This role pays less than
59%
of similar roles. Most pay
$170,950–$246,705
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$206k
versus about
$209k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Okta Inc
Okta, Inc. is an American identity and access management company based in San Francisco. It provides cloud software that helps companies manage and secure user authentication into applications, and for developers to build identity controls into applications, websites, web services, and devices.[
Okta Inc currently has
87 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$174,000–$239,000
across 87 roles with salary data.
As a Staff Software Engineer (Federal) on the Identity Governance team, you will adapt the identity governance product specifically for government customers. You will design, build, and maintain robust backend services and intuitive frontend interfaces while ensuring the platform provides secure, interoperable, and scalable access through AI-augmented workflows. Your daily responsibilities include architecting cloud and on-premises infrastructure across high-compliance security baselines, managing operations in disconnected or air-gapped environments, and maintaining strict audit readiness for classified networks. You will utilize Java, Python, or TypeScript to build enterprise-grade software, while leveraging tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and CircleCI. The role requires expertise in distributed systems, web authentication fundamentals, and API integration. This position solves the critical challenge of providing secure identity management within highly regulated government environments that demand strict security controls and least privilege enforcement.
What does a Software Engineer earn in California?
Median $214000 from 830 postings across 69 companies.
Architect, deploy, and maintain cloud and on-premises infrastructure across high-compliance security baselines.
Support operations transitioning into disconnected, air-gapped, and top-secret defense environments.
Maintain strict security controls, audit readiness, and continuous monitoring for classified networks.
Design and build both robust backend services and intuitive frontend interfaces using Java, Python, or TypeScript.
Integrate AI-augmented workflows to improve backend design, validation, and delivery processes.
Identify and prioritize technical debt in areas including CI/CD, observability, documentation, and reliability.
Mentor peer engineers and take responsibility for raising the team's overall technical bar.
What we're looking for
Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must possess an active clearance or have the ability to obtain/maintain a high-level government security clearance (e.g., Secret, Top Secret, or SCI).
8+ years of experience in software engineering shipping enterprise cloud software.
Hands-on expertise in coding at scale using Java, Python, or TypeScript, plus API and UI automation tools.
Experience with CI/CD, containers (Docker, Kubernetes), and a major cloud platform.
Proven ability to apply AI meaningfully across the full software development lifecycle and establish team practices for AI tooling.
Expertise in defining scalable backend architectures, integrating complex APIs, and understanding web authentication/authorization fundamentals.
Experience in federal infrastructure, network security isolation, identity governance (IGA), or compliance contexts (e.g., FedRAMP, SOC 2) is preferred.