1

Volunteer Software Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Software Development Engineer II

$99K - $136K/yr

Software Development Engineer II Department: Product Engineering Reports to: Manager of Product ... Volunteer and community engagement opportunities. Find out more at www.itential.com. This is a ...

Lead - Software Development

Reston, VA · On-site

$120K - $151K/yr

Lead the design, development, and debugging of web-based software solutions using Java, APIs, and ... volunteering events, and more environmental and social initiatives. #DNS-Apptium Don't meet every ...

Software Development Engineer II

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$93K - $128K/yr

Software Development Engineer II Department: Product Engineering Reports to: Manager of Product ... Volunteer and community engagement opportunities. Find out more at www.itential.com. This is a ...

Software Development Snr Manager

Nashville, TN · On-site

$119K - $157K/yr

As a Senior Software Development Manager in Compute Scaled Manufacturing, you will build and lead a ... Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insurance The role will generally accept ...

Lead - Software Development

Reston, VA · On-site

$120K - $151K/yr

Lead the design, development, and debugging of web-based software solutions using Java, APIs, and ... volunteering events, and more environmental and social initiatives. #DNS-Apptium Don't meet every ...

Software Development Engineer (SDET)

Merrifield, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $64.25/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer (SDET) Location: Hybrid Work Model Reporting to Vienna, VA ... voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan. System One is an Equal Opportunity ...

Software Development Engineer (SDET)

Merrifield, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $64.25/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer (SDET) Location: Hybrid Work Model Reporting to Vienna, VA ... voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan. System One is an Equal Opportunity ...

Software Development Engineer (SDET)

Merrifield, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $64.25/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer (SDET) Location: Hybrid Work Model Reporting to Vienna, VA ... voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan. System One is an Equal Opportunity ...

We also encourage employees to give back to their communities through our volunteer programs. We're ... software engineering experience, including enterprise application development, cloud services ...

We also encourage employees to give back to their communities through our volunteer programs. We're ... software engineering experience, including enterprise application development, cloud services ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Volunteer Software Development information

See salary details

$79.5K

$142.1K

$178.5K

How much do volunteer software development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for volunteer software development in the United States is $142,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,500.00 and $163,000.00 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 cities are hiring for Volunteer Software Development jobs? Cities with the most Volunteer Software Development job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development jobs? The most popular types of Software Development jobs are:
What states have the most Volunteer Software Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Volunteer Software Development jobs include:
Infographic showing various Volunteer Software Development job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,102 per year, or $68.3 per hour.
Director of Software Development (Lowell)

Director of Software Development (Lowell)

Captivate

Lowell, MA • On-site

$190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Job Details

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Lowell, MA 01851

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $190,000.00 - $190,000.00

Job Category: Information Technology

Position Overview

Captivate has an exciting opportunity for a Director of Software Development to provide hands‑on leadership to our Engineering team at our headquarters in Lowell, MA. This role is ideal for an experienced technical leader who can balance team management and mentorship with hands‑on software design, development, and testing.

Reporting to the VP of Technology, the Director will oversee software development processes, lead team growth and performance, and drive the design and implementation of next‑generation platform components. This role will be instrumental in advancing both our proprietary technology platform and our software development practices.

The Captivate Technology Platform is built on a Microsoft‑centric stack (C#, C++, ASP.NET, MS SQL) and hosted across AWS and colocation data centers for resiliency. We leverage a range of cloud services including AWS Lambda and modern front‑end frameworks such as Angular and React.

This position requires the candidate to be based in the Boston, MA area, with the ability to regularly collaborate onsite in our Lowell office. Captivate operates under a hybrid work policy, with flexibility for periodic work‑from‑home days.

Essential Functions
  • Lead and manage the Captivate software development team, providing both technical direction and people leadership.
  • Contribute as a hands‑on developer to meet Engineering deliverables and support complex development efforts.
  • Partner with Product Management to align priorities, establish roadmaps, and deliver on product objectives.
  • Assign tasks, oversee progress, and ensure the timely, high‑quality completion of all deliverables.
  • Mentor, coach, and provide performance management to team members.
  • Drive full‑stack development efforts across front‑end, business logic, and back‑end systems.
  • Optimize development strategies, processes, and best practices to increase team efficiency and product quality.
  • Recommend and implement new tools, techniques, and testing methodologies.
  • Facilitate development ceremonies including standups, sprint planning, demos, and retrospectives.
  • Design and implement challenging software components and features using JavaScript, C#, Visual C++, MS SQL, and AWS services (including Lambda).
  • Develop and execute comprehensive software testing plans, including unit, integration, regression, and smoke testing.
  • Utilize Atlassian JIRA, Confluence, GitHub, and modern deployment methods (e.g., Serverless) for effective development and release management.
  • Provide production support to Captivate systems, collaborating with Technology, Operations, and Product Management teams to resolve issues.
Skills & Experience
  • 5+ years leading and managing software engineering teams, with proven supervisory or team leadership experience.
  • 7+ years as a full‑stack developer in Microsoft Stack platforms hosted on AWS or Azure.
  • 5+ years designing, developing, and supporting 24x7 mission‑critical systems.
  • 5+ years designing clean and scalable RESTful APIs.
  • 5+ years hands‑on JavaScript experience.
  • 3+ years in Angular, React, and Node.js development.
  • 3+ years in container‑based application architecture, deployment, and release.
  • 2+ years managing external development partners (on‑shore and off‑shore).
  • Experience with Atlassian JIRA, Confluence, GitHub, Serverless, and AWS services; Linux/Unix knowledge a plus.
  • Strong knowledge of object‑oriented programming paradigms.
  • Demonstrated success in implementing modern software development practices.
  • Cybersecurity controls experience with NIST 800-53r5 a plus.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  • Passion for mentoring, team development, and writing maintainable, testable code.
  • Commitment to staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies.
Why You Should Work at Captivate

Captivate offers a generous FTO (flexible time off) policy, matching 401k, commuter benefits & health insurance programs offered through Cigna. We encourage work‑life balance through team building activities, employee outings and celebratory events. Captivate offers a great work environment and provides employees the opportunity to make an impact, through employer gift match programs & volunteer opportunities.

#J-18808-Ljbffr