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Tools Programmer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Morfologica, Inc. is seeking several Tools Developers at various Federal Facilities throughout Northern Virginia. ONLY CANDIDATES WITH ACTIVE GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLEARANCES AND APPROPRIATE POLY WILL ...

Security Tools Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Security Tools Engineers - Senior and Junior roles available Location: National Capitol Region (Remote work but must live in the Washington, DC area for occasional meetings) Job Type: Full-Time About ...

Software Tools Engineer II

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$99.60K - $136.40K/yr

Quevera is seeking a Software Tools Engineer II to join our team. At Quevera, we don't just offer jobs--we provide opportunities to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking community that fosters ...

Security Tools Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Security Tools Engineers - Senior and Junior roles available Location: National Capitol Region (Remote work but must live in the Washington, DC area for occasional meetings) Job Type: Full-Time About ...

Software Tools Engineer II

Annapolis, MD

$96.50K - $132.20K/yr

Quevera is seeking a Software Tools Engineer II to join our team. At Quevera, we don't just offer jobs-we provide opportunities to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking community that fosters ...

The Cyber Tools Engineer IV provides support to the customer in the area of Cyber Security. Daily Tasks include, but are not limited to: * Support the Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM ...

The Cyber Tools Engineer IV provides support to the customer in the area of Cyber Security. Daily Tasks include, but are not limited to: * Support the Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM ...

The Cyber Tools Engineer IV provides support to the customer in the area of Cyber Security. Daily Tasks include, but are not limited to: * Support the Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM ...

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Tools Programmer information

See Washington salary details

$12.5K

$141.6K

$162.5K

How much do tools programmer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for tools programmer in Washington is $141,574.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,400.00 and $162,000.00 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 in the Tools Programmer position, and why are they important?

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 the typical daily responsibilities of a Tools Programmer?

As a Tools Programmer, you will spend your days designing, implementing, and maintaining software tools that support artists, designers, and other developers in their workflow. This often involves collaborating closely with team members to gather requirements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure tools are intuitive and reliable. You might also work on optimizing existing tools or integrating new technology into the development pipeline. Regular communication with end users of your tools is common to ensure they meet production needs. This role requires balancing independent programming tasks with frequent team interactions to deliver effective solutions.
What are popular job titles related to Tools Programmer jobs in WA? For Tools Programmer jobs in WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Tools Programmer job openings in Washington as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 2% As Needed, 8% Full Time, 83% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $141,574 per year, or $68.1 per hour.

Tools Programmer (Jira automation and admin)

ZeniMax Media

Rockville, MD • On-site

$80K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Overview
Come join Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning development team behind Starfield, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by providing competitive salaries, a generous benefits program, and offices located in some of North America's best cities.
With a goal of creating a culture as fun and diverse as our games and our players, we welcome applicants with unique skillsets, experience levels and backgrounds. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to some of the most significant games in the industry we'd love to hear from you!
We will consider candidates for any of our four Bethesda Game Studios office locations: Rockville, MD; Montreal, Quebec; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX.
Responsibilities
Your Daily Life at Bethesda Game Studios
As a Tools Programmer you will...
  • Own the architecture, configuration, and governance of the Atlassian ecosystem (Jira, Jira Service Management, Confluence, Automations, Assets, Compass), ensuring studio-level consistency while supporting project-level flexibility.
  • Design and implement standardized workflows, permission models, and role-based access controls that reduce over-permissioning and prevent configuration drift.
  • Identify high-leverage workflow bottlenecks and replace manual, error-prone processes with automation and orchestration using Atlassian Automation, APIs, and custom services.
  • Help build and maintain integrations between Atlassian tools and external systems, including build systems, CI/CD pipelines, HR systems, cloud infrastructure, and monitoring platforms.
  • Develop internal tools and scripts to improve reporting, visibility, and operational efficiency across the studio using technologies such as python, excel, visual basic, SQL, and shell scripting.
  • Clean and normalize workflows before building automated reporting, dashboards, and scheduled report delivery.
  • Implement monitoring, alerting, and self-healing patterns where possible to shift teams from reactive to proactive operations.
  • Partner with technical writers and stakeholders to document systems, standards, and procedures in Confluence so automation and AI systems have stable, trusted inputs.
  • Implement change control and configuration management practices that enable safe automation at scale, including automated communication of approved changes.
  • Act as a technical partner to Studio teams, providing practical solutions that improve day-to-day execution.
Qualifications
What Makes You S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
  • You have proven experience owning, administering, and extending Atlassian platforms at scale in a complex, multi-team environment.
  • You have extensive experience designing and implementing automation
  • You have the demonstrated ability to build internal tools or workflows that reduce manual effort, cycle time, or error rates.
  • You have working knowledge of CI/CD concepts, monitoring, alerting, and infrastructure-adjacent workflows.
  • You can balance standardization with usability and governance with delivery velocity.
  • You are a strong communicator and are comfortable working with both technical and non-technical partners.
Preferred Skills
Bonus Skills
  • You have experience supporting game development, live operations, or large-scale production environments.
Salary Range
TOOLS PROGRAMMER - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $80,000 - $175,000 per year.
ZeniMax has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role; the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate's primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At ZeniMax certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, such as merit increases and discretionary bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance and are not guaranteed. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with ZeniMax and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays, among others.
This position is in a union and represented by the Communication Workers of America.
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