Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Software Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, with the market concentrated in defense, intelligence, federal IT, and aerospace sectors and openings ranging from entry-level associate engineers through senior systems architects. The heaviest hiring activity centers on Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads metro, and the Richmond area, where anchors like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton maintain large engineering workforces. The most sought-after specialties in Virginia include systems integration, embedded systems development, and model-based systems engineering tied to Department of Defense programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 38+ Software Systems Engineer jobs
At Bcore, our strength comes from how we deliver impact to the mission. Whether it’s architecting critical IT solutions, producing actionable intelligence, or developing cutting edge technology, we succeed because of the expertise, collaboration, and agility of our teams. Our Mission Services division combines enterprise IT, cloud solutions, DevSecOps, systems engineering, software development, and operational support. Bcore accelerates decisive advantage for warfighters and intelligence professionals by fusing human insight, rapid-fire engineering, precision-measured outcomes, and relentless grit into mission-ready solutions.
Do you want to join a team that is building tailored technical solutions to modernize our government’s mission and our client’s business? Do you have a desire to change how people work? Are you interested in helping to protect our nation’s cyber interests? Join our growing team as a Geospatial Systems Software Engineer, supporting the Army customer mission.
- Design, customize, deploy, and test enterprise GIS applications.
- Perform software development using Python, C#, C++, HTML, and JavaScript.
- Author and maintain technical documentation (user guides, configuration updates, versioning notes in GitLab, etc.).
- Implement geospatial data acquisition, preparation, and conversion processes.
- Support Risk Management Framework (RMF) compliance for access controls and system security.
- Manage access roles and permissions within ArcGIS Enterprise.
- Configure, deploy, and troubleshoot OGC-compliant web services (WMS, WFS, WMTS, WCS, and OGC API – Features) to support cross-platform data interoperability and client-side consumption.
- Integrate containerization technologies including Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift.
- Contribute to AI/ML/DL system support including training data management and model validation.
- Conduct QA/QC processes including code reviews, database evaluations, and lifecycle compliance.
- Interpret and remediate vulnerabilities from Static Code Analysis and container scanning tools, while ensuring geospatial services and databases are configured in alignment with STIG compliance standards.
- Participate in requirements analysis, software design, and development best practices.
- Collaborate with a small, agile team in a DevSecOps environment.
- Utilize and support COTS tools such as ENVI, RemoteView, Erdas Imagine, ArcGIS, Skyline, etc.
Education/Experience:
- Requires Bachelor's degree
- 5-10+ years of experience
- Proficiency with DevOps/DevSecOps workflows
- Proven experience integrating security best practices into the GIS development lifecycle
- Hands-on experience with AGILE software development methodologies
- Experience with Git-based version control tools (GitHub, GitLab)
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems creatively and independently
- Strong collaboration skills in team-based environments
- Working knowledge of OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WMTS), familiarity with modern OGC API – Features implementation, and experience implementing them within enterprise GIS environments and custom web applications
- Deep understanding of GIS platforms: ArcGIS Pro/Enterprise, QGIS, GeoServer, PostGIS/PostgreSQL
- Familiarity with DoD policies, configuration management, and distributed systems
- Intelligence Community Experience preferred
- Recognizing great achievements do not go unnoticed by bcore through service anniversaries, spot awards, and employee referral bonuses
- You’ll join a growing organization of passionate, top-shelf, IT engineering professionals with extensive experience in actively developing the technology revolution in the Intelligence community
- The expected salary range within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $145,000-$163,000. Final compensation is unique to each individual and will be determined based on factors such as experience, education, geographic location, and contractual requirements. This is not a guarantee.
- Benefits include Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k), Paid Time Off, STD/LTD/Life Insurance/Voluntary Life Insurance, Stipends, Referral Bonuses, and more.
At Bcore, our strength comes from how we deliver impact to the mission. Whether it’s architecting critical IT solutions, producing actionable intelligence, or developing cutting edge technology, we succeed because of the expertise, collaboration, and agility of our teams. Our Mission Services division combines enterprise IT, cloud solutions, DevSecOps, systems engineering, software development, and operational support. Bcore accelerates decisive advantage for warfighters and intelligence professionals by fusing human insight, rapid-fire engineering, precision-measured outcomes, and relentless grit into mission-ready solutions.
Do you want to join a team that is building tailored technical solutions to modernize our government’s mission and our client’s business? Do you have a desire to change how people work? Are you interested in helping to protect our nation’s cyber interests? Join our growing team as a Geospatial Systems Software Engineer, supporting the Army customer mission.
- Design, customize, deploy, and test enterprise GIS applications.
- Perform software development using Python, C#, C++, HTML, and JavaScript.
- Author and maintain technical documentation (user guides, configuration updates, versioning notes in GitLab, etc.).
