Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia

Senior Software Development Engineer jobs in District of Columbia concentrate heavily in federal government technology, defense contracting, and cybersecurity, making the metro one of the most active markets in the country for engineers at the senior level. Most hiring clusters in Washington D.C. and the surrounding Northern Virginia corridor, where anchors like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and SAIC maintain large software engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties are cloud architecture, DevSecOps, and full-stack development tied to government systems modernization. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles54
Top employerMicrosoft
Top cityWashington, DC
Work type48% Hybrid
Top industryScience
Companies hiring42

Showing 5 of 54+ Senior Software Development Engineer jobs

Humana
Senior Software Engineer
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Humana
New 6h ago
Senior Software Engineer
Humana
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$107k - $147k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Empower AI Inc.
Senior Software Developer
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Empower AI Inc.
New 22h ago
Senior Software Developer
Empower AI Inc.
Washington, District of Columbia
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$106k - $164k/yr
Bachelor's degree in information technology

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Muon Space
Senior Software Engineer, Government Programs
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Muon Space
Added 1d ago
Senior Software Engineer, Government Programs
Muon Space
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$175k - $198k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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eVisit
Senior Software Engineer
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eVisit
Added 1d ago
Senior Software Engineer
eVisit
Washington, District of Columbia
Customer Service
Customer Support
Remote (US)

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Microsoft
Senior Software Engineer
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Microsoft
Added 1d ago
Senior Software Engineer
Microsoft
Washington, District of Columbia
Cloud Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$120k - $261k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 54 Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia

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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs by City in District of Columbia

Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Senior Software Development Engineer Job Market in District of Columbia

A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Microsoft
Microsoft5 open roles
Anduril
Anduril3 open roles
Koniag Government Services
Koniag Government Services3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Science & Research

What District of Columbia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior software development engineer jobs across District of Columbia.

  • Active security clearance or eligibility for federal government or defense contractor roles
  • Seven or more years of professional software development experience across the full stack
  • Proficiency in Java, Python, or C++ with demonstrated systems design expertise
  • Experience delivering cloud-native solutions on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud platforms
  • Strong background in agile development methodologies and DevSecOps practices
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field

Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior software development engineer in District of Columbia?

Reaching the senior level in District of Columbia typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering combined with several years of progressive development experience. Because a large share of roles here support federal agencies or defense programs, obtaining or maintaining a federal security clearance is one of the most decisive factors in moving into senior positions. Candidates who build expertise in government-adjacent technologies, such as FedRAMP-compliant cloud environments or classified system development, advance fastest in the D.C. market.

How much do senior software development engineers make in District of Columbia?

Senior software development engineers in District of Columbia earn a median of about $136,880 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,140 for the lowest 10% to over $197,000 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire senior software development engineers in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia senior software development engineer roles are posted by Microsoft, Anduril, and Koniag Government Services and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The D.C. market is especially driven by large defense contractors, federal IT integrators, and civilian agency modernization programs that consistently maintain senior engineering headcount throughout the year.

Which District of Columbia cities have the most senior software development engineer jobs?

Washington have the most senior software development engineer openings in District of Columbia. Washington D.C. itself anchors the market through federal agency headquarters and their prime contractors, while neighboring Northern Virginia areas draw significant volume from major defense and intelligence-sector employers that concentrate their software teams just outside the District boundaries.

Are there remote senior software development engineer jobs in District of Columbia?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 76% of senior software development engineer openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how naturally suited the role is to distributed work. That said, positions supporting classified federal programs or requiring on-site access to secure facilities remain predominantly in-person, so the remote share is highest for commercial and unclassified government IT work.

How can I get hired as a senior software development engineer in District of Columbia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path in D.C. is through associate or junior software developer roles at federal contractors, where firms like Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos run structured early-career programs designed to bring in new graduates and develop them toward senior positions over time. Pursuing an entry-level clearance during this period is a meaningful edge, since cleared junior engineers are in high demand. Lateral moves from adjacent roles in systems administration, QA engineering, or DevOps also provide a strong foundation for growing into a senior software development engineer position.

Where can I find and apply to senior software development engineer jobs in District of Columbia?

You can find and apply to senior software development engineer jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the region. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match your experience and goals.

See All 54 Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia

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