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System Development Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior System Engineer

Centreville, VA · On-site

$103K - $141K/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 ...

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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Showing results 1-20

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 Jul 10, 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 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 system functionality. They typically use programming languages, system architecture knowledge, and tools like debugging and simulation software to build reliable systems. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and understanding of system requirements and specifications.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior-level software engineers, especially those working in high-demand areas like Silicon Valley or with expertise in specialized fields such as machine learning or cloud infrastructure, can earn $500,000 or more annually. These roles often require advanced skills, extensive experience, and sometimes stock options or bonuses as part of compensation packages.

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 engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software development, systems engineering, and data engineering can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies. Roles often require advanced technical expertise, certifications, and leadership responsibilities.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior-level engineers in fields such as software development, systems engineering, and data engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies. Roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, or expertise in areas like cloud computing, AI, or cybersecurity.

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 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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,083 per year, or $69.3 per hour.
Senior Manufacturing Test Development Engineer

Senior Manufacturing Test Development Engineer

JABIL CIRCUIT, INC

Washington, DC

$105K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago


Jabil rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 116 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

77th of 141 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Location/Division Specific Information – Austin, TX/ USA - Remote

**This position supports hybrid work schedule depending on organization needs.**

How will you make an impact? –

Jabil is seeking a Sr. Software Test Development Engineer who will directly contribute to the transformative growth within our Enterprise and Infrastructure division by applying unique and innovative approaches to solving problems within a large-scale software production environment.   The Software Test Development Engineer play a vital role in ensuring the quality and reliability of hardware products, contributing to the overall success of the manufacturing process and customer satisfaction. You will be responsible for contributing to the end-to-end architecture, definition, development and production deployment of production software applications and infrastructure spanning multiple customers and manufacturing regions.  You will also be responsible for interfacing with internal engineering, manufacturing and quality teams and our end customers to ensure your software deliverables meet the rigorous standards of Jabil’s world-class manufacturing environments.

What will you do? –

  • Test System Development: Design and develop test systems and procedures for manufacturing processes. This includes creating test plans, test cases, and test scripts to assess the functionality and performance of hardware components or devices such as motherboard, memory, CPU, storage (SSD, HDD, NVMe) and PCIE devices (NIC, GPU, Mezz cards, RAID cards)

  • Test Software Development: Create, validate, release, and maintain test software and scripts that automate the testing process. This software may include code for controlling test equipment, collecting and analyzing data, and generating test reports

  • Test Sustaining: Support and maintenance for the manufacturing server (L10) and rack (L11) level test software and infrastructure deployed at our production facilities, including the implementation of minor system configuration changes (new IPNs)

  • Documentation: Maintain comprehensive manufacturing server (L10) and rack (L11) documentation of test procedures, specifications, and Infrastructure

  • Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers, manufacturing engineers, and quality assurance personnel, to ensure alignment on testing requirements and quality standards

  • Continuous Learning: Stay updated on the latest advancements in testing technologies, methodologies, and industry best practices to keep manufacturing processes competitive and up to date

  • Definition and collaboration on overall test infrastructure and application architectures

How will you get here? -

Education: 

  • BS degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related field is required

Experience: 

  • 5-8 years’ experience in a software manufacturing test development/sustaining with enterprise server, storage or networking products is required

  • 10+ years of relevant experience in a software manufacturing test development/ sustaining with enterprise server, storage or networking products and some college coursework in lieu of a 4- yr. degree, will be considered

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills is required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

  • Expertise in the following programming/scripting languages:  Python, Java, BASH.  C, C++, experience a plus

  • Linux development expertise with a solid understanding of its fundamentals: CentOS/Ubuntu

  • Expertise with hardware and API solutions for controlling, managing and stressing L10 devices (servers, network and storage SSDs, NVMe): IPMI, Redfish, mprime, FIO, Linpack, ptugen, memtester

  • Expertise in the creation and configuration (DHCP, PXE boot, nginx) of Virtual Machines (VMs) using VMWare

  • Expertise with leading edge networking systems, hardware, software and protocols including but not limited to enterprise ethernet datacenter switching/routing L1, L2, and L3 (BGP, DHCP Relay, ECMP). Arista CloudVision is a plus

  • Experience with code versioning tools (Git preferred)

  • Strong knowledge of professional software engineering practices for the complete software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations

  • Ability to travel up to 10% globally as required

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • MS preferred

  • Experience working in a multi-site and multi-cultural environments is a plus


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About Jabil

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Jabil is a manufacturing solutions provider with over 260,000 employees across 100 locations in 30 countries. The world's leading brands rely on Jabil's unmatched breadth and depth of end-market experience, technical and design capabilities, manufacturing know-how, supply chain insights and global product management expertise. Driven by a common purpose, Jabil and its people are committed to making a positive impact on their local community and the environment.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Saint Petersburg, FL, US

Year founded

1966