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System Development Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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System Development Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$60.6K

$144.1K

$189.1K

How much do system development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for system development engineer in Washington is $144,083.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,000.00 and $177,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a system development engineer do?

A System Development Engineer designs, develops, and maintains complex systems and infrastructure, often focusing on scalability, reliability, and performance. They work with both hardware and software components, integrating them to create efficient solutions that support business needs. Their responsibilities may include system architecture design, troubleshooting, automation, and collaborating with other engineers to implement best practices. They typically work in environments that require a deep understanding of both development and operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a system development engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a System Development Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, systems architecture, and programming languages like Python, Java, or C++. Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), automation tools, CI/CD systems, and relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect are often required. Excellent problem-solving skills, teamwork, and adaptability help you effectively address complex system challenges and collaborate across technical teams. These skills and qualifications are vital for designing, building, and maintaining robust, scalable systems that support organizational goals.

What are some common challenges system development engineers face when working on large-scale projects?

System Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new features into complex legacy systems, ensuring scalability, and maintaining high reliability under heavy loads. Coordinating with cross-functional teams, such as QA, DevOps, and product managers, can add layers of communication and alignment that require strong collaboration skills. Additionally, keeping up with rapidly evolving technologies and best practices is essential for delivering robust solutions.

What is the difference between System Development Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectSystem Development EngineerSoftware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; sometimes certifications in systems or network managementBachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; certifications like Java, Python, or cloud platforms
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and testing integrated systems, often involving hardware and software componentsDeveloping, coding, and testing software applications and programs
Industry UsageUsed in industries like telecommunications, aerospace, and manufacturing for system integrationCommon across tech companies, startups, and software firms for application development

While both roles involve technical development, System Development Engineers focus on creating and integrating complex systems, often combining hardware and software. Software Engineers primarily develop software applications and code. The roles overlap in skills like programming but differ in scope and focus.

What job categories do people searching System Development Engineer jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for System Development Engineer jobs in Washington are:

Infographic showing various System Development Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,083 per year, or $69.3 per hour.

System Development Engineer II, DBS Relational ADC

Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc.

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

System Development Engineer
The Amazon Web Services team is innovating new ways of building massively scalable distributed systems and delivering the next generation of cloud computing with AWS offerings like RDS and Aurora. In 2013, AWS launched 280 services, but in 2016 alone we released nearly 1000. We hold high standards for our computer systems and the services we deliver to our customers: our systems are highly secure, highly reliable, highly available, all while functioning at massive scale; our employees are smart, passionate about the cloud, driven to serve customers, and fun to work with.
A successful engineer joining the team will do much more than write code and triage problems. They will work with Amazon's largest and most demanding customers to address specific needs across a full suite of services. They will dive deeply into technical issues and work diligently to improve the customer experience. The ideal candidate will...
- Be great fun to work with. Our company credo is "Work hard. Have fun. Make history". The right candidate will love what they do and instinctively know how to make work fun.
- Have strong Linux & Networking Fundamentals. The ideal candidate will have deep experience working with Linux, preferably in a large scale, distributed environment. You understand networking technology and how servers and networks inter-relate. You regularly take part in deep-dive troubleshooting and conduct technical post-mortem discussions to identify the root cause of complex issues.
- Love to code. Whether its building tools in Java or solving complex system problems in Python, the ideal candidate will love using technology to solve problems. You have a solid understanding of software development methodology and know how to use the right tool for the right job.
- Think Big. The ideal candidate will build and deploy solutions across thousands of devices. You will strive to improve and streamline processes to allow for work on a massive scale.
This position requires that the candidate selected must currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph. The position further requires the candidate to opt into a commensurate clearance for each government agency for which they perform AWS work.
Key job responsibilities
- You design, implement, and deploy software components and features. You solve difficult problems generating positive feedback.
- You have a solid understanding of design approaches (and how to best use them).
- You are able to work independently and with your team to deliver software successfully.
- Your work is consistently of a high quality (e.g., secure, testable, maintainable, low-defects, efficient, etc.) and incorporates best practices. Your team trusts your work.
- Your code reviews tend to be rapid and uneventful. You provide useful code reviews for changes submitted by others.
- You focus on operational excellence, constructively identifying problems and proposing solutions, taking on projects that improve your teamโ€™s software, making it better and easier to maintain.
- You make improvements to your teamโ€™s development and testing processes.
- You have established good working relationships with peers. You recognize discordant views and take part in constructive dialogue to resolve them.
- You are able to confidently train new team-mates about your customers, what your teamโ€™s software does, how it is constructed, tested, operates, and how it fits into the bigger picture.
A day in the life
Engineers in this role will work on automation, development, and operations to support AWS machine learning services for US government customers. They will work in an agile environment, attend daily standup, and collaborate closely with teammates. They will work on exciting challenges at scale and tackle unsolved problems.
They will support the U.S. Intelligence Community and Defense agencies to implement innovative cloud computing solutions and solve unique technical problems.
About the team
Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the worldโ€™s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating โ€” thatโ€™s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
 
AWS Infrastructure Services (AIS)
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, weโ€™re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain โ€” and weโ€™re looking for talented people who want to help.
 
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, itโ€™s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
 
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, thereโ€™s nothing we canโ€™t achieve in the cloud.
 
Mentorship and Career Growth
Weโ€™re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earthโ€™s Best Employer. Thatโ€™s why youโ€™ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
 
Diverse Experiences
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasnโ€™t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, donโ€™t let it stop you from applying.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree, or CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional)
- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 1+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- 3+ years of administrative experience in networking, storage systems, operating systems and hands-on systems engineering experience
- Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby
- Current, active US Government Security Clearance of TS/SCI with Polygraph
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Experience with PowerShell (preferred), Python, Ruby, or Java
- Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region youโ€™re applying in isnโ€™t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.


USA, VA, Arlington - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually