Software Engineer Jobs in Phoenix, AZ
Software engineers in Phoenix earn a median of about $131,750 a year in the latest federal wage data, with teams spread from American Express in Desert Ridge to Amazon and State Farm in Tempe. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and where to train.
Current software engineer Openings in Phoenix, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Software Engineer Work in Phoenix
Phoenix software work is less about startups and more about big employers that run serious technology teams here. American Express runs a large technology campus at Desert Ridge in north Phoenix, near SR 51 and Loop 101. Across the Salt River in Tempe, Amazon builds logistics software and State Farm lists Tempe as one of its software engineering hubs. USAA hires engineers for its claims systems in Phoenix, and the semiconductor build-out has added a new kind of software job: TSMC Arizona's fab campus near I-17 and Loop 303 hires full stack engineers to run factory systems.
That mix means most openings sit in finance, insurance, logistics and manufacturing rather than consumer apps. Many roles are hybrid, so where you live in the Valley matters less than in a commute-heavy job, but most employers still expect engineers on campus part of the week.
Top Phoenix Employers Hiring Software Engineers
These employers have software engineer openings posted for the Phoenix area on their own careers sites:
- American Express - the Desert Ridge technology campus posts senior and early-career software engineer roles for its enterprise technology teams.
- Amazon - hires software development engineers in Tempe, including on its Sort Tech logistics team.
- USAA - the insurer hires software engineers in Phoenix for its claims technology group.
- TSMC Arizona - the north Phoenix chip fab hires full stack software engineers for manufacturing systems.
- State Farm - lists Tempe as one of several locations for lead and full stack software engineer roles.
Software Engineer Salaries in Phoenix
- Entry level: about $82,000 to $104,000 a year.
- Experienced: roughly $104,000 to $163,000 a year, with the metro median near $131,750.
- Senior: $163,000 to $180,000 or more, and higher at large tech and finance employers.
These are estimates based on 2025 wage data for software developers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro and on current postings. Recent Phoenix-area postings run from $93,770 to $179,240 for an entry-level engineer at USAA up to $123,000 to $215,250 for a senior engineer at American Express. Seniority, cloud and data skills, and whether the employer adds bonus or stock move pay the most.
How to Become a Software Engineer in Phoenix
Arizona has no state license for software engineers; employers judge you on skills, a degree or equivalent experience, and a technical interview. The most common local route is a four-year degree: Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering offers a BS in Software Engineering at the Polytechnic campus in Mesa and a BS in Computer Science in Tempe, and Grand Canyon University offers a BS in Software Development on its Camelback Road campus. For a two-year start, Maricopa Community Colleges offers the Programming and Systems Analysis associate degree at Phoenix College, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and other colleges.
What the Job Involves
Software engineers design, write, test and maintain code for applications and internal systems. A typical day includes building features from tickets, reviewing teammates' code, fixing bugs, writing automated tests, and working with product managers and other engineers in sprint planning. Senior engineers spend more time on system design, reliability and mentoring.
Skills Employers Look For
- Strong coding in a language such as Java, Python, JavaScript or C#
- Web frameworks and APIs for full stack work
- Cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure
- SQL and data modeling
- Git, automated testing and CI/CD pipelines
- Clear communication with product and business teams
Career Path and Advancement
Most Phoenix engineers start as Software Engineer I or in a campus program, move to mid-level and senior engineer within several years, then choose between a technical track (staff or principal engineer, architect) and management (engineering manager, director). Because the big local employers are banks, insurers and manufacturers, many engineers also move into data engineering, cloud engineering or security roles inside the same company.
Related Careers in Phoenix
If software engineering interests you, these related Phoenix roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a software engineer in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not license software engineers. Employers look at your degree or experience, your portfolio and how you do in a technical interview.
How much do software engineers make in Phoenix?
The metro median for software developers is about $131,750 a year, with most earning between about $104,000 and $163,000. Entry-level pay starts around $82,000, and senior engineers at large employers can pass $180,000.
Which Phoenix employers hire entry-level software engineers?
American Express posts a campus Software Engineer I program for its Phoenix technology teams, USAA has hired Software Engineer I roles in Phoenix, and State Farm runs software developer internships that include Tempe. Internships are the most common first step.
Can you become a software engineer in Phoenix without a four-year degree?
Yes, though it is harder. Maricopa Community Colleges' Programming and Systems Analysis associate degree is a local starting point, and a strong portfolio of real projects helps. Many large employers still list a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
Are Phoenix software engineer jobs remote?
Some are, but most are hybrid. Large employers in Desert Ridge, Tempe and north Phoenix generally expect engineers on site part of the week, so check each posting's work arrangement.
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