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Volunteer Software Development Jobs in Massachusetts

Software Design and Development Life-cycle knowledge. * Strong proficiency in Python and related ... As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Java Development * JavaScript Development * MATLAB * Object Oriented Software Design and ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

Java Development * JavaScript Development * MATLAB * Object Oriented Software Design and ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

Showing results 41-60

Volunteer Software Development information

See Massachusetts salary details

$86.8K

$155.2K

$194.9K

How much do volunteer software development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for volunteer software development in Massachusetts is $155,193.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,900.00 and $178,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is volunteer software development?

Volunteer software development involves individuals offering their programming skills and technical expertise for free to support non-profit organizations, open-source projects, or community initiatives. These volunteers help build, maintain, or improve software systems without monetary compensation, often to support causes they care about. This work can range from designing websites to developing complex applications, and may be done remotely or on-site. Volunteering in software development not only helps organizations achieve their missions but also provides volunteers with valuable experience and networking opportunities.

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

To thrive as a Volunteer Software Developer, you need a solid understanding of programming languages, version control, and software development principles, typically gained through education or self-study. Familiarity with platforms like GitHub, issue trackers, and common frameworks or libraries is highly beneficial. Strong communication, teamwork, and a proactive attitude help you collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders. These skills enable volunteers to contribute meaningful code, support project goals, and drive positive impact in resource-limited environments.

What are some common challenges faced by volunteer software developers, and how can they be effectively managed?

Volunteer software developers often work with teams that have varying skill levels and may be distributed across different time zones, making communication and coordination challenging. Additionally, since volunteer roles are typically part-time or flexible, balancing project deadlines with volunteers’ availability requires strong project management and clear expectations. To manage these challenges, it’s helpful to use collaborative tools, maintain regular check-ins, and establish clear documentation and coding standards. Open communication and a supportive team culture can also help volunteers stay engaged and productive.

What is the difference between Volunteer Software Development vs Software Developer?

AspectVolunteer Software DevelopmentSoftware Developer
CredentialsTypically no formal credentials required; passion and basic coding skillsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field often required
Work EnvironmentNon-profit, open-source projects, or community initiativesCorporate, startup, or freelance settings
Employer & IndustryNon-profit organizations, open-source communitiesTech companies, startups, consulting firms
Search & Comparison IntentVolunteering opportunities, unpaid coding rolesPaid employment, career development

Volunteer Software Development involves unpaid work for non-profit or open-source projects, often with flexible credentials. Software Developers typically work in paid roles within companies, requiring formal education and professional experience. Both roles involve coding but differ mainly in compensation, work environment, and career progression.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development jobs in Massachusetts? The most popular types of Software Development jobs in Massachusetts are:
What are popular job titles related to Volunteer Software Development jobs in Massachusetts? For Volunteer Software Development jobs in Massachusetts, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Volunteer Software Development job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,193 per year, or $74.6 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

The Energy Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory develops energy and critical infrastructure resilience solutions for national security. Our group works on a wide variety of programs including domestic and tactical military base energy resilience, microgrids - energy systems that can operate independently from the bulk electric grid, cyber security of control systems that interface with energy systems, and development of advanced energy technologies. The group leads systems analysis efforts focusing on the gaps between infrastructure and operational requirements, executes live exercises for testing energy and cyber resilience posture, builds hardware-in-the-loop and real-time simulation platforms, does basic and applied research on technologies, and fields functional prototypes. Projects are typically conducted in a team environment, leveraging expertise from within Lincoln Laboratory and MIT campus to successfully execute nationally important and cutting-edge efforts
Job Description
Our group is seeking highly motivated individuals to support software design, implementation, test and deployment activities within a rapid prototyping environment. The candidate will work across different technical areas in a dynamic team-oriented development environment and will likely support multiple projects at one time. The candidate will be expected to assess the operational feasibility of their approaches through analysis and should be well organized, self-driven, creative, and detail-oriented. Documentation and presentation of their work is required throughout the life-cycle of development efforts and may include the generation of flowcharts, diagrams, slides, and code documentation.
This is an onsite/hybrid position. Candidates are expected to work onsite in Lexington, MA for at least 60% of their working time.
Requirements
  • B.A/B.S computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • Proficiency in Python
  • Experience developing and deploying cloud-based software (AWS, Azure, etc.)
  • Development and utilization of continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) architectures
  • Experience creating, querying and optimizing databases
  • Familiarity with basic machine learning processing and optimization techniques
  • Basic knowledge of the Windows and Linux operating systems
  • Effective written and oral communications skills in technical environments

Strong candidates will have one or more of the desired skills:
  • Working knowledge of Go, C#, Java, JavaScript, C/C++, or Rust
  • Working knowledge of basic scripting languages (PowerShell, Bash, Perl, etc.)
  • Experience with embedded software development
  • Experience using generative AI to accelerate software development

Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $100,200 - $120,000
Experienced Hiring Range: $100,200 - $150,000
Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including-but not limited to-the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.
At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
  • MIT-funded pension
  • Matching 401K
  • Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
  • Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
  • Mentorship programs
  • A range of work-life balance options
  • ... and much more!

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.
Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.
Requisition ID: 42813