Software Engineer jobs in Washington, D.C.

Palantir

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

This role deploys Palantir's data platform to solve complex problems for government and enterprise customers, combining system design, software development, and data integration to address real-world challenges. It suits engineers who want to learn rapidly across diverse industries while working directly with customers and building solutions that matter.

Listed on Palantir’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $150,000 – $220,000

This role builds automated testing infrastructure and analytics tools for Shield AI's autonomous systems platform, enabling hundreds of developers to validate AI behaviors at scale. It suits software engineers comfortable with Python, build systems, and the technical challenges of bridging secure and commercial computing environments.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $230,000 – $340,000 · Remote

This role leads the Special Projects team within the CTO's office, a highly specialized group developing cutting-edge autonomous systems and foundational technologies across Shield AI's Hivemind software ecosystem. It suits exceptionally experienced software architects and technical leaders from fields like aerospace, robotics, or game development who thrive working across multiple product areas and can operate effectively in strategic, ambiguous environments.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $220,000 – $330,000 · Remote

A senior technical expert role embedded in the Chief Technology Officer's office to drive strategic software development across Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy platform. This suits experienced engineers from aerospace, robotics, or cloud infrastructure who want to shape technology direction and mentor product teams.

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Palantir

Internship · Washington, DC · $10,000 / month

This internship pairs interns with defense customers to understand their operational challenges and build custom software solutions using Palantir's data platforms. It suits engineering students ready to take ownership of real projects in a high-responsibility environment with mentorship from established engineers.

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Shield AI

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

This full-stack software engineering role builds the ground control and command systems that let operators manage unmanned missions across multiple domains. It suits senior engineers who want to lead feature design, mentor others, and see their code directly power real-world defense operations.

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Shield AI

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

Staff-level role building ground control station and command-and-control software for autonomous unmanned systems across multiple domains. Suited for experienced C++ engineers who want to mentor others and design mission-critical operator interfaces.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $195,200 – $292,800

Shield AI seeks a Staff Software Engineer to develop autonomous pilot software for unmanned platforms across air, maritime, space, and other domains. This hands-on role combines real-world testing from simulation through live operations with technical leadership of feature teams and mentorship of mid-level engineers.

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Palantir

Full-time · Washington, DC · $145,000 – $200,000

Palantir is seeking a Software Developer to join their Mixed Reality Group, building immersive applications for operational use in factories, military, and command environments. This role combines 3D mixed reality development with traditional software engineering, working across custom hardware platforms and data systems.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $233,760 – $350,640

Shield AI is hiring a staff-level engineer to lead autonomy software development across multiple unmanned platform programs—aircraft, maritime, space—writing code for mission behaviors, coordination, and control, then validating it through simulation to live flight testing. This role suits experienced engineers who want technical leadership on hard problems, mentoring responsibility, and the satisfaction of seeing their code operate in deployed systems.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $163,200 – $244,800

This role involves writing and owning autonomy software for unmanned platforms across air, maritime, space, and other domains, from simulation through live field testing. It suits engineers who want hands-on experience shipping real autonomy code to defense hardware and partnering closely across multiple technical teams.

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Palantir

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

Forward Deployed Software Engineers at Palantir work directly with customers to design and implement data solutions that address their most complex technical challenges. This role suits engineers who want to learn full-stack problem-solving while collaborating with organizations across critical industries.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $163,200 – $244,800

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to develop autonomous control behaviors and multi-agent coordination systems for defense platforms operating across air, sea, and space domains. The role bridges control theory and practical software integration, requiring both advanced algorithmic work and real-world system deployment on active military systems.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $131,921 – $197,881

Shield AI is seeking a Software Engineer II to develop autonomy behaviors and control systems for unmanned platforms across air, sea, and space domains. The role suits someone who enjoys blending control theory with practical software integration to deliver real-world solutions for defense applications.

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Shield AI

Washington, DC · $195,200 – $292,800

Shield AI is hiring a Staff Software Engineer to develop autonomy and behavioral capabilities for autonomous systems across multiple platforms and domains. This role suits someone who can balance advanced control theory and optimization with practical software integration to deliver real-world mission impact.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $160,000 – $240,000

This role integrates autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft platforms, handling the bridge between research and field deployment. You'll troubleshoot complex hardware-software interactions, prepare systems for flight, and solve real-world problems in both lab and operational environments.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $182,720 – $274,080

Shield AI seeks a systems-minded engineer to integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft and prepare them for flight testing. This role suits someone comfortable bridging R&D and field operations, debugging mission-critical systems in fast-moving test environments where both hardware and software must work together reliably.

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Shield AI

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

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft platforms, ensuring systems work reliably in real-world test and operational conditions. This role bridges research and deployment for defense applications, requiring hands-on troubleshooting and systems thinking across hardware and software domains.

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Shield AI

Full-time · Washington, DC · $233,760 – $350,640

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to develop autonomy and control systems for unmanned platforms across air, sea, and space domains. This role suits experienced control systems specialists who can balance theoretical rigor with practical integration, working on mission-critical software that directly impacts real-world operations.

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