C Software Engineer Jobs in Washington
C Software Engineer jobs in Washington are in strong and consistent demand, with the market concentrated in aerospace and defense, embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance computing across experience levels from entry-level to principal engineer. Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond anchor most of the hiring activity, where employers like Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon maintain large engineering workforces with ongoing needs for systems-level C expertise. The most sought-after specialties in Washington are embedded firmware, real-time operating systems, and low-level performance optimization for hardware-adjacent products. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Security represents the most critical priorities for our customers in a world awash in digital threats, regulatory scrutiny, and estate complexity. Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and empower every user, customer, and developer with a security cloud that protects them with end to end, simplified solutions. The Microsoft Security organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world.
We are looking for a Software Engineer II passionate about systems programming, operating-system internals, and computer networking. In this role, you will gain experience building security software that runs on diverse customer endpoints and operates across user mode, kernel mode, and cloud-connected systems to join to the Global Secure Access Client team.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop secure, reliable, and performant Global Secure Access endpoint components using C/C++ or Rust.
- Build solutions that integrate with the operating system network stack, including user-mode services and kernel-mode components.
- Use proficient networking knowledge to design secure traffic handling solutions and troubleshoot complex connectivity issues across the networking stack.
- Engineer for large, heterogeneous endpoint fleets by addressing compatibility, safe deployment, resource efficiency, limited observability, and interactions with other networking and security products.
- Deliver high-quality components through clear interfaces, design and code reviews, threat modeling, automated testing, telemetry, and production diagnostics.
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Collaborate across endpoint, identity, security, and cloud-service teams to shape and deliver cohesive end-to-end Global Secure Access experiences.
- Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, or Rust OR equivalent experience OR equivalent experience.
Other Requirements:
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience developing or debugging software involving computer networking, including protocols such as IP, TCP, UDP, DNS, or TLS.
- 3+ years of experience developing systems software involving OS internals, kernel-mode components, device drivers, or low-level operating-system APIs.
- Knowledge of secure software development, concurrency, memory management and performance optimization.
- Experience developing Windows kernel-mode drivers or networking components using technologies such as Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) or Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).
- Experience troubleshooting networking or systems issues using debuggers, crash dumps, traces or packet captures.
- Experience building endpoint software deployed across large and diverse enterprise environments
#MSFTSecurity GSAClient
Software Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $133,800 - $219,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
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Find C Software Engineer JobsC Software Engineer Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
C Software Engineer Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
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What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in C software engineer jobs across Washington.
- Proficiency in C with experience in systems or embedded software development
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or POSIX environments
- Experience debugging with tools like GDB, Valgrind, or hardware-level debuggers
- Understanding of memory management, pointer arithmetic, and low-level hardware interfaces
- Exposure to version control with Git and collaborative development in agile teams
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related field
C Software Engineer Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a c software engineer in Washington?
A bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or electrical engineering is the standard entry point for c software engineer roles in Washington. No state-issued license is required to work as a c software engineer in Washington, but employers in aerospace and defense often require or prefer candidates eligible for security clearances. Building a portfolio of systems or embedded projects and targeting Washington's defense contractors, cloud infrastructure firms, and hardware companies is the most direct hiring path.
How much do C software engineers make in Washington?
C 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 c software engineers in Washington?
Employers hiring c software engineers in Washington right now include SpaceXAI, Anduril, and Microsoft, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Washington's aerospace and defense sector, anchored in the greater Seattle and Puget Sound region, drives particularly consistent demand for engineers with systems-level and embedded C experience.
Which Washington cities have the most c software engineer jobs?
Seattle, Everett, and Redmond have the most c software engineer openings in Washington. Seattle and Bellevue concentrate demand through their large cloud, tech, and enterprise software employers, while Redmond's density of Microsoft campuses and hardware-focused teams keeps it among the most active submarkets for systems-level engineering roles in the state.
Are there remote c software engineer jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than many engineering specialties. About 100% of c software engineer openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the work happens in code editors and build environments rather than on-site hardware. Roles in cloud infrastructure, tooling, and compiler work are the most consistently remote, while positions tied to physical hardware or classified defense programs typically require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a c software engineer in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting embedded systems or infrastructure internships and new-graduate programs at Washington employers like Boeing, Microsoft, or Amazon, which run structured early-career engineering rotations. University of Washington and Washington State University graduates often enter through campus recruiting pipelines tied to these companies. Building a visible portfolio of low-level C projects on GitHub, contributing to open-source systems tools, and pursuing roles titled junior systems engineer or associate firmware engineer are the most effective lateral moves for candidates without direct industry experience.
Where can I find and apply to c software engineer jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to c software engineer jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings across industries including aerospace, cloud infrastructure, and embedded systems. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
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