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Volunteer Software Development Jobs in Boston, MA

Test Software Dev/Engineer Clearance Level: Active clearance is preferred; however, we will ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

Support development sprints and code reviews. * Develop software to achieve program milestones as ... Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) * Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

Experience with modern software development tool chains and processes. * Experience with C/C ... Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) * Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in both software development and the development of ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in both software development and the development of ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

Software Development Manager Reporting to: Director of Software Engineering Department: Technology ... Commuter benefits, FSA options, pet insurance, home & auto discounts, and paid volunteer time off ...

AWS development and deployment * Familiarity with web client development frameworks * Embedded ... volunteer work * 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment ...

Showing results 21-40

Volunteer Software Development information

See Boston, MA salary details

$86.4K

$154.4K

$193.9K

How much do volunteer software development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for volunteer software development in Boston, MA is $154,379.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,200.00 and $177,100.00 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 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 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 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 Boston, MA?

The most popular types of Software Development jobs in Boston, MA are:

What are popular job titles related to Volunteer Software Development jobs in Boston, MA?

For Volunteer Software Development jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Volunteer Software Development job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,379 per year, or $74.2 per hour.

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 hours ago


Job description

Test Software Dev/Engineer

Clearance Level: Active clearance is preferred; however, we will consider candidates with the ability to obtain interim clearance for assignment. MUST BE US CITIZEN

At Aquila Technology, you will see our team’s passion every day, whether we are building a robust, policy-compliant IT system or stress-testing a system to identify gaps and security vulnerabilities. To own the advantage, we ensure our team owns results and gets the work done right the first time by deploying smart, purposeful solutions that work. Aquila is the right people with the right skills driving the right outcomes. We call this the Aquila Advantage.

Aquila Technology is seeking a highly skilled Test Software Dev/Engineer to join our team in supporting one of the country’s premier defense research organizations. The group is looking for a talented Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join an existing project developing cryptography and key management capabilities for embedded and enterprise proof-of-concept prototype devices. The candidate’s responsibilities will include leading the testing strategy, designing test infrastructure and test automation, developing unit and integration tests, developing static analysis testing, triage and remediation and developing dynamic analysis (e.g., fuzz testing) to support a continuous integration infrastructure as a member of an interdisciplinary team. The candidate will be responsible for taking a leading role in producing and maintaining documentation and artifacts required to support the certification effort.

Must Have

  • 4 years - Engineering
  • 4 years - Software/Algorithm Development
  • 4 years - Program/Project Management OR Analysis
  • 4 years - Software Documentation
  • 4 years - C/C++
  • 4 years - Object Oriented Software Design and Development
  • 4 years - Software Design/Development
  • 4 years - Git
  • 4 years - Hardware and Software Integration
  • 4 years - Software Testing

Nice to Have

  • Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
  • Engineering
  • Experience with static and dynamic structural modeling and analysis
  • Experience
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Scrum Methodologies
  • Programming
  • Rust experience

Required:

  • The candidate should have a minimum of 4 years of professional software testing and development experience
  • Good English writing and oral communication skills
  • Ability to ramp up rapidly on Rust for systems development
  • Proficiency in modern systems programming with C++ and C (proficiency in C alone is not sufficient to satisfy the C/C++ requirement)
  • The candidate should have a strong working foundational understanding of object-oriented programming and template metaprogramming in addition to imperative programming.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field (Additional professional experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, if the candidate can demonstrate an expert understanding of the programming languages and technologies required as well as a solid foundation in software design and software testing principles)
  • The candidate’s professional experience should indicate a track record of working on small, collaborative teams starting from uncertain, incomplete or ambiguous requirements and testing the software under development.

Preferred:

  • Proficiency in Rust (proficiency in Rust is not a strict requirement as long as the candidate demonstrates a track record of learning new programming languages on-the-job and an eagerness to learn this emerging systems programming language)
  • Proficiency with modern software development workflows using git for version control
  • Issue tracking
  • Feature branches
  • Pull/merge requests
  • Experience with static and/or dynamic analysis tools
  • Familiarity with Scrum or similar Agile software methodologies
  • Familiarity with some aspects of cryptography and/or computer networking
  • E.g., OpenSSL, IPSec, TCP/IP, TLS

Our Perks Include:
PTO - 15 days (vacation/sick) 10 paid holidays - 6 standard (New Year’s, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) - 4 floating holidays prorated based on your day of hire:

  • 1.5 paid days, or 12 hours, for approved volunteer work
  • 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment

Tuition & Training Reimbursement - 5K annually for pre-approved, Eligible full-time team members who have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment may apply for tuition reimbursement for approved, job-related courses taken through an accredited college or university. Team members must achieve a grade of “B” or better to qualify for reimbursement.Aquila will reimburse up to $5,000 per fiscal year for tuition expenses only. Expenses related to training programs, certifications, books, materials, meals, transportation, or other non-tuition costs are not eligible under the Tuition Reimbursement Program. All tuition reimbursement requests must be submitted to and approved by the team member’s Manager prior to course registration. Reimbursement will be issued upon successful course completion and submission of final grades and proof of payment.

401K with Fidelity - Eligible to participate following 90 days of employment. Company match on employee contribution:

  • $1/$1 up to 3%, then .50 cents / $1 for 4th and 5th %s
  • Fully vested from day one
  • Company match does not apply to catch-up contribution

Cell Phone & Internet Reimbursed up to $150 monthly to cover cell phone, data, and home internet expenses. Aquila Technology will reimburse team members who work from home ONLY for cell phone/mobile device fees for work-related communications and/or operations each month. Employees eligible for this benefit must work remote 2 days a week or more to qualify.

Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) - Team members are eligible for reimbursement of up to $1,500 every three (3) years for the purchase of electronic equipment used to access corporate services. To qualify for this benefit, employees must have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment and must agree to and sign the Device Minimum Configuration Form prior to reimbursement. Electronic devices eligible under the Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) program are limited to cell phones, laptops, and tablets.

Work Location: Onsite—the candidate should expect to be onsite 5 days a week.Travel: Domestic Travel to field sites or sponsor sites is estimated to be no more than 5% annually.

Clearance Level: Active clearance is preferred; however, we will consider candidates with the ability to obtain interim clearance for assignment. MUST BE US CITIZEN

Interview process: Short phone interview with hiring manager. If candidate advances to next round, larger group interview with technical team onsite.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.