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Sustaining Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$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 ...

Mid-Level/Senior Level Software Engineer

Odon, IN · On-site

$122K - $161K/yr

The Mid-Level Software Engineer will contribute to the development of hardware and software ... The role focuses on creating and sustaining software solutions for automated test program sets (TPS ...

The Mid-Level Software Engineer will contribute to the development of hardware and software ... The role focuses on creating and sustaining software solutions for automated test program sets (TPS ...

Experience debugging and sustaining software intended to run on multi-process/multi-threaded ... support developers and testers Experience developing qualification test guides related to ...

Job Title: Associate Manager, Software Engineering Job Code: 35958 Job Location: Camden, NJ ... The successful candidate will also support development and sustainment of VoIP and real-time ...

Sr. Software Engineer

Madison, WI · On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

Working in our Software Engineering team, you will be responsible for developing, enhancing, and sustaining software systems in a cross-functional team environment through adherence to established ...

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Sustaining Software Engineer information

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$67K

$129.7K

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How much do sustaining software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 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 high-demand industries or senior roles with extensive experience, specialized skills, and advanced certifications can earn $300,000 or more annually. These roles often involve leadership, complex system management, or working at large tech companies with competitive compensation packages.

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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Sustaining Software Engineers at senior levels or in specialized roles such as staff or principal engineers can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in large tech companies or with significant stock options and bonuses. High compensation often requires extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities.

What do sustaining engineers do?

Sustaining software engineers are responsible for maintaining, updating, and troubleshooting existing software products to ensure their continued performance and reliability. They analyze issues, implement fixes, and optimize code, often using tools like version control and debugging software, to support product stability and customer satisfaction.

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.

Is it true that AI will replace software engineers?

AI is transforming software engineering by automating routine tasks and assisting in code generation, but it is unlikely to fully replace software engineers. Instead, AI tools enhance productivity, requiring engineers to focus on complex problem-solving, system design, and maintaining ethical standards. Software engineers will continue to play a vital role in developing, managing, and improving AI-driven systems.

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:
Senior Deep Learning Frameworks Sustaining Engineer

Senior Deep Learning Frameworks Sustaining Engineer

NVIDIA

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Nvidia rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 209 rated software companies


Job description

Job Summary:
NVIDIA is hiring software engineers for its Deep Learning Frameworks Sustaining Engineering team. The role involves contributing to software that powers deep learning applications and ensuring stability and security of enterprise products.
Responsibilities:
• back-porting changes from the mainline branch
• keeping track of open source dependency changes
• ensuring the latest stable dependencies are being used for our enterprise products
• actively contribute changes to the team to support timely Long Term Support releases for the TensorFlow, PyTorch, TensorRT products
• fixing customer reported bugs
• integrating bug fixes found in mainline
• working with other teams to ensure open source dependencies are patched for security vulnerabilities to address the needs of NVIDIA AI Enterprise business subscribers.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelors of Science in Computer Science, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Math, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of relevant software development experience
• Excellent C/C++ programming and software design skills, including debugging and open source integration. Python experience also helpful.
• Utilizing tools involved in building software (Make, Docker, Bazel), packaging systems (Debian, pip, npm, etc.), Build Systems (Gitlab, CI/Jenkins).
• Prior experience with machine learning algorithms and frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, or MXNet).
• Ability to work independently, contribute to the stability of releases, and effectively communicate status to those involved in the release in a detail-oriented way.
Preferred:
• GPU programming experience (CUDA or OpenCL) desired but not required
• Experience with contributions to or managing large open source project - use of github, bug tracking, branching and merging code, OSS licensing issues, managing patches, etc.
• Familiarity with Gitlab CI pipelines
Company:
NVIDIA is a computing platform company operating at the intersection of graphics, HPC, and AI. Founded in 1993, the company is headquartered in Santa Clara, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

What Nvidia employees say

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993