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Sustaining Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NOV, Inc.

Sustaining Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

Join our team as a Sustaining Software Engineer and contribute to our Digital Product and Automation initiatives. You'll provide crucial support and expertise, enhancing our NOVOS Automation Drilling ...

NOV, Inc.

Sustaining Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

Join our team as a Sustaining Software Engineer and contribute to our Digital Product and Automation initiatives. You'll provide crucial support and expertise, enhancing our NOVOS Automation Drilling ...

MAG Aerospace

Senior Software Engineer

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$150 - $180/hr

The Software Engineer provides full-lifecycle software engineering support to the C5ISR Center ... Work includes developing, designing, analyzing, implementing, testing, and sustaining software ...

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Sustaining Software Engineer information

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$67K

$129.7K

$224K

How much do sustaining software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 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 is a sustaining software engineer?

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 skills and qualifications are needed to be a sustaining software engineer?

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.

What are common challenges faced by sustaining software engineers and how are they 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 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

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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:

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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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,678 per year, or $62.3 per hour.

Sustaining Software Engineer

NOV, Inc.

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

NOV rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 57 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

130th of 494 rated machine equipment manufacturers

Job description

Join our team as a Sustaining Software Engineer and contribute to our Digital Product and Automation initiatives. You'll provide crucial support and expertise, enhancing our NOVOS Automation Drilling Platform and improving field deployment processes. Your impact will drive product reliability and operational efficiency.

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Experience supporting industrial automation, control systems, or complex software applications is essential.
  • Strong troubleshooting skills and expertise in root cause analysis for integrated software and hardware systems.
  • Knowledge of networking architecture, firewall administration, and troubleshooting is a must.
  • Experience administering Linux-based systems and familiarity with AWS cloud services is preferred.
  • Experience with web application administration, user access management, and configuration management.
  • Proficiency in SQL, Linux, Python, and virtualization technologies (VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V).
  • Field experience supporting industrial automation systems is an asset.
  • Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration across cross-functional teams.
  • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required for customer support and field deployments.
  • Provide second-level technical support for software products and automation systems, ensuring efficient issue resolution.
  • Utilize Jira Service Management to track, prioritize, and resolve issues, maintaining an organized approach.
  • Conduct root cause analysis on software and system issues, proposing effective solutions for field-identified problems.
  • Develop and maintain customer-specific software configurations, ensuring optimal performance and customization.
  • Drive continuous improvements to deployment processes and support tools, streamlining operations.
  • Engage in software development and enhancements, creating advanced diagnostic utilities for field support.
  • Maintain and update virtualized test and training environments, ensuring accurate representations for testing.
  • Collaborate with customers and internal teams to identify product improvement opportunities, enhancing reliability.
  • Update firewall configurations and security policies using approved scripting and automation tools.
  • Administer web applications, manage user access, and release configuration files for seamless application deployments.

What NOV employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About NOV

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Throughout every region in the world and across every area of drilling and production, our family of companies has provided the technical expertise, advanced equipment and operational support necessary for success. We have the people, capabilities and vision to serve the needs of a challenging and evolving industry. One the world can’t live without. We are a global family of thousands of individuals, working as one team to create lasting impact for ourselves, our customers and the communities where we live and work. We take responsibility for each other and our company’s future, knowing that personal ownership leads to broader success. We believe in purposeful innovation because we see what others do not and we act. Through business innovation, product creation and service delivery, we are driven to power the industry that powers the world better.

Industry

Oil and gas extraction

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Houston, TX, US

Year founded

1841

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