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Systems Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Aquent

Systems Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$75 - $80/hr

About the Role As a Systems Software Engineer, you will be instrumental in bridging cutting-edge research with production-quality engineering solutions. You'll work alongside security researchers ...

Apple

System Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$175K - $263K/yr

... systems in data centers. Description The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an ... We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer to join our System Software Team focused on optimizing ...

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All JobsSystems Software Engineer JobsSystems Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Systems Software Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$94.5K

$202.2K

$234.4K

How much do systems software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for systems software engineer in Seattle, WA is $202,249.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $196,900.00 and $233,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a systems software engineer typically collaborate with hardware engineers and other technical teams?

Systems Software Engineers often work closely with hardware engineers to ensure that software integrates seamlessly with physical components. This collaboration may involve participating in cross-functional meetings, debugging issues at the hardware-software interface, and jointly optimizing system performance. Additionally, they coordinate with quality assurance and product teams to align on requirements, test plans, and release schedules. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as resolving complex, system-level challenges often requires input from multiple technical disciplines.

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

To thrive as a Systems Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (typically in C, C++, or Rust), a deep understanding of operating systems, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Git, build systems (e.g., Make, CMake), kernel development environments, and sometimes relevant certifications (such as Linux Foundation Certified Engineer) is typical. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills that help you excel in complex, collaborative projects. These skills and qualities are crucial to designing robust, efficient system-level software that meets performance, reliability, and security standards.

What is the difference between Systems Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectSystems Software EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing system-level software, operating systems, and firmwareCreating applications, websites, and user-facing software
Required SkillsLow-level programming (C, C++), OS concepts, hardware interactionHigh-level programming (Java, Python, JavaScript), UI/UX design
Work EnvironmentOften in hardware or OS teams, embedded systems, or infrastructureApplication development teams, web or mobile app projects
CertificationsTypically none required, but Linux or OS certifications can helpOften certifications like Java, AWS, or specific language certifications

While both roles involve software development, Systems Software Engineers focus on system-level and hardware-interfacing software, whereas Software Developers create user-facing applications. The roles overlap in programming skills but differ in scope and environment.

What is a systems software engineer?

Systems Software Engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain the underlying software that enables computer hardware and application software to function effectively. They work on operating systems, device drivers, embedded systems, and other foundational platforms, ensuring system stability, security, and performance. Their role often involves low-level programming, optimizing system resources, and collaborating with hardware engineers to create seamless integration between software and hardware components.
More about Systems Software Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Systems Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA? For Systems Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Systems Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Systems Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Systems Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Systems Software Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $202,249 per year, or $97.2 per hour.

Systems Software Engineer

Aquent

Redmond, WA • On-site

$75 - $80/hr

Temporary

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Placement Type:
Temporary
Salary:
$75-80 Hourly
$75/hr - $80/hr
Start Date:
Aug 10, 2026
Aquent is partnering with a leading technology company at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to shaping the future of computing. This organization is committed to transforming how vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated across the industry, focusing on securing critical hardware ecosystems through cutting-edge AI, compiler technology, and automated fuzzing. Step into a dynamic engineering role where your expertise will directly contribute to building and advancing a groundbreaking firmware security analysis platform. This is an unparalleled opportunity to join a pioneering team and make a profound impact on the security posture of critical hardware ecosystems, bridging research ideas with production-quality engineering solutions and driving innovation that secures critical firmware ecosystems through advanced analysis technologies.
About the Role
As a Systems Software Engineer, you will be instrumental in bridging cutting-edge research with production-quality engineering solutions. You'll work alongside security researchers, compiler engineers, and platform developers, contributing to the long-term technical strategy and evolution of a critical platform. This role offers a unique chance to work across multiple layers of the technology stack, from low-level compiler infrastructure to modern AI-assisted development workflows, making a tangible difference in securing vital hardware ecosystems.
Key Responsibilities
  • Build and enhance security analysis pipelines, including developing preprocessing pipelines for C/C++ firmware code into Intermediate Representation (IR).
  • Implement and maintain IR-based transformations to prepare firmware for off-target analysis and fuzzing.
  • Create and improve code-analysis workflows, encompassing call-graph extraction, metadata generation, and static-analysis integrations.
  • Design and maintain systems for generating and executing fuzzing campaigns using modern frameworks and AI-assisted techniques.
  • Improve crash triage systems for automated identification, deduplication, and analysis of security findings.
  • Develop automated mechanisms to classify code semantics and enhance analysis accuracy.
  • Build scalable automation combining compiler infrastructure, security tooling, and AI-driven workflows.
  • Enhance vulnerability detection pipelines and reduce false positives through improved analysis techniques.
  • Improve reporting systems to transform raw security findings into actionable engineering insights.
  • Validate analysis approaches across diverse firmware targets and environments.
  • Improve system reliability, modularity, test coverage, and CI/CD automation.
  • Create developer documentation, onboarding guides, and architectural references.
  • Support dependency review, reproducible builds, and general open-source readiness activities.
  • Help establish contribution workflows, issue triage practices, and release processes for external contributors.
  • Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
  • Participate in design reviews and technical architecture discussions.
  • Collaborate closely with engineers across security, hardware, and platform teams.
  • Contribute to long-term technical strategy and platform evolution.

Impact You'll Make
  • Your work will ensure security analysis pipelines operate reliably across targeted firmware platforms.
  • You will deliver actionable and accurate vulnerability findings, significantly reducing false positives compared to traditional approaches.
  • You will enable efficient onboarding of new firmware targets through documented, repeatable processes.
  • You will contribute to a high-quality, sustainable open-source release, supported by robust tooling, testing, and documentation.
  • Your engineering improvements will directly increase scalability, coverage, and usability for both internal and external contributors.

Must-Have Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Strong professional experience developing software in C/C++.
  • Hands-on experience with compiler technologies, IR, or low-level systems programming.
  • Experience working with fuzzing frameworks such as libFuzzer, AFL, AFL++, or similar technologies.
  • Strong understanding of software security principles, including memory-safety vulnerabilities and root-cause analysis.
  • Proficiency with Python for automation and tooling development.
  • Experience using Git-based development workflows.
  • Demonstrated ability to write well-tested, maintainable, and documented production code.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications
  • Experience with firmware, embedded systems, device software, or bare-metal development.
  • Knowledge of hardware abstraction layers (HALs), MMIO, emulation, rehosting, or cross-compilation techniques.
  • Experience with static-analysis platforms such as CodeQL.
  • Familiarity with program-analysis concepts such as call graphs, data-flow analysis, or IR transformations.
  • Experience integrating AI, machine learning, or large language model technologies into engineering workflows.
  • Previous open-source contributor or maintainer experience.
  • Experience building CI/CD pipelines and release automation.
  • Familiarity with GitHub or similar development platforms.

About Aquent Talent
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.
Client Description
Join a global technology leader driving innovation and empowering people and organizations worldwide to achieve more. Here, you'll collaborate with passionate, diverse teams to create impactful solutions that shape the future. The culture prioritizes growth, inclusion, and purpose-where your ideas are valued, and your work drives real change. Wherever your passion lies and wherever your career is headed-you'll play a role in projects that touch billions of lives. With flexible work options and a supportive environment, you'll have the tools to thrive both personally and professionally. Be part of something that truly matters.
Why work with AQUENT? Check out our awesome benefits: https://aquent.com/talent/talent-benefits
Aquent is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

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