Senior Backend Developer Jobs in Virginia
Senior Backend Developer jobs in Virginia are in strong and sustained demand, concentrated in defense contracting, federal IT services, cloud infrastructure, and financial technology sectors, with openings ranging from mid-level engineers to principal architects. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor are the primary hiring hubs, home to established employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Capital One that consistently seek senior backend talent. The most in-demand specialties include distributed systems engineering, cloud-native API development, and microservices architecture supporting government and enterprise platforms. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Work you'll do
As an AI and Data Science Engineer on the AI & Data team, you will be responsible for...
- Designing modern data architecture, data pipelines, and workflows using Palantir Foundry and cloud-based technologies
- Building and deploying data engineering solutions that support enterprise transformation and mission-driven outcomes
- Developing analytics products and applications that integrate, transform, and operationalize enterprise data
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define requirements, resolve technical issues, and deliver scalable solutions
- Applying DevOps and statistical programming tools to improve data quality, platform performance, and operational efficiency
A successful candidate would possess these skills:
- Ability to work independently and collaborate as part of a team
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Meticulous attention to detail and quality of work product
- Ability to build and sustain professional relationships
- Ability to lead projects or workstreams
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Strong interpersonal skills and professional demeanor
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to provide clear guidance to others
The team
Deloitte's Government & Public Services (GPS) practice - our people, ideas, technology and outcomes - is designed for impact. Serving federal, state, & local government clients as well as public higher education institutions, our team of professionals brings fresh perspective to help clients anticipate disruption, reimagine the possible, and fulfill their mission promise.
Our AI & Data offering provides a full spectrum of solutions for designing, developing, and operating cutting-edge Data and AI platforms, products, insights, and services. Our offerings help clients innovate, enhance and operate their data, AI, and analytics capabilities, ensuring they can mature and scale effectively.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree
- 5+ years of experience developing, integrating, or maintaining backend applications, services, or data pipelines.
- 5+ years of experience troubleshooting application, data, integration, or production issues.
- 2+ years of experience with data modeling, schema management, data lineage, metadata management, and data-quality controls.
- 2+ years of experience with CI/CD concepts and automated software delivery.
- 2+ years of experience with Python, SQL, or comparable backend programming languages.
- Active Secret security clearance
- Ability to work onsite four or more days per week in Arlington, VA, or Rosslyn, VA.
- Ability to travel 5-25%, on average, based on the work you do and the clients and industries/sectors you serve
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future
Preferred:
- Maven Smart System or Palantir Foundry tools, including Pipeline Builder, Code Workbooks, transforms, the Ontology, Actions, Functions, APIs, and application integrations.
- The War Data Platform (WDP), formerly known as Advana.
- REST APIs, JSON, message queues, microservices, or event-driven architectures.
- Observability practices, including centralized logging, monitoring, alerting, distributed tracing, and service health checks.
- Relational and non-relational databases, data modeling, and query optimization.
- Department of War, military readiness, or federal government data environments.
The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Deloitte, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $131,000 to $218,300.
You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.
See All 30 Senior Backend Developer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Backend Developer JobsSenior Backend Developer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Backend Developer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Banking & Financial Services
- Technology & Software
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior backend developer jobs across Virginia.
- Five or more years of professional backend development experience in production environments
- Proficiency in at least one server-side language such as Java, Python, Go, or Node.js
- Demonstrated experience designing and deploying RESTful or GraphQL APIs at scale
- Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly AWS or Azure, common in Virginia's defense and government markets
- Experience with relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB
- Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, containerization tools like Docker, and orchestration with Kubernetes
Senior Backend Developer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior backend developer in Virginia?
Backend development in Virginia has no state-issued license or registration requirement, so advancement depends on demonstrated technical depth and domain experience. Most senior roles require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, though Virginia employers including federal contractors frequently evaluate candidates on portfolio work and verifiable project history. Building expertise in cloud infrastructure and systems design relevant to Virginia's defense and government IT market strengthens candidacy considerably.
How much do senior backend developers make in Virginia?
Senior backend developers in Virginia earn a median of about $136,460 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,350 for the lowest 10% to over $211,930 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior backend developers in Virginia?
Employers hiring senior backend developers in Virginia right now include Capital One, CVS Health, and Information Technology Senior Management Forum, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Northern Virginia's concentration of federal contractors and cloud infrastructure firms means many of these employers also require or prefer candidates who can obtain a security clearance.
Which Virginia cities have the most senior backend developer jobs?
Richmond, McLean, and Chantilly have the highest concentration of senior backend developer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of federal agencies, defense contractors, and cloud data center operators, while Richmond draws demand from financial services firms and state government technology programs, and Hampton Roads reflects the region's military and logistics-sector IT needs.
Are there remote senior backend developer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 38% of senior backend developer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based and distributed nature of backend engineering work. Roles focused on cloud infrastructure, API development, and internal tooling tend to carry the most remote flexibility, while positions requiring on-site work typically involve classified federal systems or secure facilities.
How can I get hired as a senior backend developer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an associate or junior software engineer role at one of Virginia's large federal IT contractors, such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, or SAIC, which run structured new-graduate programs and rotational tracks that build backend engineering skills over time. Moving from a QA engineer, systems analyst, or DevOps associate role is a common lateral path into backend work. Building a public portfolio demonstrating API projects or cloud deployments, and earning an AWS or Azure associate-level credential, meaningfully strengthens applications at Virginia employers.
Where can I find and apply to senior backend developer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to senior backend developer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across the state's major hiring markets. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly from the listing.
See All 30 Senior Backend Developer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Backend Developer Jobs