Explore senior software development engineer jobs with Ladders, where you can find vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Senior software development engineers design, build, and maintain complex software systems while helping teams deliver reliable, scalable products. Browse roles across industries, technologies, and levels of technical leadership.
These experienced engineers translate product and business needs into robust technical solutions. Their work may include designing system architecture, writing and reviewing code, improving application performance, troubleshooting production issues, and guiding engineering teams through complex projects. Many roles also involve mentoring developers and partnering with product, design, security, and operations teams.
Employers commonly look for strong software design and programming experience, expertise in relevant languages and frameworks, and a record of delivering production systems. Depending on the role, useful qualifications may include cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, databases, API design, automated testing, DevOps practices, and security. Communication, technical judgment, and the ability to lead through influence are also important at the senior level.
Senior software development engineers work in technology, financial services, healthcare, e-commerce, media, and other sectors. Opportunities may focus on backend services, mobile or web applications, data platforms, infrastructure, machine learning systems, or developer tools. With experience, engineers can grow into staff or principal engineering roles, architecture positions, or engineering management.
Use Ladders to search vetted professional openings with salaries of $100,000 or more. Compare roles by technology, industry, location, and scope, then focus on opportunities that match your experience and career goals.
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Join a team that's driving innovation in software engineering, delivering scalable cloud-native solutions while leading the full development lifecycle. Collaborate across teams to enhance processes an...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Lead the charge in delivering scalable platform capabilities, driving the full software development lifecycle, and mentoring engineers while integrating AI/ML components to foster innovation and techn...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Lead the charge in designing and delivering scalable platform capabilities, driving the full software development lifecycle while integrating AI/ML solutions to enhance system resilience and agility a...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Engineer scalable platform capabilities, driving full lifecycle ownership from design to deployment. Collaborate across teams to enhance system resilience and agility, while mentoring engineers and fo...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Lead the charge in designing and evolving enterprise-scale storage platforms, driving modernization and resilience across cloud-native and on-premises environments while mentoring teams and enhancing...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Elevate your career by leading the development of scalable platform capabilities, driving innovation in AI/ML frameworks, and mentoring engineering teams to deliver high-quality solutions that enhance...
Today
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Engineer scalable platform capabilities by leading the software development lifecycle, integrating AI/ML technologies, and promoting architectural excellence while mentoring teams to deliver high-qual...
3 days ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Drive the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, enhancing engineering productivity through technical leadership and collaboration. Lead the full software lifecycle while promoting clo...
6 days ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$132K - $264K *
Champion technical excellence as a Staff Engineer, leading architectural direction across teams, solving complex problems, and mentoring engineers to elevate performance in a dynamic eCommerce fulfill...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Champion technical leadership in reliability and scalability, driving SRE best practices and AI innovations. Build automation frameworks and enhance operational excellence across platforms, ensuring r...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Innovate by driving technical excellence in mission-critical applications, enhancing reliability and performance for a global workforce. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to tackle complex chall...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Accelerate progress at a leading tech firm by driving scalable software solutions. Lead cross-functional teams in developing cloud-native applications while enhancing engineering practices and integra...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$110K - $220K *
Lead technical initiatives to enhance reliability and scalability across platforms. Drive SRE best practices, architect automation frameworks, and innovate with AI solutions to improve incident manage...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Transform software development by leading cloud-native initiatives, mentoring peers, and integrating AI/ML technologies. Drive the full software lifecycle to deliver scalable, resilient solutions that...
1 week ago
(USA) Staff, Software Engineer
$143K - $286K *
Empower your career by leading software development initiatives, driving innovation, and collaborating across teams to deliver scalable, cloud-native solutions that enhance operational efficiency and...
2 weeks ago
Sr. Program Analyst - Transformation
$125K - $160K *
Lead the charge in driving operational excellence and transformation by translating business needs into actionable requirements, managing delivery workflows, and enhancing the Revenue Intelligence por...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Lead Engineer - Thermal-Hydraulic Methods Development
$98K - $188K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of reactor physics and technology. Contribute to computational methods development, numerical analysis, and thermal-hydraulic modeling while supporting software d...
5 days ago
Flight Software Verification Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in verifying embedded flight software, ensuring compliance with DO-178C standards. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop testing strategies, create effective tooling, and...
6 days ago
Engineering Manager, Active Sensors (LiDAR)
$135K - $160K *
Drive the development of advanced machine learning systems for autonomous trucks, leading a team in perception capabilities. Oversee the complete lifecycle from data requirements to deployment, ensuri...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Innovate by developing scalable applications and data pipelines, leveraging Python and cloud platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to modernize enterprise systems and enhance backend serv...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Unlock AI-driven engineering transformation by collaborating with clients to enhance SDLC processes. Drive measurable improvements in delivery speed and quality through innovative solutions and hands...
1 week ago
Senior Customer Success Manager
$120K - $130K *
Accelerate your career by managing a portfolio of mid-market accounts, ensuring customer success through strategic engagement, relationship building, and AI-driven insights. Drive measurable outcomes...
3 weeks ago
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Payments
$191K - $223K *
Join our innovative Payments team to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance payment experiences, prevent fraud, and optimize transaction processes, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$145K - $165K *
Drive your career by owning the end-to-end data platform, designing and maintaining scalable pipelines and infrastructure. Collaborate with analytics teams to ensure data quality and governance while...
1 week ago
Principal Product Manager, Pro
$170K - $205K *
Unlock the potential of our Pro offering by leading product strategy and roadmap. Collaborate across teams to enhance customer experiences for short-term rental operators and HOAs, ensuring scalable s...
Today
What does a senior software development engineer do?
A senior software development engineer designs, builds, tests, and maintains software systems. They often make architecture decisions, solve complex technical problems, review code, mentor teammates, and coordinate with other departments to deliver reliable products.
What qualifications are typically required for senior software development engineer jobs?
Requirements vary, but employers generally seek substantial professional software engineering experience, proficiency in one or more programming languages, and a history of delivering production applications or systems. Familiarity with system design, cloud platforms, databases, testing, and technical leadership may also be expected.
How much do senior software development engineer jobs pay?
Compensation depends on factors such as location, industry, experience, and technical specialty. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including senior software development engineer opportunities.
What is the difference between a senior software engineer and a senior software development engineer?
The titles often describe similar work, and employers may use them interchangeably. Responsibilities typically include designing and developing software, though the exact emphasis depends on the company and team.
What career paths can follow a senior software development engineer role?
Experienced engineers may advance to staff or principal engineer, software architect, or other technical leadership positions. Those interested in people management may move into engineering manager or director roles.