Software and applications
Hire software engineers and developers
Software developer is the most-posted tech role in the US. The job has changed more than any other: engineers now review, test and ship code that AI drafted, so judgment matters more than typing speed. Madrone's team has recruited software engineers since 2007, and we place them on contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire, anywhere in the US.
How the job changed
| Role | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | Wrote every line | Reviews, tests and ships code AI drafted |
| .NET developer | Maintained the old app | Moves it to Azure without breaking the business |
| Test automation engineer | Ran test scripts by hand | Builds the automated checks that catch AI-written bugs |
| Embedded engineer | Wrote firmware for one device | Builds connected devices for defense, medical and industry |
Roles we place
- Software engineers (back end, front end, full stack)
- .NET and Azure developers
- Java and Python developers
- Embedded and firmware engineers
- Test automation and QA engineers
- Mobile developers
Typical pay
| Role | Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Software developers | Median $135,980 a year | BLS |
National figures. Pay varies by location and seniority; a Role Review gives you the number for your market.
Contract or hire?
Contract a modernization or a deadline. Hire the engineers who will keep building on it.
How we find them
We don't post jobs. We map who is doing this work today, reach out with a message written for each person, and draw on a database we've built since 2007. A recruiter screens every candidate and verifies identity and work history before you see them. Most roles are filled in one to three weeks.
Sources: CompTIA, Oct 2026, BLS employment projections, Aug 2026.
Questions
Do you only recruit for big tech?
No. We've placed engineers at companies including Google X, Autodesk, One Medical and C3.ai, and Madrone brings that recruiting to companies of every size and industry.
Can you find .NET people who know Azure?
Yes. It's one of the most common modernization projects we see.