1

Tools Programmer Jobs in Maryland (NOW HIRING)

... tools, security tools in the shift-left automation • Mentor engineers and promote best practices in DevOps, SRE, and platform engineering • Stay abreast of new technologies in your areas but not ...

With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research ...

... tools, security tools in the shift-left automation • Mentor engineers and promote best practices in DevOps, SRE, and platform engineering • Stay abreast of new technologies in your areas but not ...

With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research ...

With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research ...

Showing results 41-60

Tools Programmer information

See Maryland salary details

$10.7K

$121.3K

$139.3K

How much do tools programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for tools programmer in Maryland is $121,317.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,600.00 and $138,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a tools programmer do?

A Tools Programmer develops and maintains software tools that help game developers work more efficiently. These tools can include level editors, asset pipelines, debugging utilities, and performance analysis tools. Their goal is to streamline development processes and improve productivity for artists, designers, and other programmers. They typically work closely with multiple departments to understand their needs and create custom solutions. Strong programming skills, particularly in languages like C++, Python, or C#, are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tools programmer?

To thrive as a Tools Programmer, you need strong proficiency in software development (typically C++ or Python), understanding of computer science fundamentals, and often a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with source control systems (like Git), industry-standard development environments, and experience with game engines or DCC tools is highly valued. Strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication, and a collaborative mindset are essential soft skills for working with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for building efficient, user-friendly tools that streamline development workflows and enhance productivity across projects.

What are popular job titles related to Tools Programmer jobs in Maryland? For Tools Programmer jobs in Maryland, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tools Programmer jobs in Maryland look for? The top searched job categories for Tools Programmer jobs in Maryland are:
What are popular job titles related to Tools Programmer jobs in MD? For Tools Programmer jobs in MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Tools Programmer job openings in Maryland as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,317 per year, or $58.3 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago


Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 73 rated research


Job description

Description
Are you passionate about building solutions for our greatest national security challenges?
Are you searching for engaging work with an employer that prioritizes impact, innovation, and personal development?
Do you value working in a creative and collaborative environment?
If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
The Threat Analytic Systems (QAI) Group wants talented staff who can work as part of a team to provide our nation with ground-breaking capabilities that bridge the gaps between data, real-world events and people, and prediction of events of national importance. We need talented engineers, scientists, and ontologists with curiosity and a drive for learning!
As a member of our team...
  • You will work on a team with software engineers and data scientists to build ontologies and capabilities for applied national security mission needs.
  • You will engage stakeholders to determine ontology requirements.
  • You will work with subject matter experts to craft ontology content.
  • You will contribute to and implement quality assurance and validation practices.

Qualifications
You'll meet our minimum requirements if you...
  • Have a Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to Ontology. Relevant degree fields may include Philosophy, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Public / Social Policy, Mathematics, Logic, or Linguistics.
  • Are proficient with any of the following: Ontology Web Language (OWL), Resource Description Framework Schema (RDFs), and Resource Description Framework (RDF)
  • Have experience crafting SPARQL queries
  • Have experience building domain ontologies
  • Are familiar with ontology editors (e.g., TopBraid Composer, Protégé, ROBOT), or ontology editing software packages (e.g. rdflib, Apache Jena, Sesame, RDF4J)
  • Can work with loosely defined or high-level requirements
  • Can work on multiple dynamic projects to support evolving national security requirements
  • Have strong problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills
  • Have demonstrated initiative
  • Have experience working successfully independently or within a team environment
  • Have excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Hold an active TS/SCI security clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI+poly level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...
  • A Master's degree in a field relevant to Ontology. Relevant degree fields may include Philosophy, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Public / Social Policy, Mathematics, Logic, or Linguistics
  • Experience working with a software engineering team to deliver ontology-driven software features
  • Experience building domain ontologies based on a top-level ontology
  • Are able to weigh tradeoffs between semantic expressivity and project-specific implementation strategies
  • Experience with any of the following: Basic Formal Ontology (BFO); The Common Core Ontologies (CCO); W3C standards such as SOSA/SSN and the Time Ontology; ontologies in the Open Biological and Biomedical (OBO) Foundry; as well as other semantic web standards, such as Dublin Core, SKOS, QUDT, and GeoSPARQL
  • Experience with formal representations of logical reasoning and inference
  • Experience with triple stores or graph databases (e.g., GraphDB, Stardog, Jena Fuseki)
  • Experience with semantic validation languages (e.g. SHACL, SPIN)
  • Experience with software version management using GIT
  • Experience with Python
  • Experience with machine learning, natural language processing, or in the normalization/integration of heterogeneous data sources
  • Coursework in data structures, databases, metaphysics, knowledge representation, algorithms, mathematical logic, mereotopology, or software programming

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$100,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$245,000 Annually

What Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom