Softworld
Softworld is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based technical staffing firm, subsidiary of Kelly Services, delivering engineering, IT, and cybersecurity talent and program/project delivery services to federal agencies, defense primes, and select commercial clients across the U.S.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWaltham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Softworld does
Softworld, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, is a specialty technical staffing firm operating as a subsidiary of Kelly Services (NASDAQ: KELYA). The company delivers engineering and technology talent and solutions to federal government agencies, defense prime contractors, and commercial clients in Banking, Life Sciences, and Engineering. Core services span three delivery models: Resource Delivery (contract staffing and direct hire placements), Project Delivery (managed execution of defined initiatives), and Program Delivery (coordinated oversight of multiple interrelated projects against strategic government objectives). The firm maintains a database of more than 750,000 IT and data science professionals and reports that all of its recruiters hold technology backgrounds, supporting screening for cleared and specialized roles.
The company generates revenue primarily through professional services markups on contract staffing (hourly rates ranging from $45-$185/hr depending on skill and clearance requirements) and direct hire placement fees (salaries of $100k-$223k for placed candidates). Additional managed services revenue comes from overseeing multi-vendor workforce programs for government clients. Its go-to-market is dual-channel: enterprise field sales from a Fairfax, Virginia office targeting federal agencies and DoD prime contractors, complemented by a self-serve job portal (jobs.softworldinc.com) for candidate acquisition. The company holds GSA SIN 13251 and federal contracting credentials (Cage Code 1USQ3, DUNS 967026857) enabling cleared-workforce placements on classified programs.
Softworld's disclosed customer base is concentrated in U.S. federal agencies and defense programs, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), U.S. Courts, USAF and DoD Joint Command branches (F-35 program), Defense Security Services (DSS), U.S. Army Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program, and state-level law enforcement radio systems in Florida and Wisconsin. The company has won the Clearly Rated Best of Staffing Award for seven consecutive years (2018-2024) in both Client and Talent categories. Sarah Porter (President, Kelly Government Solutions, including Softworld Gov) and Steve Cooper (SVP Sales, joined 2014) lead the business from its government-focused sales operation, with Maura Maynard serving as VP HR across Softworld and sister subsidiary Vita Global Sciences.
Softworld firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Softworld
- Legal name
- Softworld, LLC
- Website
- https://softworldinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Softworld is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based technical staffing firm, subsidiary of Kelly Services, delivering engineering, IT, and cybersecurity talent and program/project delivery services to federal agencies, defense primes, and select commercial clients across the U.S.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Softworld is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waltham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Softworld business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Contract Staffing: Providing contracted technical professionals (IT, engineering, cybersecurity) for temporary project needs. Revenue generated through markup on contractor hourly rates.
- Direct Hire/Placement: Permanent placement services matching candidates with employers for full-time positions. One-time fee or retained search arrangements.
- Project Delivery Services: Program and project delivery services coordinating multiple projects to achieve strategic government objectives, including integrated oversight and performance management.
- Managed Services: Managing service providers and overseeing client spending. Softworld handles workforce solutions and vendor management for government and commercial clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Contract staffing with hourly rates based on skill level and clearance requirements |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Direct hire permanent placements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Softworld product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Softworld is a specialty technical staffing and solutions provider that places IT, engineering, cybersecurity, and mission-systems professionals with government agencies, defense contractors, and commercial clients. The company delivers three core engagement models — Resource Delivery (contract and direct-hire staffing), Project Delivery (disciplined project management for public sector initiatives), and Program Delivery (integrated oversight of multiple interrelated projects against strategic objectives).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Resource Delivery Flexible and scalable workforce staffing solutions providing skilled IT and engineering professionals who integrate into client project teams to meet project timelines and goals. Designed for clients needing contingent technical talent for IT and engineering projects.
- Project Delivery Disciplined project management service combining structured methodology with transparent stakeholder engagement to deliver government initiatives on time, within scope, and in compliance, focused on measurable outcomes, risk mitigation, and accountability.
- Program Delivery Coordination of multiple interrelated projects to achieve strategic government objectives, including integrated oversight, benefits realization, and performance management aligned with policy priorities, funding constraints, and governance standards.
- Information Technology Staffing Technical staffing across Application Development & Data Management, TechOps, SupportOps, and Functional IT, providing IT professionals to government and commercial clients.
