Senior Software Engineering Jobs in Virginia

Senior Software Engineering jobs in Virginia are concentrated in defense contracting, federal IT services, and cybersecurity, with the Northern Virginia corridor ranking among the most active markets in the country for this role at the senior level. The heaviest hiring happens in and around the Washington D.C. metro, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and General Dynamics Information Technology have deep, lasting footprints. Cloud architecture, DevSecOps, and distributed systems engineering are the specialties drawing the most consistent demand from Virginia employers. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles21
Top employerCapital One
Top cityMcLean, VA
Cities hiring5
Work type60% On-site
Top industryBanking

Showing 5 of 21+ Senior Software Engineering jobs

Capital One
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
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Capital One
Added 1d ago
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
Capital One
Richmond, Virginia
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
Master's degree
10,000+

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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Added 1d ago
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Richmond, Virginia
Backend Engineering
Software Engineering
$209k - $262k/yr
Master's degree
51-200

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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Sr. Director Software Engineering
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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Added 1d ago
Sr. Director Software Engineering
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Richmond, Virginia
Backend Engineering
Software Engineering
$286k - $327k/yr
Master's degree
51-200

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L3Harris
Sr. Associate, Software Engineering
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L3Harris
Added 1d ago
Sr. Associate, Software Engineering
L3Harris
Herndon, Virginia
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
$97k - $208k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Capital One
Sr. Director Software Engineering
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Capital One
Added 2d ago
Sr. Director Software Engineering
Capital One
Richmond, Virginia
Cloud & DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 21 Senior Software Engineering Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Senior Software Engineering Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

McLean
11 jobs
Richmond
7 jobs
Reston
1 job
Herndon
1 job
Falls Church
1 job

Senior Software Engineering Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

Capital One
Capital One7 open roles
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Information Technology Senior Management Forum6 open roles
Affirm
Affirm1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Technology & Software

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior software engineering jobs across Virginia.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related technical field
  • Seven or more years of software development experience with at least three in a senior role
  • Proficiency in one or more languages such as Java, Python, Go, or C++ used in production systems
  • Active or obtainable U.S. security clearance, preferred by most defense and federal contractors in Virginia
  • Demonstrated experience designing and deploying scalable cloud infrastructure on AWS, Azure, or GCP
  • Strong record of technical leadership, code review ownership, and cross-functional team collaboration

Senior Software Engineering Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior software engineering in Virginia?

Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a software engineer. The typical path starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, followed by several years of progressively responsible development work. In Virginia's dominant defense and federal IT market, obtaining a security clearance significantly accelerates advancement. Certifications in cloud platforms or cybersecurity frameworks recognized by Virginia's major contractors also strengthen a candidate's standing for senior roles.

How much do senior software engineerings make in Virginia?

Senior software engineerings 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 software engineerings in Virginia?

Virginia senior software engineering roles are posted by Capital One, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and Affirm and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Northern Virginia's concentration of defense contractors and federal agencies means large systems integrators and government-focused technology firms consistently post the highest volume of senior-level openings in the state.

Which Virginia cities have the most senior software engineering jobs?

McLean, Richmond, and Reston lead Virginia in senior software engineering openings. The Northern Virginia metro dominates because of its proximity to federal agencies and the Pentagon, which drives enormous demand from defense contractors and cleared IT firms, while Richmond and Hampton Roads add volume through state government technology offices, financial services employers, and naval and military installation support contracts.

Are there remote senior software engineering jobs in Virginia?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 40% of senior software engineering openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how naturally the work translates to distributed teams. Roles focused on application development, cloud engineering, and software architecture tend to offer the most flexibility, while positions requiring access to classified networks or secure facilities remain largely on-site.

How can I get hired as a senior software engineering in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a junior or associate software engineer role at one of Virginia's large defense contractors or federal IT firms, which regularly run new-graduate hiring programs. Companies like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton recruit directly from Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and the University of Virginia. Building a portfolio of personal or open-source projects, earning a cloud certification, and applying for associate developer or software engineer I roles are the most concrete steps toward eventually advancing to a senior title.

Where can I find and apply to senior software engineering jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to senior software engineering jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense, federal IT, commercial tech, and other sectors. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and location preferences, and apply directly through each listing.

See All 21 Senior Software Engineering Jobs in Virginia

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