AI Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
AI Engineer jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and the Torrey Pines corridor across defense tech, biotech, and enterprise software. Employers hiring right now include Qualcomm, Xora Innovation, and Teradata. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 1,084+ AI Engineer jobs
Join the Sony Engagement Platform Services (SEPS) Team, where innovation meets collaboration in the dynamic world of digital engagement. At SEPS, we are building the next-generation platform that powers how fans connect with the content—and the creators—they love. Our mission is to unlock meaningful, data-driven engagement across Sony’s entertainment ecosystem, from games and anime to music, film, and live experiences—empowering both internal teams and external partners to build at scale. Our mission is to create a world-class engagement platform that not only enhances existing revenue streams but also drives new opportunities through a robust ecosystem of partners and creators. By decoupling application development from platform services, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional solutions with agility and efficiency. If you are passionate about shaping the future of digital engagement and want to be part of a vibrant community that values creativity and collaboration, we invite you to explore the exciting opportunities within our team. Together, we will shape the future of fan experiences and define the foundation for what’s possible in the realm of engagement. To learn more visit: www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/technology/stories/entries/sep_introduction/
Staff Software Engineer – AI-Native
Join the Sony Engagement Platform Services (SEPS) Team, where innovation meets collaboration in the dynamic world of digital engagement. At SEPS, we are building the next-generation platform that powers how fans connect with the content—and the creators—they love. Our mission is to unlock meaningful, data-driven engagement across Sony’s entertainment ecosystem, from games and anime to music, film, and live experiences—empowering both internal teams and external partners to build at scale. The goal is to create a world-class engagement platform that not only enhances existing revenue streams but also drives new opportunities through a robust ecosystem of partners and creators. By decoupling application development from platform services, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional solutions with agility and efficiency . If you are passionate about shaping the future of digital engagement and want to be part of a vibrant community that values creativity and collaboration, we invite you to explore the exciting opportunities within our team. Together, we will shape the future of fan experiences and define the foundation for what’s possible in the realm of engagement.
Role Overview
SEPS is seeking a highly skilled and experienced AI-Native Staff Software Engineer to support the development of the applications that power the Sony Engagement Platform. In this role, you will design and build secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions that deliver exceptional user experiences across Sony's global ecosystem.
As a Staff Engineer, you will contribute to both front-end and back-end systems, playing a hands-on role in architecture, implementation, and technical leadership. You will operate as part of an AI-native tiny team, directing and governing AI agents across the full delivery lifecycle. You’ll collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams to build robust, maintainable applications. This is a dynamic opportunity for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, innovation -driven environment and are passionate about solving complex challenges with clean, thoughtful code.
Responsibilities
Architect, design and develop RESTful API Endpoints, ensuring high performance, scalability and maintainability.
Collaborate closely with front-end engineers to build dynamic, responsive, and user-centric web applications that deliver seamless user experiences.
Define robust data models and database schemas, and manage relational or NoSQL databases with a strong emphasis on data integrity and performance optimization.
Direct and govern AI coding agents across the delivery lifecycle, setting context, reviewing agent-generated output, and enforcing SEPS delivery standards at every gate.
Design and maintain agent workflows using agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot) and the AI- native development framework, ensuring structured, auditable, and high-quality delivery.
Configure and maintain prompt engineering patterns, structured output schemas, with rules and guardrails to align agent behavior with SEPS platform standards.
Trace, debug, and triage agent tool calls, prompt failures, and unexpected outputs, maintaining visibility into AI-assisted delivery at every stage.
Create and maintain clear, comprehensive documentation for application architecture, design, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.
Provide accurate task estimations and delivery timelines, contributing to effective sprint planning and execution.
Participate in the on-call rotation, responding promptly to production issues and ensuring system stability and uptime.
Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a culture of AI-native ways of working, learning, and continuous improvement.