- Engineering Technology Staffing Engineering technical talent delivery across Mission Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Cloud & Computing Solutions, Data & Analytics, and Enterprise Systems disciplines.
- Government Services Staffing Specialized staffing and solutions delivery serving U.S. federal agencies, the Department of Defense, and intelligence community clients, including cleared workforce and DoD contract support.
- Finance & Insurance Technology Staffing Staffing delivery of technology talent to banking, financial services, and insurance organizations for fintech and insurance technology initiatives.
- Direct Hire Placement Permanent placement service matching candidates with employers for full-time positions, structured as one-time placement fees or retained search arrangements, with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $223,600 per year for professional positions.
- Managed Services / Vendor Management Managed service program under which Softworld oversees service provider performance and client workforce spending, handling workforce solutions and vendor management for government and commercial clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grew NGA IT Operations presence from 0 to 42 active consultants in 2 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Softworld
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Softworld technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Softworld partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Kelly Services (Parent Company)coreSoftworld is a subsidiary of Kelly Services (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB). Softworld operates as part of Kelly Government Solutions business unit. The parent company's policies (Privacy Statement, Cookie Declaration, Accessibility Statement, Human Rights Policy, etc.) govern Softworld operations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Softworld competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ManTech International: ManTech is a federal IT and engineering services provider focused on defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. Overlaps with Softworld in cleared technical workforce and federal program delivery, though ManTech employs staff directly rather than relying on staffing model.
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen Hamilton is a large federal IT services and consulting prime contractor. While much larger and broader in scope, it competes for the same federal program contracts and directly hires many of the same cleared technical professionals Softworld places.
- Leidos: Leidos is one of the largest federal IT services and solutions providers, serving defense, intelligence, homeland security, and civilian agencies. A prime contractor that competes for similar federal IT staffing and program delivery contracts.
- SAIC: Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is a major federal IT services integrator serving DoD, intelligence community, and civilian agencies. Competes for similar federal contracts and draws from the same cleared technical talent pool as Softworld.
- Robert Half: Robert Half is a large publicly traded staffing and consulting firm with a dedicated technology practice. While broader in scope (finance, legal, administrative), it competes in IT staffing and direct-hire placements for similar client profiles.
Direct peers
- TEKsystems: TEKsystems (a subsidiary of Allegis Group) is one of the largest IT staffing and services providers in North America. Highly comparable in technology staffing focus, large enterprise/government client base, and managed project delivery offerings.
- Insight Global: Insight Global is a large private staffing firm providing IT, engineering, and professional talent placement. Comparable in business model (contract staffing, direct hire, managed services) and customer overlap (federal and commercial clients).
- Kforce: Kforce is a publicly traded specialty staffing firm focused on technology and finance professionals. Like Softworld, Kforce provides contract and direct-hire IT staffing, serving commercial and government clients across the U.S.
- Apex Systems: Apex Systems (also part of Allegis Group) is a major IT and engineering staffing firm serving commercial and federal government clients. Direct competitor in cleared-workforce placements and federal IT staffing engagements.
Emerging players
- ICF International: ICF International provides advisory and technology services to federal, commercial, and public-sector clients. Comparable in government-focused IT and engineering services, though positioned more as a consulting/services firm than a staffing provider.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Softworld social profiles
Digital presenceSoftworld financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Softworld leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Softworld funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Softworld M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Softworld
What does Softworld do?
Softworld is a specialty technical staffing and solutions provider that places IT, engineering, cybersecurity, and mission-systems professionals with government agencies, defense contractors, and commercial clients. The company delivers three core engagement models — Resource Delivery (contract and direct-hire staffing), Project Delivery (disciplined project management for public sector initiatives), and Program Delivery (integrated oversight of multiple interrelated projects against strategic objectives).
Is Softworld a public or private company?
Softworld is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Softworld founded?
Softworld was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Softworld based?
Softworld is headquartered in Waltham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Softworld make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Contract Staffing is the primary driver. The others are direct Hire/Placement, project Delivery Services and managed Services.
Who are Softworld's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ManTech International, Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, SAIC and Robert Half. Direct peers are TEKsystems, Insight Global, Kforce and Apex Systems. ICF International is listed as an emerging player.
Does Softworld have an API?
No public API is recorded for Softworld.