Software Engineer jobs in Washington, D.C.

Department of State Headquarters

Washington, DC · $143,913 – $187,093

This role develops and maintains software applications for a federal executive office, designing systems that meet organizational security and operational needs. It suits experienced IT professionals who can work independently on complex technical challenges and communicate with senior leadership about technology strategy.

Via USAJOBS · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $79,000 – $110,000

You'll build testing and analysis tools for an AI autonomy platform, writing Python automation and data utilities that help engineers evaluate autonomous behaviors through simulation. This suits early-career developers who want hands-on exposure to test infrastructure, distributed systems, and simulation-driven development.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Menlo Ventures Portfolio

Full-time · Washington, DC · $280,000 – $320,000

This role places an experienced engineer embedded with U.S. national security agencies to advise on deploying Claude AI systems in classified environments, combining deep technical expertise with mission-domain knowledge across cyber, intelligence, weapons systems, or other critical capabilities. It suits someone with a current security clearance, prior government technical work, and hands-on proficiency in both software engineering and a specialized defense or intelligence domain.

Listed on Menlo Ventures Portfolio’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Palantir

Full-time · Washington, DC · $135,000 – $145,000

Palantir seeks new graduate software engineers to deploy directly with government and enterprise customers, solving complex data problems through end-to-end ownership of technical projects. This role suits problem-solvers who want hands-on impact working across architecture, data systems, and customer strategy from day one.

Listed on Palantir’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Cognition AI

Washington, DC · $180,000 – $280,000 · Remote

Join a cutting-edge AI lab as a Forward Deployed Engineer supporting federal clients. You'll own complex technical engagements, shape product direction based on real-world customer needs, and help establish the foundation of a newly formed federal engineering organization.

Listed on Cognition AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $100,000 – $150,000

Build testing, log-analysis, and scenario-generation tools for an autonomous AI platform, working alongside experienced engineers to evaluate AI behavior through simulation and data analysis. This hands-on role suits early-career developers interested in autonomy, testing infrastructure, and distributed systems.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $79,000 – $110,000

Shield AI is seeking a software engineer to build integration layers connecting their autonomy software with vehicle systems, sensors, and mission computers. This entry-level role offers hands-on experience with C++ and distributed systems across simulation and real-world platforms.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $150,000 – $230,000

A staff-level role building and maintaining the CI/CD pipelines, automation infrastructure, and developer tooling that enable rapid software delivery across Shield AI's autonomous systems platform. This suits engineers who thrive on infrastructure challenges and want to enable an entire engineering organization's velocity.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $79,000 – $110,000

This entry-level role involves building and maintaining software that integrates simulation environments with autonomy platforms, using C++ and Python to create adapters and reusable components. It suits early-career engineers interested in defense systems, simulation, and distributed systems who want hands-on experience contributing to real frameworks while learning from senior engineers.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $77,200 – $211,200

Shield AI is hiring autonomous software engineers to work on real-time embedded systems for unmanned aircraft and autonomy software, developing in C++ and Python alongside experienced teammates. This role suits recent graduates interested in defense technology, autonomous systems, and hands-on software development with immediate real-world impact.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $100,000 – $150,000

Shield AI is seeking an Engineer II to contribute to advanced defense technology systems across autonomous platforms and simulation technologies. This role suits someone with solid engineering experience who wants to work on mission-critical systems protecting military and civilian personnel.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Palantir

Full-time · Washington, DC · $135,000 – $200,000

Deploy and customize Palantir's data analytics platforms for tactical field operations, working directly with customers to solve critical problems in small teams with minimal oversight. This role suits engineers who thrive with autonomy, want to understand complex organizational challenges, and can adapt technically diverse solutions across varied hardware in high-stakes environments.

Listed on Palantir’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $165,000 – $300,000

Shield AI seeks an experienced software engineer to develop perception systems for autonomous aircraft and vehicles that operate in real-world conditions. The role involves advancing object detection, tracking, state estimation, or sensor fusion capabilities and transitioning them into production autonomy software.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Internship · Washington, DC · $37 – $97 / hour

Shield AI seeks software engineering interns for summer 2027 to contribute to defense-tech projects including autonomy software and aircraft systems, with mentorship and potential conversion to full-time roles.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $157,000 – $235,000

Shield AI seeks a Staff Engineer in an Operations Analyst role to support its defense-technology operations across global offices. This position suits experienced engineers ready to apply their expertise to intelligent systems and autonomy software that support real-world operations.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Palantir

Washington, DC

Palantir seeks an experienced software engineer to optimize and build systems for edge computing environments, from embedded devices to distributed systems. This role is for someone skilled in low-level native development who can solve latency, performance, and cost challenges in real-world deployments.

Listed on Palantir’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $220,800 – $331,200

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer to develop autonomy and control systems for maritime platforms, working across motion planning, tactical behaviors, and multi-agent coordination. This role suits someone who can bridge advanced control theory with practical software integration on real-world defense systems.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