Minimum Qualifications
8+ years professional experience working with medium/large complex code bases
Experience in Full Stack development
Experience with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, Go, or Python
Experience in REST API design and implementation
Highly Proficient in HTML, CSS, the JavaScript ecosystem and familiarity with popular frameworks like React, Angular, Ember, Jest, Babel, and TypeScript
Knowledgeable in UI/UX design principles
Demonstrated proficiency with AI-native coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or GitHub Copilot) as a primary delivery vehicle, not a productivity add-on
Working knowledge of prompt engineering, context management, and structured output patterns
Familiarity with agent development concepts, tool use, function calling, approvals, and workflow chaining
Awareness of secure AI coding practices including prompt injection, sandbox basics, and access control
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Desire to collaborate and to develop strong and positive team relationships
Attention to detail, organizational skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to work independently.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or at least three years of proven experience in lieu of a degree
Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
Database management, cloud technologies (AWS), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
Knowledge of React best practices
Familiarity with DevOps tools and practices, including CI/CD pipelines
Automated deployment tools ( e.g. Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins)
Experience with the AI-native development framework ( e.g. BMad Method)
Familiarity with MCP, A2A concepts, tool-connection patterns, and agent skill configuration
Eval basics, writing test cases, applying LLM-as-judge concepts, and defining acceptance criteria for AI-generated output
Experience tracing and debugging prompt chains, tool calls, and agent failures
Understanding of hallucination reduction techniques, prompt caching, and model fallback strategies
Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Experience with Agile development methodologies such as SAFe , Scrum
Benefits:
SCA offers benefits-eligible employees ( generally regular employees scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week) a comprehensive benefits program that offers coverage and support for employees and their family’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
What we offer you:
Comprehensive medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage with coverage for spouses/domestic partners and child dependents, including access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Employee assistance plan and comprehensive behavioral health benefits
Fertility benefits, including, surrogacy, and adoption assistance programs
Basic and supplemental life insurance for employees as well as supplemental life insurance coverage for their spouses/domestic partners and children
Voluntary benefits such as group legal, identity theft protection, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
Short-term & long-term disability plans
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental and caregiver leave
401(k) Plan with pre-tax, Roth, and after-tax options and company match with immediate vesting
Education assistance and student loan programs
Other Programs:
Time off to include vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, Summer Fridays ( early release ), and a winter break between Christmas and New Year’s Day (based on business needs)
Referral bonuses (subject to eligibility)
Matching gift program
A wide variety of employee business resource groups (EBRGs)
Special discounts on Sony products, offered exclusively to Sony employees
Employee stock purchase plan (Sony covers commissions and fees for your Sony stock purchases made through after-tax payroll deductions)
The anticipated annual base salary for this role is $220,000–$240,000 for the Los Angeles, CA office location and $200,000–$220,000 for San Diego, CA . In addition to the annual base salary, this role has an annual bonus target of 17%. This range does not include any other compensation components or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.
#LI-AS1
SCA will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.
Disability Accommodation for Applicants to Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact us by email at careers@sonyusa.com or by mail to: Sony Corporation of America, People Experience Department, 25 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Please indicate the position you are applying for.
We are aware that unauthorized individuals or organizations may attempt to solicit personal information or payments from job applicants by impersonating our company through fraudulent job postings. We take these matters seriously but cannot control third-party websites. To protect your personal information, please verify that any job posting you respond to also appears on our official Careers page: www.sonyjobs.com . Please also be advised that we never request personal identifying information (such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or copies of identification documents) during the initial stages of our application process. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a job posting or communication, please contact careers@sonyusa.com before submitting any information.
Right to Work (English/Spanish)
E-Verify Participation (English/Spanish)
Join the Sony Engagement Platform Services (SEPS) Team, where innovation meets collaboration in the dynamic world of digital engagement. At SEPS, we are building the next-generation platform that powers how fans connect with the content—and the creators—they love. Our mission is to unlock meaningful, data-driven engagement across Sony’s entertainment ecosystem, from games and anime to music, film, and live experiences—empowering both internal teams and external partners to build at scale. Our mission is to create a world-class engagement platform that not only enhances existing revenue streams but also drives new opportunities through a robust ecosystem of partners and creators. By decoupling application development from platform services, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional solutions with agility and efficiency. If you are passionate about shaping the future of digital engagement and want to be part of a vibrant community that values creativity and collaboration, we invite you to explore the exciting opportunities within our team. Together, we will shape the future of fan experiences and define the foundation for what’s possible in the realm of engagement. To learn more visit: www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/technology/stories/entries/sep_introduction/
Staff Software Engineer – AI-Native
Join the Sony Engagement Platform Services (SEPS) Team, where innovation meets collaboration in the dynamic world of digital engagement. At SEPS, we are building the next-generation platform that powers how fans connect with the content—and the creators—they love. Our mission is to unlock meaningful, data-driven engagement across Sony’s entertainment ecosystem, from games and anime to music, film, and live experiences—empowering both internal teams and external partners to build at scale. The goal is to create a world-class engagement platform that not only enhances existing revenue streams but also drives new opportunities through a robust ecosystem of partners and creators. By decoupling application development from platform services, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional solutions with agility and efficiency . If you are passionate about shaping the future of digital engagement and want to be part of a vibrant community that values creativity and collaboration, we invite you to explore the exciting opportunities within our team. Together, we will shape the future of fan experiences and define the foundation for what’s possible in the realm of engagement.
