challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding career journey with Fortinet. Join us in bringing solutions that make a meaningful and lasting impact to our 660,000+ customers around the globe.
#LI-KL
#GD
About Us
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) secures the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations around the world. Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network - today and into the future. Only the Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security without compromise to address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud or mobile environments. Fortinet ranks number one in the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 500,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@fortinet.com.
Fortinet is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in our company, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, military/veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.