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Staff Software Engineer Jobs in Frederick, MD (NOW HIRING)

... ELES staff Create CAD drawings of existing vertical transportation equipment Support ELES in ... software engineering tasks including requirements specification, system design, development ...

... staff • Create CAD drawings of existing vertical transportation equipment • Support ELES in ... software engineering tasks including requirements specification, system design, development ...

... staff • Create CAD drawings of existing vertical transportation equipment • Support ELES in ... software engineering tasks including requirements specification, system design, development ...

Software Engineer / Developer Job Type: Full time, On-Site, potential for hybrid schedule Clearance ... the highest quality staff, Northstrat provides a unique and versatile benefits package, the ...

SDET 4

Rockville, MD · On-site

$51 - $65.75/hr

Company Description Established in 1991, Collabera has been a leader in IT staffing for over 22 ... The main function of a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is to develop and execute ...

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Staff Software Engineer information

See Frederick, MD salary details

$60.2K

$160.2K

$218.7K

How much do staff software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff software engineer in Frederick, MD is $160,224.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,700.00 and $189,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a staff software engineer typically contribute to setting technical direction within a team?

As a Staff Software Engineer, you are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the technical roadmap and ensuring architectural consistency across projects. This often involves mentoring junior engineers, reviewing system designs, and making critical decisions on technology choices and best practices. You'll collaborate closely with product managers, engineering leads, and other stakeholders to align technical goals with business objectives. Your leadership helps foster innovation while maintaining high standards for code quality and system reliability.

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

AspectStaff Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS; significant experience
Work EnvironmentLeads projects, mentors teams, influences technical strategyDevelops features, solves complex problems, mentors juniors
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large tech companies, enterprise environmentsWidespread across startups, mid-sized, and large companies

The main difference between a Staff Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer lies in scope and influence. Staff Engineers typically lead technical initiatives, mentor multiple teams, and shape engineering strategies, while Senior Engineers focus on developing features and solving complex problems within their teams. Both roles require strong technical skills, but Staff Engineers have a broader impact across projects and departments.

What is a staff software engineer?

A staff software engineer works on the technical team at an organization, typically under a senior management-level team member, to repair, develop, and maintain company software to ensure an efficient user experience. As a staff software engineer, your duties include finding and implementing solutions for issues, creating new software or applications by writing code, using visual development environments to debug, and ensuring the technical architecture runs smoothly. A significant aspect of your job is to not only contribute your skills but also mentor other software engineers to improve their skills and productivity.

What is a staff software engineer?

A Staff Software Engineer is a senior-level technical role responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software systems. They often serve as technical leaders within their teams, guiding architecture decisions, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating across departments. Staff Software Engineers are expected to solve high-impact engineering problems, set technical standards, and ensure the quality and scalability of software products. Their role typically involves both hands-on coding and strategic planning to drive technological innovation within an organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a staff software engineer?

To thrive as a Staff Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software development, system architecture, and problem-solving, often supported by a relevant degree and significant industry experience. Mastery of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), cloud platforms, version control systems, and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines are typically required. Exceptional leadership, strong communication, and mentorship abilities set candidates apart in this role. These skills are essential for designing scalable solutions, guiding technical teams, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex projects.

What do staff software engineers do?

Staff software engineers lead technical projects, design system architecture, and mentor other engineers. They often work on complex problems, collaborate across teams, and contribute to technical strategy while using tools like code repositories and development frameworks.
What cities near Frederick, MD are hiring for Staff Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Frederick, MD with the most Staff Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Staff Software Engineer job openings in Frederick, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,224 per year, or $77 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 361 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 538 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world's biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

We have an opening for a Staff Ground Software Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals in the Tactical Space organization. This position will be in Dulles, VA. This work will primarily be performed in a SCIF environment so onsite work is required.

Job Responsibilities

In this role you will:

  • Advise on integration of new emerging industry technologies to the program's systems
  • Implement engineering changes to the system as required
  • Review, analyze, and incorporate technical requirements into end-to-end system architectures
  • Full lifecycle design, implementation, and unit testing of software
  • Work with various team members to integrate functionality with other software components
  • Ability to lead a team and/or provide leadership to drive solutions of complex problems
  • Support software working groups with the customer
  • Develop software products from all phases of the software lifecycle
  • Develop and share technical documentation and presentations
  • Identify and implementing new or improved tools and processes to increase team efficiency
  • Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems
  • Ensure the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints
  • Lead Engineering teams with program execution
  • Mentor Engineers on all phases of the Program
  • Support the software department, software center, and software sector in their day-to-day activities
  • Lead a team of Software Developers, supporting their needs, training, and career growth

To be successful in this role you should have:

  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with quick turnaround times and shifting priorities
  • Proven troubleshooting skills and willingness to take on unfamiliar challenges
  • 2+ years of experience in Linux tools/automation and shell scripting
  • 5+ years of experience in Python, C++, or another Object Oriented Programming Language
  • 2+ years of experience with Docker containerization, Kubernetes (K8s) orchestration preferred
  • 2+ years of experience with continuous integration/deployment tools such as Jenkins or GitLab

In this role, you will lead a High-Side Ground Software Development team and will be expected to provide leadership to the team in areas pertaining to technical needs.

Basic Qualifications

  • Must either have a bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 12 years of relevant software experience that includes a background in software development, OR a Master's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline AND 10 years of related professional experience, OR a PhD in in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 8 years of relevant software experience
  • Must be familiar with all phases of the software development life cycle and Agile software development
  • Prior lead or management experience in a team environment
  • In-depth working knowledge and experience with C/C++, Java, Python, or other OOP languages
  • Expert knowledge and experience developing software
  • Experience with configuration management using industry standard tools and processes
  • Active DoD Top Secret level clearance at time of application and the ability to obtain and maintain special program access

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Active TS/SCI clearance
  • Master's degree in computer science or computer engineering
  • Familiarity with Rhapsody, Cameo, Eclipse, Atlassian Tools (Jira, Bitbucket, Confluence, Crucible, Bamboo)
  • Experience with Agile methodologies
  • Experience with containerization technology (e.g. Podman, Docker)
  • Experience with container orchestration systems (e.g. Kubernetes)
  • Experience with virtualization technology (e.g. VirtualBox, QEMU, KVM, vmWare)
  • Experience with scripting (Bash, Python)
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and Atlassian tools
  • Experience working in a DevOps culture with continuous integration / continuous deliveries "CI/CD"
  • Preferred candidates will have demonstrated leadership of engineering personnel on a Northrop Grumman Corporation program to include software architecture oversight
  • Hold an active Program Access clearance
Primary Level Salary Range: $177,000.00 - $265,600.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939