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Sustaining Software Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

L3HHCM20

Manager, Software Engineer

Camden, NJ

$147K - $250K/yr

Manager, Software Engineering Job Code: 41349 Job Location: Camden, NJ L3Harris Space Mission ... The successful candidate will also support development and sustainment of VoIP and real-time ...

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Sustaining Software Engineering information

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$154.5K

How much do sustaining software engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for sustaining software engineering in the United States is $103,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $112,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Sustaining Software Engineering vs Software Development Engineer?

AspectSustaining Software EngineeringSoftware Development Engineer
Primary FocusMaintaining, troubleshooting, and improving existing software systemsDesigning, developing, and implementing new software solutions
Work EnvironmentOften in support or maintenance teams within tech companies or product firmsPrimarily in development teams, creating new features and applications
Required SkillsStrong debugging, problem-solving, and system analysis skillsProficiency in coding, software design, and development methodologies

While both roles require technical expertise, Sustaining Software Engineering focuses on maintaining and improving existing systems, whereas Software Development Engineers primarily create new software solutions. Understanding these differences helps candidates target their skills and career goals effectively.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

In software engineering, senior roles such as Staff Software Engineers, Principal Engineers, or Engineering Directors at large tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses, stock options, and other compensation. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities.

What are sustainable engineering jobs?

Sustainable engineering jobs involve designing, developing, and maintaining systems or products that minimize environmental impact and promote long-term ecological balance. In software engineering, this can include creating energy-efficient code, supporting green technologies, and implementing practices that reduce resource consumption. Professionals in this field often focus on eco-friendly solutions, using tools like lifecycle assessments and sustainability standards to guide their work.

What is sustaining software engineering?

Sustaining software engineering focuses on maintaining, supporting, and improving existing software products after their initial release. This role involves fixing bugs, optimizing performance, addressing security vulnerabilities, and making incremental updates to ensure the software continues to meet user needs and industry standards. Sustaining engineers work closely with support teams to resolve customer issues and may also handle legacy code, documentation updates, and compliance requirements. Their work is crucial for the long-term reliability and usability of software products.

What are the main challenges faced by Sustaining Software Engineers, and how do they typically address them?

Sustaining Software Engineers often face the challenge of working with legacy systems, troubleshooting complex issues, and balancing quick fixes with long-term improvements. They must quickly diagnose and resolve production issues while ensuring minimal disruption to users. Additionally, they collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, such as product support and development, to implement patches and communicate solutions. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.

What do sustaining engineers do?

Sustaining engineers are responsible for maintaining, improving, and supporting existing software products after their initial development. They troubleshoot issues, implement updates, and ensure system stability and performance, often using tools like debugging software and version control systems. Their work helps extend the product’s lifecycle and meet ongoing user needs.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

In software engineering, senior roles such as Staff Software Engineers, Principal Engineers, and Engineering Managers often reach or exceed $300,000 annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or large tech companies. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities, often involving expertise in areas like cloud computing, system architecture, or specialized domains.

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 abilities, deep understanding of software architecture, and proficiency in debugging, often backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with source control systems like Git, incident tracking tools such as Jira, and experience in multiple programming languages are typically required. Excellent communication, collaboration, and customer-focused mindset help in efficiently resolving issues and working across teams. These skills are crucial for quickly diagnosing and fixing software defects, ensuring product stability, and maintaining customer satisfaction.
More about Sustaining Software Engineering jobs
What job categories do people searching Sustaining Software Engineering jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Sustaining Software Engineering jobs are:
Sustaining Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sustaining Software Engineering job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,684 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

Sustaining Software Engineering Manager

Cadwell

Kennewick, WA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Cadwell is seeking a Sustaining Software Engineering Manager who will be solely focused on ensuring the highest quality and maintaining the performance and stability of their general release and Long-Term Service Release products. This role leads a dedicated team of engineers focused on production stability, maintenance, bug fixes, and patch management, without new feature development.
Responsibilities:
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a dedicated sustaining engineering software team; establish performance metrics and operational workflows to scale the team’s capacity.
• Define and manage escalation paths for urgent customer-facing issues in coordination with the Support Platform teams and Product Management.
• Act as a collaborative filter for incoming maintenance requests, ensuring they meet defined intake criteria before team assignment.
• Own the implementation and release (including documentation and paperwork) of critical production software bug fixes and security patches across the entire product portfolio.
• Maintain a high level of technical familiarity and code quality across all product codebases (EEG, EMG, Sleep, IONM, and CadLink).
• Ensure all software maintenance releases adhere to Cadwell’s Quality Management System (QMS) and contribute to its necessary refinements/changes.
• Partner with the Platform and Product teams to ensure fixes are integrated into the main development branch without introducing regressions.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in software engineering management or a high-level technical leadership role.
• Strong background in troubleshooting complex, multi-component software systems.
• Comprehensive Knowledge: Software Team Leadership, Staff Development, and Operational Workflow Design for Sustaining Software Engineering
• Comprehensive Knowledge: Stakeholder Communication and Management of Technical Escalation Paths (Internal and Customer-Facing)
• Thorough Knowledge: Regulatory Compliance and Quality Management Systems (QMS) required for Medical Device Software
• Thorough Knowledge: Advanced Troubleshooting, Debugging, and Production Bug Fix Implementation for complex software systems
• Thorough Knowledge: Technical Proficiency in C#, SQL, and desktop software development
Preferred:
• Experience working in a regulated environment, ideally in a medical or similar safety and/or reliability focused industry.
Company:
Since 1979, Cadwell has been true to its mission: Helping you help others. Founded in 1979, the company is headquartered in Kennewick, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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