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System Development Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior System Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

What if you could find a position that is tailor-made for your mix of development, engineering, and ... As a Senior System Engineer you will support engineering and integration efforts with key mission ...

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Product Development Engineer Design, Develop, and Launch Innovative Products from Concept to ... CAD systems. * Develop and execute validation plans, test procedures, fixtures, and reports to ...

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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 Jun 19, 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 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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in fields such as software development, data engineering, and systems architecture can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and in high-paying industries like technology or finance. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly at senior or executive levels.

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 is a system development engineer?

A system development engineer designs, develops, and tests complex software and hardware systems, often working on integrating various components to ensure functionality and performance. They typically use programming languages, system architecture knowledge, and tools like simulation software, and may require certifications or experience in systems engineering. Their role involves collaboration across teams to deliver reliable and efficient systems.

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 sde salary?

The salary for a System Development Engineer (SDE) varies depending on experience, location, and company, but typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually in the United States. Entry-level positions usually start around $80,000, while experienced engineers with specialized skills or working at large tech firms can earn over $150,000, often with additional bonuses and stock options.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software development, systems engineering, or data engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-demand industries like technology or finance. These roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, or working in high-cost-of-living areas.

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 popular job titles related to System Development Engineer jobs in Washington? For System Development Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $144,083 per year, or $69.3 per hour.
Systems Development Engineer II, AWS Edge Connectivity

Systems Development Engineer II, AWS Edge Connectivity

Amazon

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,870 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

We help our customers to onboard, manage, and scale their connectivity options for maintaining persistent connection to the AWS Isolated cloud.
AWS Edge Connectivity is seeking a Systems Development Engineer II to design and implement systems that ensure operational excellence, reliability, and scalability of mission-critical network services for US government customers.
In this role, you will design and implement systems that ensure operational excellence, reliability, and scalability of the AWS Edge Connectivity service infrastructure. You'll develop automation frameworks and tools that enable efficient service deployment, monitoring, and management across multiple regions and availability zones

Your expertise in systems integration, DevOps practices, and site reliability engineering will directly impact how AWS delivers mission-critical network services to government customers.
You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to architect resilient systems, automate operational workflows, and establish best practices for service reliability. By building sophisticated automation and monitoring systems, you'll ensure that critical customer connections maintain the highest standards of availability and performance. Your work will span infrastructure provisioning, deployment automation, operational tooling, and service observability.
If Arlington HQ (HQ2):
This role will sit in our new headquarters in Northern Virginia, where Amazon will invest $2.5 billion dollars, occupy 4 million square feet of energy efficient office space, and create at least 25,000 new full-time jobs

Our employees and the neighboring community will also benefit from the associated investments from the Commonwealth including infrastructure updates, public transportation improvements, and new access to Reagan National Airport.
By working together on behalf of our customers, we are building the future one innovative product, service, and idea at a time. Are you ready to embrace the challenge. Come build the future with us.
This position requires that the candidate selected must be a US Citizen and currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance

The position further requires that, after start, the selected candidate obtain and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph or commensurate clearance for each government agency for which they perform AWS work.
10012
Key job responsibilities
- Design and implement systems automation, infrastructure-as-code, and deployment pipelines for AWS Edge Connectivity services across multiple regions
- Build operational tooling and monitoring systems that enable efficient service management, troubleshooting, and incident response
- Architect and develop site reliability engineering (SRE) practices, including runbooks, alerting strategies, and automated remediation systems
- Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate AWS Edge Connectivity systems with AWS infrastructure, third-party solutions, and government customer environments
- Establish and maintain operational standards for service availability, performance, and security; drive continuous improvement through metrics and data analysis
- Mentor teammates on systems engineering best practices, operational excellence, and automation techniques
- Participate in on call rotation in support of our services, providing technical leadership during incidents
A day in the life
Our team follows an Agile development methodology with a strong emphasis on operational excellence. Team members participate in daily stand-ups and biweekly sprint planning sessions focused on automation, infrastructure improvements, and reliability initiatives. We conduct weekly reviews of operational metrics and reliability targets to align systems engineering efforts with organizational goals


Systems Development Engineers, Program Management (PM) teams, and Single-Threaded Owners (STOs) collaborate to define and execute infrastructure and automation projects. Each engineer serves as on-call support approximately between four to eight weeks per year to maintain our service availability targets and respond to operational incidents.
About the team
Why AWS?
Our team is dedicated to supporting new members. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and we're building an environment that celebrates knowledge-sharing and mentorship

Our senior members enjoy one-on-one mentoring and thorough, but kind, code reviews. We care about your career growth and strive to assign projects that help our team members develop your engineering expertise so you feel empowered to take on more complex tasks in the future.
Diverse Experiences
AWS 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, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.
About AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that'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, we'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 - and we're looking for talented people who want to help.


Inclusive Team Culture
AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee-led and company-sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger, more collaborative teams.

Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
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, there's nothing we can't achieve in the cloud. .


What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US