Staff Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Staff engineer jobs in District of Columbia concentrate in federal contracting, defense technology, and cloud infrastructure, with demand anchored by the region's dense network of government agencies and the private firms that support them. Most hiring centers on Washington D.C. and nearby corridors in Arlington and Bethesda, where established employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and SAIC maintain large engineering practices. Distributed systems, platform engineering, and security architecture are the most in-demand specializations across active openings. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.
Position Summary
As a Staff Application Security Engineer – Threat Research, you will play a key role in securing modern healthcare technology by combining application security engineering, threat research, and secure development practices. You will partner with engineering teams to identify and mitigate security risks, implement security controls, and strengthen application defenses across cloud and enterprise environments.
This role focuses on embedding security throughout the software development lifecycle, conducting security assessments, researching emerging threats, and building scalable security solutions that protect applications and sensitive healthcare data. You will influence security practices across multiple teams while contributing technical expertise, mentorship, and innovation to improve the organization's overall security posture.
Key Responsibilities:
Security Engineering & Secure Development
- Implement and support application security standards, policies, and best practices.
- Partner with engineering teams to integrate security into design, development, testing, and deployment processes.
- Promote secure coding practices and assist teams in remediating security findings.
- Contribute to security automation initiatives that improve efficiency and scalability.
Threat Research & Analysis
- Research emerging threats, vulnerabilities, attack techniques, and security trends.
- Perform application security assessments, threat modeling, and vulnerability analysis.
- Evaluate risks and provide actionable recommendations to engineering teams.
- Leverage threat intelligence to enhance application security controls and detection capabilities.
Security Solutions & Architecture
- Design, configure, and support security technologies across cloud and enterprise environments.
- Assist with implementation and management of security controls that protect applications, APIs, and data.
- Support vulnerability management and remediation programs.
- Contribute to the development of scalable and resilient security architectures.
Collaboration & Communication
- Work closely with software engineers, architects, platform teams, and security stakeholders.
- Participate in design reviews to ensure security requirements are incorporated early in the development lifecycle.
- Communicate technical security findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Incident Response & Operational Support
- Participate in security investigations and incident response activities as needed.
- Support operational security functions across cloud and enterprise environments.
- Assist in identifying root causes and implementing long-term remediation strategies.
Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing
- Serve as a technical mentor for engineers and application security practitioners.
- Share knowledge through training sessions, presentations, and documentation.
- Contribute to building a culture of security awareness and continuous learning.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Evaluate emerging security tools and technologies.
- Contribute to security research initiatives and proof-of-concept efforts.
- Recommend process improvements that strengthen the effectiveness of application security programs.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in application security, information security, software engineering, or related roles.
- 5+ years of experience with one or more programming or scripting languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, C/C++, PowerShell, or Shell scripting.
- 3+ years of experience securing public cloud environments including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
- 3+ years of experience with container technologies including Docker and Kubernetes.
- 3+ years of experience with Infrastructure as Code or Security as Code practices.
- 3+ years of experience performing application security assessments, vulnerability analysis, and threat modeling.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience implementing data protection controls and supporting compliance requirements.
- Experience working with web application security technologies including Web Application Firewalls and API security solutions.
- Experience providing security guidance and remediation recommendations to development teams.
- Experience designing and implementing security solutions within cloud-native environments.
- Knowledge of application security testing methodologies and industry frameworks.
- Understanding of network security fundamentals and cloud networking concepts.
- Experience with DevSecOps platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and security automation.
- Familiarity with compliance and regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, HITRUST, PCI DSS, NIST, or CSA.
- Experience supporting security for data platforms, analytics environments, or technologies such as Snowflake.
- Knowledge of threat intelligence, attack simulation, and offensive security concepts.
- Experience contributing to security communities, research, presentations, blogs, or open-source initiatives.
- Ability to influence technical decisions across multiple engineering teams without direct authority.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience (High School Diploma/GED plus 4 years of related experience)
Health100 is America's trusted front door to health and care. The Health100 platform integrates any participating health plan, PBM, pharmacy (retail and specialty), provider, digital health point solution provider, and employer, and addresses the top health care challenges for the consumer.
Pay Range
The typical pay range for this role is:
$106,605.00 - $284,280.00
This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.
Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.
Great benefits for great people
We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.
Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.
We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/24/2026
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.
See All 18 Staff Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
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Find Staff Engineer JobsStaff Engineer Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Staff Engineer Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in staff engineer jobs across District of Columbia.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
- Seven or more years of software engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Active or eligibility for a U.S. government security clearance, often Secret or Top Secret
- Hands-on expertise in distributed systems, cloud platforms, or large-scale infrastructure design
- Experience mentoring engineers and driving architecture decisions across multiple teams
- Proficiency in one or more languages such as Java, Go, Python, or C++ in production environments
Staff Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a staff engineer in District of Columbia?
Staff engineering in District of Columbia typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, followed by several years of progressive software engineering experience. No D.C.-specific state license governs the role, but the D.C. market adds one practical requirement many other regions do not: security clearance eligibility is a firm prerequisite for a large share of openings tied to federal agencies and contractors. Building expertise in distributed systems or platform engineering strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Which companies hire staff engineers in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia staff engineer roles are posted by Shield AI, Nuclear, and CVS Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The D.C. market skews heavily toward government IT contractors and defense technology firms, so many of the most active hiring organizations hold long-term federal contracts.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most staff engineer jobs?
Washington lead for staff engineer openings in District of Columbia. Washington D.C. itself is the core, driven by federal agency work and the contractors clustered around it, while Arlington and Bethesda draw significant engineering hiring because major defense and intelligence contractors have built their headquarters and delivery centers there, close to the agencies they serve.
Are there remote staff engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and more than many engineering specialties. About 44% of staff engineer openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work is code, architecture review, and cross-team collaboration that travels well. That said, roles tied directly to classified federal programs typically require on-site presence, so cleared positions in this market lean more on-site than the national average.
How can I get hired as a staff engineer in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a junior or mid-level software engineer at a D.C.-area federal contractor, since firms like Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos run structured associate and analyst programs designed for new graduates. Roles such as systems engineer, software developer, or DevOps engineer at these organizations create a natural ladder toward staff-level titles. Earning a cloud certification, contributing to open-source infrastructure projects, or obtaining a security clearance early accelerates that progression significantly in this market.
Where can I find and apply to staff engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to staff engineer jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current D.C.-area openings. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and interests, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 18 Staff Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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