Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Senior Software Development Engineer jobs in Iowa are in steady demand, concentrated in financial technology, insurance platforms, agricultural data systems, and enterprise software, with openings ranging from mid-level team leads to principal engineers. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City account for the largest share of postings, anchored by employers like Principal Financial Group, Collins Aerospace, and the University of Iowa Health Care. The most sought-after specialties are cloud architecture, distributed systems, and full-stack platform engineering. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles44
Top employerCollins Aerospace
Top cityCedar Rapids, IA
Cities hiring8
Work type59% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 44+ Senior Software Development Engineer jobs

Senior Principal Software Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)
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New 10h ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Engineering (Non-Software)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$132k - $252k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Senior Software Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)
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New 10h ago
Senior Software Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$87k - $165k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Senior Software Engineer - Mission Sensors (Onsite)
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New 18h ago
Senior Software Engineer - Mission Sensors (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$87k - $165k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Senior Principal Software Engineer - Mission Sensors (Onsite)
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New 18h ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer - Mission Sensors (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Engineering (Non-Software)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$132k - $252k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Associate Software Developer
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New 20h ago
Associate Software Developer
CCR Technologies
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
51-200

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See All 44 Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Iowa

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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cedar Rapids
28 jobs
Ames
4 jobs
Urbandale
3 jobs
Des Moines
3 jobs
West Des Moines
3 jobs
Johnston
1 job
Iowa City
1 job
Carter Lake
1 job

Senior Software Development Engineer Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Collins Aerospace21
  • Berkley2
  • BAE Systems USA2
  • Kingland Systems2
  • Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior software development engineer jobs across Iowa.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
  • Seven or more years of professional software development experience in production environments
  • Proficiency in at least one major language such as Java, Python, C#, or Go
  • Demonstrated experience designing and deploying cloud-native or microservices architectures
  • Experience mentoring junior engineers and leading technical design reviews
  • Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and DevOps practices

Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior software development engineer in Iowa?

The typical Iowa path begins with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, followed by several years of professional development experience building production systems. Iowa has no state-issued license or registration required for software engineers. Employers in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids commonly promote from within after candidates demonstrate technical leadership, system ownership, and cross-functional collaboration. Cloud certifications from AWS, Google, or Microsoft strengthen candidacy at Iowa's major financial and technology employers.

How much do senior software development engineers make in Iowa?

Senior software development engineers in Iowa earn a median of about $114,890 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $74,390 for the lowest 10% to over $165,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire senior software development engineers in Iowa?

Employers hiring senior software development engineers in Iowa right now include Collins Aerospace, Berkley, and BAE Systems USA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's financial services and insurance sector, centered in Des Moines, drives particularly consistent demand for senior engineers working on platform modernization and data systems.

Which Iowa cities have the most senior software development engineer jobs?

Cedar Rapids, Ames, and Urbandale have the most senior software development engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines dominates because it is home to major insurance and financial technology headquarters, Cedar Rapids draws demand from aerospace and manufacturing software teams, and Iowa City benefits from University of Iowa Health Care and affiliated research and health informatics operations.

Are there remote senior software development engineer jobs in Iowa?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 41% of senior software development engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and collaborative-tool-driven nature of senior engineering work. Roles focused on cloud infrastructure, API development, and platform architecture are the most likely to be fully remote, while positions requiring on-site team leadership or access to proprietary internal systems tend to require at least hybrid presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate software engineer role at a mid-size Iowa employer, then building toward seniority over several years. Principal Financial Group, Collins Aerospace, and Iowa-based insurance carriers run new-graduate and rotational technology programs that place candidates without senior experience into structured development tracks. A strong portfolio of personal or open-source projects, a relevant cloud certification, or a computer science degree from the University of Iowa or Iowa State University gives candidates a meaningful edge when competing for those entry-level doors.

Where can I find and apply to senior software development engineer jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to senior software development engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the positions that fit.

See All 44 Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in Iowa

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