Sr Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington
Sr Software Development Manager jobs in Washington are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and consumer technology across a market that ranges from early-career engineering leads to senior principals overseeing large distributed teams. Seattle dominates hiring, with Bellevue and Redmond close behind, anchored by employers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, who maintain large and consistent engineering leadership pipelines in the state. The most in-demand specialties are platform engineering, machine learning systems, and distributed cloud services. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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DESCRIPTION
Amazon LEO is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon LEO will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.
Innovation is part of our DNA! Our goal is to be Earth’s most customer centric company, and we are just getting started. We need people who want to join this ambitious program that continues to push the state of the art in distributed systems and software design. Come work at Amazon!
Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Key job responsibilities
Design, develop, and optimize highly reliable flight software for optical inter-satellite link systems, spanning low-level device drivers and real-time control loops to high-level autonomous behaviors, fault management, and AI/ML-driven decision-making that target embedded linux and RTOS (Real Time Operating System)
Architect and implement fault-tolerant, redundant software systems that keep optical links alive across a constellation of satellites, including health monitoring and autonomous recovery without ground intervention
Build and maintain robust test, validation, and simulation infrastructure, from hardware-in-the-loop testbeds and software-in-the-loop virtualizations to automated regression suites
Own the full lifecycle of embedded software delivery - from requirements decomposition and architecture design through implementation, code review, integration, deployment, and long-term maintenance of software running on satellites in orbit
Collaborate deeply with cross-functional teams spanning hardware, optics, systems, communications, and operations engineers to design, integrate, test, and deploy high-speed optical communication systems that push the boundaries of space-based networking
Drive continuous improvement of deployment and over-the-air (OTA) update processes, ensuring new capabilities and fixes can be safely and reliably delivered to hundreds of satellites on orbit with minimal operational risk
Partner with software and hardware teams to lead board bring-up and integration efforts, including developing and debugging low-level BSP (Board Support Package) components, validating peripheral connectivity (Ethernet, PCIe, SPI, I2C, flash devices), and ensuring seamless hardware-software integration from prototype through production
A day in the life
As a Software Engineer on the Optical Inter-Satellite Link team, you won't just write code - you'll see it fly. Your software will control and monitor high-speed laser communications between satellites moving at orbital velocities, and you'll be there for every stage of the journey: from early design and on-the-ground verifications to watching your code commission an optical link for the first time in orbit.
About the team
You will join a multi-disciplinary team of top-notch engineers whose work spans an unusually wide aperture: embedded flight software running on satellites in orbit, cloud-based systems powering mission and network operations, automation frameworks that keep a growing constellation healthy, and AI-driven capabilities that make our optical links smarter with every orbit. We collaborate closely with optical, electrical, firmware, opto-mechanical, and operations teams — and with partner organizations including Mission Operations and Optical Network Operations — to deliver one of the most advanced optical communication systems ever built.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- 5+ years of experience with the Linux networking stack and/or consumer devices using embedded Linux, Yocto, and/or Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience developing embedded software for space systems, including familiarity with optical communication systems, laser terminals, or high-speed serial interfaces
- Experience with ARM-based SoCs
- Experience with Linux system virtualization (QEMU/KVM)
- Experience with FPGA-adjacent software development, including register-level interfaces, DMA engines, or hardware/software co-design
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, NORTHRIDGE - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Redmond - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
See All 84 Sr Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSr Software Development Manager Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Sr Software Development Manager Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon32

- Amazon Web Services29

- Adobe4

- TikTok3

- Blue Origin3

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software12
- Distribution & Wholesale11
- Retail4
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces4
- Telecommunications1
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in sr software development manager jobs across Washington.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
- Seven or more years of software engineering experience including people management responsibilities
- Proven experience leading teams building large-scale distributed or cloud-native systems
- Deep familiarity with agile delivery, engineering roadmaps, and cross-functional stakeholder management
- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in production environments
- Strong background in recruiting, mentoring, and growing senior individual contributors into leadership roles
Sr Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a sr software development manager in Washington?
The standard path in Washington is to build several years of hands-on software engineering experience, move into a tech lead or staff engineer role, then step into people management as an engineering manager before reaching the senior level. Washington does not require a state-issued license or certification for this role. Employers in the Seattle area typically expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering and a demonstrable record of leading teams shipping production software.
Which companies hire sr software development managers in Washington?
Employers hiring sr software development managers in Washington right now include Amazon, Amazon Web Services, and Adobe, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Washington's concentration of cloud computing and enterprise software headquarters means demand is unusually consistent year-round rather than driven by seasonal hiring cycles.
Which Washington cities have the most sr software development manager jobs?
The cities with the most sr software development manager openings in Washington are Seattle, Redmond, and Bellevue. Seattle anchors the market as the headquarters city for Amazon and a major hub for Google and Meta, while Bellevue and Redmond draw heavily from Microsoft's sprawling campus operations and the dense cluster of technology companies that have grown around them.
Are there remote sr software development manager jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 21% of sr software development manager openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based and cross-functional nature of engineering leadership work. The parts of the role most amenable to remote arrangements are roadmap planning, architecture review, and one-on-one coaching, while on-site presence is more commonly expected for large org planning cycles or on-call incident command.
How can I get hired as a sr software development manager in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving from a senior individual contributor role into a first-time engineering manager position at a mid-size Washington technology company, where the step up is more accessible than at large enterprises. Microsoft, Amazon, and Expedia Group all run internal engineering leadership development programs that promote strong senior engineers into people management. Building a record of technical mentorship, leading project delivery, and contributing to hiring decisions in your current role signals readiness before the formal title change.
Where can I find and apply to sr software development manager jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to sr software development manager jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that fit your background and target location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 84 Sr Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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