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334
Open Roles
$135K–$201K
Median Salary
$239K+
Top 10% Pay
7%
Remote-Friendly

About Engineering Jobs in Washington DC roles

Washington DC's engineering ecosystem is uniquely shaped by its proximity to the federal government and defense sectors, creating a massive demand for cleared talent at notable companies like Palantir, Booz Allen Hamilton, and emerging GovTech startups. While base salaries might trail the hyper-inflated peaks of Silicon Valley, the region offers highly competitive total compensation paired with unparalleled job stability, robust benefits packages, and a strong hybrid remote culture that prioritizes work-life balance. Beyond traditional defense and cybersecurity roles, the area is experiencing a rapid surge in health tech and fintech innovation, making it an increasingly diverse and attractive destination for software and systems engineers seeking long-term career growth outside conventional tech hubs.

Hiring demand for engineering roles in Washington DC is experiencing robust growth this year, driven largely by increased federal tech modernization initiatives and a rapidly expanding cybersecurity sector. Mid-stage GovTech startups and established defense contractors are aggressively scaling their technical teams, resulting in significantly more job openings for mid-to-senior level software engineers compared to the previous year.

Engineering Jobs in Washington DC salary overview

The median salary range across these 334 positions is $135K–$201K. Top earners make $239K+.

Latest openings

Corporate Security Engineer
State Affairs · Washington, DC
$120K–$180K
Principal Engineer - Direct
Hasbro · Renton, Washington, United States
$172K–$259K
Build Engineer
Hasbro · Renton, Washington, United States
$124K–$162K
Senior Software Engineer, Infrastructure
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$220K–$292K
Deployment and Training Lead, Air Defense
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$146K–$194K
Full Stack Software Engineer
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$132K–$198K
Information Systems Security Manager
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$146K–$194K
Machine Learning Research Engineer
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$220K–$292K
Optimization Software Engineer
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$132K–$198K
Program Assistant
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$113K–$149K
Program Security Manager
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$129K–$171K
Quantum Software Engineer
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$132K–$198K
Senior Compliance Automation Engineer
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$129K–$198K
Senior Manager, Army Mission Operations
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$191K–$253K
Senior Software Engineer, Nix
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$191K–$253K
Senior Systems Engineer, Discovery
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$166K–$220K
Senior Tracking Software Engineer, Space
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$191K–$253K
Signal Processing Engineer, Space
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$146K–$194K
Site Reliability Engineer, Discovery
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$166K–$220K
Software Engineer, Connected Warfare
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$129K–$253K
Technical Security Systems Architecture Manager
Anduril Industries · Washington, DC
$166K–$200K
Receiving Specialist
Chaos Industries · Washington, DC
$62K–$79K
Lead GCP Cloud Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
Senior GCP Cloud Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
Google Cloud Platform Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
GCP Cloud Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
GCP Cloud/DevOps Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
$160K–$180K
DevOps Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
Azure DevOps Engineer
Lightfeather Io · Washington, DC
View all 334 roles →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an active security clearance to get hired as a software engineer in Washington DC?
While having an active TS/SCI clearance is highly sought after by defense contractors and GovTech startups in the DC area, it is not strictly required for all roles. Many commercial tech companies, health tech startups, and fintech firms in the region hire uncleared engineers, and some defense contractors will sponsor clearances for the right candidates.
How do engineering salaries at Washington DC startups compare to established defense contractors?
Engineering salaries at DC startups are generally competitive, often offering higher base pay and equity options compared to established defense contractors. However, larger defense firms typically provide superior job stability, comprehensive benefits, and significant bonuses for holding active security clearances, making the total compensation packages very comparable.
Are there remote-friendly engineering roles available in the Washington DC tech market?
Yes, the Washington DC tech market has embraced a hybrid remote culture. While roles requiring work in Secure Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) remain fully on-site, many commercial startups and unclassified government projects offer flexible hybrid or fully remote options for their software engineering teams.

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