Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Washington
Backend Software Engineer jobs in Washington are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and enterprise software across companies ranging from new engineers to principal-level architects. Seattle and the Eastside corridor of Bellevue and Redmond anchor the market, with secondary hiring in Olympia tied to state government modernization projects. Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing all maintain substantial backend engineering teams in Washington and hire continuously across specialties including API development, data pipeline engineering, and microservices architecture. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 55+ Backend Software Engineer jobs
Are you ready to make a significant impact on how one of the world's largest analytics organizations moves, serves, and governs its data? If you are passionate about building high-performance, reliable platform services at internet scale, we would love for you to apply! The Apple Services Data Science & Analytics organization drives decisions that improve the customer experience, accelerate growth, and uncover new business opportunities while respecting user privacy and adhering to regulatory policy. We work on some of the largest e-commerce and media streaming businesses in the world and have an incredible team collaborating on the best ways to improve these services for our customers! Our culture is built on rapid iteration, open debate, and independent thinking — we take calculated risks and work as analytical advisors across product, design, engineering, marketing, editorial, legal, and business teams.
Description
As a Senior Software Engineer on the Services Data Science & Analytics Platform Engineering team, you will design, build, and operate the backend services that form the foundation of DS&A's data platform. This is high-stakes infrastructure work: every downstream consumer in DS&A and Services broadly depends on what you build. A great fit for this role is someone who thinks deeply about distributed systems, obsesses over reliability and performance, and takes pride in building platform primitives that other engineers love to build on.
Minimum Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience building and operating high-performance, production-grade backend API services
- Expert proficiency in Python or Node.js/TypeScript — including async programming, type safety, and framework-level development (FastAPI, Express, or equivalent)
- Demonstrated experience designing and operating distributed systems with strict reliability and latency SLAs
- Strong proficiency with API design and service-to-service communication patterns (REST, gRPC, GraphQL, or equivalent)
- Hands-on experience with multi-layer caching architectures (in-process, Redis, or similar) and cache invalidation strategies
- Proficiency with Kubernetes, deployment, HPA, StatefulSets, namespace management
- BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building systems that integrate with distributed and high-performance data stores — Snowflake, Trino, Spark, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
- Observability practice, Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, or equivalent
- Experience building data catalog, metadata, or lineage systems
- Familiarity with Apache Iceberg or other open table formats
- Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and enforcement gates in large engineering organizations
- Familiarity with AI/ML infrastructure or experience integrating LLM-powered capabilities into platform services
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $175,000 and $308,500, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
Are you ready to make a significant impact on how one of the world's largest analytics organizations moves, serves, and governs its data? If you are passionate about building high-performance, reliable platform services at internet scale, we would love for you to apply! The Apple Services Data Science & Analytics organization drives decisions that improve the customer experience, accelerate growth, and uncover new business opportunities while respecting user privacy and adhering to regulatory policy. We work on some of the largest e-commerce and media streaming businesses in the world and have an incredible team collaborating on the best ways to improve these services for our customers! Our culture is built on rapid iteration, open debate, and independent thinking — we take calculated risks and work as analytical advisors across product, design, engineering, marketing, editorial, legal, and business teams.
Description
As a Senior Software Engineer on the Services Data Science & Analytics Platform Engineering team, you will design, build, and operate the backend services that form the foundation of DS&A's data platform. This is high-stakes infrastructure work: every downstream consumer in DS&A and Services broadly depends on what you build. A great fit for this role is someone who thinks deeply about distributed systems, obsesses over reliability and performance, and takes pride in building platform primitives that other engineers love to build on.
Minimum Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience building and operating high-performance, production-grade backend API services
- Expert proficiency in Python or Node.js/TypeScript — including async programming, type safety, and framework-level development (FastAPI, Express, or equivalent)
- Demonstrated experience designing and operating distributed systems with strict reliability and latency SLAs
- Strong proficiency with API design and service-to-service communication patterns (REST, gRPC, GraphQL, or equivalent)
- Hands-on experience with multi-layer caching architectures (in-process, Redis, or similar) and cache invalidation strategies
- Proficiency with Kubernetes, deployment, HPA, StatefulSets, namespace management
- BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building systems that integrate with distributed and high-performance data stores — Snowflake, Trino, Spark, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
- Observability practice, Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, or equivalent
- Experience building data catalog, metadata, or lineage systems
- Familiarity with Apache Iceberg or other open table formats
- Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and enforcement gates in large engineering organizations
- Familiarity with AI/ML infrastructure or experience integrating LLM-powered capabilities into platform services
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $175,000 and $308,500, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See All 55 Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsBackend Software Engineer Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Backend Software Engineer Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- TikTok13
- Rippling12
- Coupang3
- Databricks3
- Plaid2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software16
- Retail1
- Social Media1
- Media & Entertainment1
- Electronics & Hardware1
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in backend software engineer jobs across Washington.
- Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Python, Java, Go, or C++
- Experience designing and maintaining RESTful APIs or microservices architectures
- Hands-on background with cloud platforms, particularly AWS given Amazon's Washington presence
- Familiarity with relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, or Cosmos DB
- Demonstrated ability to work within agile development cycles and use version control with Git
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related technical field
Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a backend software engineer in Washington?
Washington does not require a state-issued license or registration to work as a backend software engineer, so the path centers on education and demonstrated technical skill. Most employers in the state expect at minimum a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related discipline, though bootcamp graduates with a strong portfolio are competitive at smaller studios and startups. Proficiency in cloud-native development is particularly valued given Washington's concentration of cloud-first employers.
How much do backend software engineers make in Washington?
Backend software engineers in Washington earn a median of about $166,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,810 for the lowest 10% to over $255,350 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire backend software engineers in Washington?
Employers hiring backend software engineers in Washington right now include TikTok, Rippling, and Coupang, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's technology economy runs deep, with headquarters and major engineering centers for cloud, aerospace, and enterprise software all maintaining consistent backend hiring throughout the year.
Which Washington cities have the most backend software engineer jobs?
Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond have the most backend software engineer openings in Washington. Seattle dominates because of its dense concentration of technology headquarters and cloud infrastructure teams, while Bellevue and Redmond draw heavily from Microsoft's campus presence and the many vendors and contractors that support it, making the Eastside corridor a major hiring center in its own right.
Are there remote backend software engineer jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 58% of backend software engineer openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how naturally the work translates to distributed teams. Roles focused on API development, data engineering, and platform infrastructure are the most consistently offered remotely, while positions requiring close integration with on-site hardware or security-cleared environments tend to be in-person.
How can I get hired as a backend software engineer in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an associate or new-graduate software development role, which large Washington employers including Amazon and Microsoft post regularly under titles like associate software development engineer or software development engineer I. Building a GitHub portfolio demonstrating backend projects in Python, Java, or Go gives candidates without professional experience a concrete signal of capability. Community colleges and university extension programs in Seattle also offer certificates that pair well with a portfolio when applying to smaller Washington technology companies and state government IT teams.
Where can I find and apply to backend software engineer jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to backend software engineer jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 55 Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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