- Implement geospatial data acquisition, preparation, and conversion processes.
- Support Risk Management Framework (RMF) compliance for access controls and system security.
- Manage access roles and permissions within ArcGIS Enterprise.
- Configure, deploy, and troubleshoot OGC-compliant web services (WMS, WFS, WMTS, WCS, and OGC API – Features) to support cross-platform data interoperability and client-side consumption.
- Integrate containerization technologies including Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift.
- Contribute to AI/ML/DL system support including training data management and model validation.
- Conduct QA/QC processes including code reviews, database evaluations, and lifecycle compliance.
- Interpret and remediate vulnerabilities from Static Code Analysis and container scanning tools, while ensuring geospatial services and databases are configured in alignment with STIG compliance standards.
- Participate in requirements analysis, software design, and development best practices.
- Collaborate with a small, agile team in a DevSecOps environment.
- Utilize and support COTS tools such as ENVI, RemoteView, Erdas Imagine, ArcGIS, Skyline, etc.
Education/Experience:
- Requires Bachelor's degree
- 5-10+ years of experience
- Proficiency with DevOps/DevSecOps workflows
- Proven experience integrating security best practices into the GIS development lifecycle
- Hands-on experience with AGILE software development methodologies
- Experience with Git-based version control tools (GitHub, GitLab)
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems creatively and independently
- Strong collaboration skills in team-based environments
- Working knowledge of OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WMTS), familiarity with modern OGC API – Features implementation, and experience implementing them within enterprise GIS environments and custom web applications
- Deep understanding of GIS platforms: ArcGIS Pro/Enterprise, QGIS, GeoServer, PostGIS/PostgreSQL
- Familiarity with DoD policies, configuration management, and distributed systems
- Intelligence Community Experience preferred
- Recognizing great achievements do not go unnoticed by bcore through service anniversaries, spot awards, and employee referral bonuses
- You’ll join a growing organization of passionate, top-shelf, IT engineering professionals with extensive experience in actively developing the technology revolution in the Intelligence community
- The expected salary range within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $145,000-$163,000. Final compensation is unique to each individual and will be determined based on factors such as experience, education, geographic location, and contractual requirements. This is not a guarantee.
- Benefits include Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k), Paid Time Off, STD/LTD/Life Insurance/Voluntary Life Insurance, Stipends, Referral Bonuses, and more.
See All 38 Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSoftware Systems Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Systems Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Agriculture & Farming
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software systems engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, computer science, or a closely related engineering discipline
- Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one
- Proficiency with systems engineering lifecycle tools such as DOORS, CAMEO, or equivalent MBSE platforms
- Experience developing system requirements, architecture documents, and interface control documents
- Familiarity with DoD acquisition frameworks including MIL-STD-499 or the Defense Acquisition System
- Certifications such as INCOSE CSEP or CompTIA Security+ valued by Virginia defense and federal contractors
Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software systems engineer in Virginia?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a software systems engineer in Virginia, but the hiring path is shaped by the defense and federal contracting environment. Most Virginia employers require a bachelor's degree in systems engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering, and a large share of roles require or strongly prefer candidates who hold or can obtain a DoD security clearance. Professional recognition through INCOSE certification strengthens candidacy considerably in this market.
How much do software systems engineers make in Virginia?
Software systems engineers 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 software systems engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring software systems engineers in Virginia right now include SAIC, CACI International, and Anduril, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's deep concentration of defense prime contractors and federal agencies makes it one of the most active states nationally for systems engineering talent.
Which Virginia cities have the most software systems engineer jobs?
Chantilly, Reston, and Springfield have the most software systems engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia drives the largest share because of its proximity to the Pentagon, intelligence community campuses, and the headquarters of major defense contractors, while Hampton Roads openings are anchored by naval installation support work and aerospace programs based in that corridor.
Are there remote software systems engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many engineering disciplines, though the share depends heavily on clearance requirements and program restrictions. About 47% of software systems engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting a market where classified programs often require on-site presence. The tasks most commonly performed remotely include requirements documentation, architecture modeling, and systems analysis work that does not involve classified networks or hardware access.
How can I get hired as a software systems engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a rotational or associate systems engineer program at a Virginia defense contractor or through a cleared internship that converts to full-time hire. Companies like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and General Dynamics IT run structured new-graduate programs out of their Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads offices. Candidates from adjacent roles in software development, technical writing, or configuration management regularly move into systems engineering. Completing an INCOSE-recognized systems engineering course and initiating the security clearance process early are the credentials that move a resume to the top.
Where can I find and apply to software systems engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to software systems engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense, federal IT, and commercial sectors. Find roles that match your clearance level, specialization, and target metro, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 38 Software Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs