Engineer I

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

An Engineer I will contribute to the design, development, testing, and support of software solutions across web applications, APIs, databases, and cloud environments. This role is intended for an early-career engineer who is eager to learn, collaborate, and apply engineering best practices while exploring emerging technologies, including AI-assisted development tools and solutions

What You'll Do

• Assist in the development and implementation of engineering solutions, adhering to best practices and project requirements.
• Contribute to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of web applications, APIs, and supporting systems.
• Conduct testing and quality assurance activities to ensure the reliability, performance, and functionality of deliverables.
• Help troubleshoot technical issues and provide support to resolve challenges during project execution.
• Participate in code reviews and collaborate with team members to improve code quality and engineering practices.
• Create and maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation related to engineering projects.
• Prepare reports and summaries to communicate project progress, milestones, and outcomes.
• Learn and utilize modern development tools, including AI-assisted coding and productivity tools, while validating outputs and applying sound engineering judgment.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What You Have

Minimum:

Indicate minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Basic understanding of software development methodologies and principles.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages and related development tools.
• Foundational experience in full-stack application development, APIs, databases, and cloud technologies gained through academic coursework, internships, personal projects, or equivalent experience.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly and apply sound engineering judgment when troubleshooting technical challenges.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement.

Preferred:

Indicate “nice to haves” regarding education, skills, and experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 1-2 years of experience in software engineering or a related technical role.
• Exposure to cloud platforms, preferably AWS.
• Demonstrated interest in AI-assisted software development and emerging technologies.
• Experience through coursework, internships, research, or personal projects involving Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), machine learning concepts, or generative AI applications.
• Familiarity with AI-powered development tools and the ability to effectively leverage them while validating outputs and applying sound engineering practices.
• Experience building or contributing to full-stack applications using modern development frameworks and technologies.
  

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

• Competitive base salaries 

• Bonus incentives 

• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed

• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more

• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance  

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.

• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs

• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware) 

• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs

• Career development and training opportunities

Not the right fit?  Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking Introduce Yourself in the top-right corner of the page or create an account to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!