Specialist - Software Engineering Jobs in Bethesda, MD
Specialist - Software Engineering jobs in Bethesda, Maryland are concentrated among defense contractors, federal health agencies, and biotech firms anchored in the Pike & Rose corridor, downtown Bethesda, and the White Flint area. Employers hiring right now include Base-2 Solutions, GEICO, and Leidos. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Description
Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Clearance and Citizenship: MUST Possess a TS/SCI Polygraph and MUST be a US Citizen as required by this customer. No Exceptions.
Leidos has an exciting opportunity for all different levels of Software Engineers / Senior Software Engineers to join our Intel Security Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area in Bethesda, Maryland. In this description, we are highlighting two of these levels.
Our talented team is at the forefront of Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management, delivering innovative technical solutions that support critical national security missions. This is an excellent opportunity for software engineering professionals at multiple experience levels to apply their expertise in software development, cloud technologies, and DevOps practices while collaborating with talented teams to develop and sustain mission-critical systems.
Located just outside Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland offers an ideal combination of exciting career opportunities and quality of life. With vibrant neighborhoods, highly regarded schools, outstanding restaurants and entertainment, beautiful parks, and convenient access to Washington, D.C., and the surrounding National Capital Region, Bethesda is a great place to advance your career.
At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid holidays, a 401(k) with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, flexible schedules, discounted stock purchase plans, technical upskilling, education and training support, paid parental leave, and much more.
Join Leidos and put your technical expertise to work supporting missions that make a difference in National Security!
Job Summary
We are seeking talented Software Engineers and Senior Software Engineers to support the design, development, implementation, testing, operations, and maintenance of mission-critical systems, software, and cloud environments.
Working within a DevOps framework, successful candidates will contribute to major project deliverables throughout the software development lifecycle, including scope definition and work estimation, architecture and design, coding, and unit testing.
Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their qualifications and relevant experience.
Primary Responsibilities
- Software Development: Participate in and/or direct software programming initiatives using Java, JavaScript, Python, Spring Boot, and Hibernate.
- Software Testing and Validation: Develop software system validation and testing methods using JUnit and Katalon, integrating custom-developed solutions to support automated deployment technologies.
- Cloud-Based Development: Develop, prototype, and deploy solutions within Commercial Cloud Solutions, leveraging infrastructure platform services.
- Agile Collaboration: Coordinate closely with team members, Product Owners, and Scrum Masters to ensure User Story alignment and implementation in accordance with customer use cases.
- DevOps and Automation: Support the Agile software development lifecycle following SAFe practices, utilizing GitHub, Jenkins, Unix Bash scripting, JIRA, and Confluence.
- Infrastructure Analysis: Analyze infrastructure requirements through proof-of-concept development, performance testing, and end-to-end testing, and coordinate infrastructure needs driven by developed software to meet customer mission requirements.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and apply software development best practices and standard operating procedures to create innovative solutions that address customer technical needs.
Security Clearance Requirement - All candidates MUST possess an active TS/SCI with polygraph security clearance.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Candidates must demonstrate the following qualifications at the level appropriate to the position:
- Agile Development: Strong experience (T3) or significant experience (T4) with common Agile practices, service-oriented environments, and software development practices.
- Software Development: Strong experience (T3) or significant experience (T4) with Java, Spring, C2S, and the software development lifecycle, including delivering solutions within DevOps toolsets and practices.
- Software Testing and Scripting: Direct experience utilizing software testing and performance tools, such as JUnit and Katalon, and scripting languages, including Python and Bash, within an Agile development environment.
- Cloud Technologies: Strong experience (T3) or significant experience (T4) developing solutions in commercial cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) and leveraging cloud data services (e.g., S3, RDS, EFS).
- Version Control and Tracking: Strong experience (T3) or significant experience (T4) utilizing version control systems and issue/problem tracking systems.
Education and Experience
Software Engineer
- Bachelor's degree with 4 or more years of relevant experience; or
- Master's degree with 2 or more years of relevant experience.
- Additional years of experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
Senior Software Engineer
- Bachelor's degree with 8 or more years of relevant experience; or
- Master's degree with 6 or more years of relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with structured analysis and design methodologies.
- Understanding of the customer's system development policies.
At Leidos, the opportunities are boundless. We challenge our employees with meaningful assignments that encourage professional and personal growth. We believe that investing in your career strengthens our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our customers.
Take the next step in your career with Leidos. Apply today!
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
November 10, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.
Securing Your Data
Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
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Who's Hiring
- Base-2 Solutions19
- GEICO11

- Leidos8

- ZoomInfo2

- Lockheed Martin2

Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Technology & Software
Specialist - Software Engineering Jobs in Bethesda: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a specialist - software engineering job in Bethesda?
The strongest path into Bethesda's market is targeting the defense and federal IT contracting firms that cluster near downtown and the Rockville Pike corridor, along with the NIH-adjacent health technology organizations in the White Flint area. Candidates with clearances or experience on government-facing systems have a clear edge. Familiarity with regulated environments, such as federal health data standards or DoD software requirements, makes a noticeable difference with Bethesda hiring managers.
Which companies hire specialist - software engineerings in Bethesda?
Employers hiring specialist - software engineerings in Bethesda right now include Base-2 Solutions, GEICO, and Leidos, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Bethesda's employer mix skews heavily toward government contractors, health IT firms, and financial services companies with headquarters or major offices in the downtown core.
Are there remote specialist - software engineering jobs in Bethesda?
Yes, though availability depends on the role's focus. About 54% of specialist - software engineering openings tied to Bethesda are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the mix of clearance-required on-site work and more flexible commercial tech positions. Roles supporting NIH or civilian federal clients are more likely to offer hybrid schedules, while cleared defense contractor positions typically require on-site presence.
How can I get a specialist - software engineering job in Bethesda with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point in Bethesda is pursuing junior software engineering or associate developer roles at mid-size government contractors, which often hire candidates with strong academic backgrounds and relevant coursework over direct experience. Internship pipelines at NIH-affiliated technology teams and health IT firms in the White Flint area also provide a foothold. A portfolio demonstrating work on data-driven or systems-level projects stands out with Bethesda employers who build for regulated, large-scale environments.
Which industries hire the most specialist - software engineerings in Bethesda?
The sectors hiring the most specialist - software engineerings in Bethesda are Insurance and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Bethesda's proximity to federal agencies and major health research institutions makes government contracting and health technology the dominant drivers of local demand.
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