ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Sustaining Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MILLENNIUMSOFT

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$130K - $171K/yr

Responsible for developing, enhancing, and sustaining software systems in a cross-functional team environment through adherence to established design control processes and good engineering practices.

Precise Systems

Computer/Software Engineer

Crane, IN · On-site

... sustaining software in support of DoD, Navy, electronic warfare, tactical, or mission system ... This position will work with Government leads, systems engineers, software developers ...

Precise Systems

Computer/Software Engineer

Crane, IN · On-site

... sustaining software in support of DoD, Navy, electronic warfare, tactical, or mission system ... This position will work with Government leads, systems engineers, software developers ...

Lockheed Martin

Sustainment Engineer

Owego, NY · On-site

THE WORK We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the RMS Global Sustainment, Information Systems & Innovation (IS&I) organization. This role will be responsible for and work directly with the IS&I ...

The Pennsylvania State University

$170K - $201K/yr

In this role, you will leverage your expertise in DevOps, enterprise architectures, digital transformation, and sustainment system software engineering to support applied research in defense ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsSustaining Software Engineer Jobs

Sustaining Software Engineer information

See salary details

$67K

$129.7K

$224K

How much do sustaining software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for sustaining software engineer in the United States is $129,678.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Sustaining Software Engineers?

Sustaining Software Engineers are professionals responsible for maintaining, supporting, and improving existing software products after their initial release. They focus on fixing bugs, addressing customer-reported issues, ensuring compatibility with new technologies, and implementing minor enhancements to keep the software reliable and up-to-date. Unlike development engineers, who work primarily on new features or products, sustaining engineers ensure the ongoing stability and quality of released software. Their work is crucial for customer satisfaction and long-term software success.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Sustaining Software Engineers in senior or specialized roles, especially in high-demand industries like technology or finance, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in software development, and often working in leadership or highly technical positions with significant responsibilities.

What are some common challenges faced by Sustaining Software Engineers, and how are they typically addressed?

Sustaining Software Engineers often encounter the challenge of resolving complex, legacy code issues while ensuring minimal disruption to existing users. They must quickly diagnose problems, implement effective fixes, and coordinate with product and support teams to prioritize work. Staying up-to-date with evolving technologies and documentation practices is also crucial, as they frequently work on older systems. Open communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams help address these challenges and maintain software reliability.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning, cloud computing, or fintech, can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and working at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

What is a sustaining software engineer?

A sustaining software engineer is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving existing software products after their initial development. They often work on bug fixes, performance enhancements, and ensuring system stability, using tools like debugging and version control systems. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of the software's architecture and codebase.

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

To thrive as a Sustaining Software Engineer, you need strong problem-solving skills, proficiency in debugging, and a solid background in software development, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with issue tracking systems, source control tools like Git, and experience with programming languages relevant to the product are typically required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams help distinguish top performers. These skills ensure timely resolution of software issues, maintain product stability, and support ongoing customer satisfaction.

Will AI replace coders by 2040?

Sustaining Software Engineers focus on maintaining and improving existing software systems, and while AI tools can automate certain coding tasks, they are unlikely to fully replace human coders by 2040. Human expertise is essential for complex problem-solving, system design, and ethical considerations in software development.

What is the difference between Sustaining Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectSustaining Software EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusMaintaining, troubleshooting, and improving existing software systemsDesigning and developing new software applications
Work EnvironmentOften in support or maintenance teams, working on existing codebasesTypically in development teams, creating new features and products
Required SkillsStrong debugging, problem-solving, and understanding of existing codeProficiency in coding, software design, and new development

While both roles require programming skills, Sustaining Software Engineers focus on maintaining and improving existing systems, whereas Software Developers primarily create new software solutions. The roles often overlap in industry and skills but differ in their core responsibilities.

More about Sustaining Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Sustaining Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Sustaining Software Engineer job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Sustaining Software Engineer jobs? The top employers for Sustaining Software Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Sustaining Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Sustaining Software Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Sustaining Software Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Sustaining Software Engineer jobs are:
Sustaining Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sustaining Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,678 per year, or $62.3 per hour.
Sustaining Software Engineer - SolidFire (43095BR)

Sustaining Software Engineer - SolidFire (43095BR)

NetApp

Boulder, CO • On-site

Full-time

Posted 1 hour ago

Job description

Company Description

NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that help accelerate business breakthroughs and deliver outstanding cost efficiency. Our dedication to principles of simplicity, innovation, and customer success has made us one of the fastest-growing storage and data management providers today.

Customers around the world choose us for our "go beyond" approach and broad portfolio of solutions for business applications, storage for virtual servers, disk-to-disk backup, and more. Our solutions provide nonstop availability of critical business data and simplify business processes so you can deploy new capabilities with confidence and get to revenue faster than ever before. 

You can rely on our industry-leading solutions to lower the cost of protecting your data, business, and reputation. We bring together the industry's best partners and technology to deliver services that help you maximize what you are getting from your infrastructure. Our collaborative approach, working as one team with one goal, means that you get a solution that is just right for you-on time and on budget. 

To support your global business, we provide highly-responsive support in local languages. From London to Austin, from Bangalore to Tokyo, we'll work with you to solve your problems and reach your goals.

Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com.

Interested in working at NetApp? Search our open jobs - www.netapp.com/us/careers/ 

Job Description

NetApp is looking for an experienced Software Sustaining Engineer. Critical technical skills and experience would include :
* Linux kernel level crash dump analysis
* Linux driver troubleshooting and analysis
* Linux transport services (protocol support)
* fibre channel
* iscsi
* Passion around debugging and resolving complex storage related issues
* Understanding of the VMWare ecosystem
* Strong C and or C++ skills
* Experience in the support chain
* Good issue resolution documentation skills

Qualifications

Job Requirements
Qualified candidates must have previous systems level software development experience in the enterprise storage or networking peripherals industry. Additional requirements include:
Strong Linux experience building and qualifying Linux distros
Proven troubleshooting experience
Experience in scripting languages (e.g. python and bash)
Proficiency using kernel level debug tools (e.g. kgdb)
Proficient in Linux networking including bonding, bridging and experience debugging network issues
Development experience in C++ (can substitute C programming but must have the ability and desire to learn C++) Bonus
Experience building and/or maintaining packages under Ubuntu or Debian using dpkg and APT
Working exposure with the open source community (monitoring and contributing code)
Experience troubleshooting complex environments.
Education and Experience:
B.S., M.S., or PhD. In Computer Science or other related field or equivalent
Minimum five years relevant experience

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Apply