Role Overview
SEPS is seeking a highly skilled and experienced AI-Native Staff Software Engineer to support the development of the applications that power the Sony Engagement Platform. In this role, you will design and build secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions that deliver exceptional user experiences across Sony's global ecosystem.
As a Staff Engineer, you will contribute to both front-end and back-end systems, playing a hands-on role in architecture, implementation, and technical leadership. You will operate as part of an AI-native tiny team, directing and governing AI agents across the full delivery lifecycle. You’ll collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams to build robust, maintainable applications. This is a dynamic opportunity for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, innovation -driven environment and are passionate about solving complex challenges with clean, thoughtful code.
Responsibilities
Architect, design and develop RESTful API Endpoints, ensuring high performance, scalability and maintainability.
Collaborate closely with front-end engineers to build dynamic, responsive, and user-centric web applications that deliver seamless user experiences.
Define robust data models and database schemas, and manage relational or NoSQL databases with a strong emphasis on data integrity and performance optimization.
Direct and govern AI coding agents across the delivery lifecycle, setting context, reviewing agent-generated output, and enforcing SEPS delivery standards at every gate.
Design and maintain agent workflows using agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot) and the AI- native development framework, ensuring structured, auditable, and high-quality delivery.
Configure and maintain prompt engineering patterns, structured output schemas, with rules and guardrails to align agent behavior with SEPS platform standards.
Trace, debug, and triage agent tool calls, prompt failures, and unexpected outputs, maintaining visibility into AI-assisted delivery at every stage.
Create and maintain clear, comprehensive documentation for application architecture, design, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.
Provide accurate task estimations and delivery timelines, contributing to effective sprint planning and execution.
Participate in the on-call rotation, responding promptly to production issues and ensuring system stability and uptime.
Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a culture of AI-native ways of working, learning, and continuous improvement.
Minimum Qualifications
8+ years professional experience working with medium/large complex code bases
Experience in Full Stack development
Experience with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, Go, or Python
Experience in REST API design and implementation
Highly Proficient in HTML, CSS, the JavaScript ecosystem and familiarity with popular frameworks like React, Angular, Ember, Jest, Babel, and TypeScript
Knowledgeable in UI/UX design principles
Demonstrated proficiency with AI-native coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or GitHub Copilot) as a primary delivery vehicle, not a productivity add-on
Working knowledge of prompt engineering, context management, and structured output patterns
Familiarity with agent development concepts, tool use, function calling, approvals, and workflow chaining
Awareness of secure AI coding practices including prompt injection, sandbox basics, and access control
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Desire to collaborate and to develop strong and positive team relationships
Attention to detail, organizational skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to work independently.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or at least three years of proven experience in lieu of a degree
Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
Database management, cloud technologies (AWS), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
Knowledge of React best practices
Familiarity with DevOps tools and practices, including CI/CD pipelines
Automated deployment tools ( e.g. Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins)
Experience with the AI-native development framework ( e.g. BMad Method)
Familiarity with MCP, A2A concepts, tool-connection patterns, and agent skill configuration
Eval basics, writing test cases, applying LLM-as-judge concepts, and defining acceptance criteria for AI-generated output
Experience tracing and debugging prompt chains, tool calls, and agent failures
Understanding of hallucination reduction techniques, prompt caching, and model fallback strategies
Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Experience with Agile development methodologies such as SAFe , Scrum
Benefits:
SCA offers benefits-eligible employees ( generally regular employees scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week) a comprehensive benefits program that offers coverage and support for employees and their family’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
What we offer you:
Comprehensive medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage with coverage for spouses/domestic partners and child dependents, including access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Employee assistance plan and comprehensive behavioral health benefits
Fertility benefits, including, surrogacy, and adoption assistance programs
Basic and supplemental life insurance for employees as well as supplemental life insurance coverage for their spouses/domestic partners and children
Voluntary benefits such as group legal, identity theft protection, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
Short-term & long-term disability plans
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental and caregiver leave
401(k) Plan with pre-tax, Roth, and after-tax options and company match with immediate vesting
Education assistance and student loan programs
Other Programs:
Time off to include vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, Summer Fridays ( early release ), and a winter break between Christmas and New Year’s Day (based on business needs)
Referral bonuses (subject to eligibility)
Matching gift program
A wide variety of employee business resource groups (EBRGs)
Special discounts on Sony products, offered exclusively to Sony employees
Employee stock purchase plan (Sony covers commissions and fees for your Sony stock purchases made through after-tax payroll deductions)
The anticipated annual base salary for this role is $220,000–$240,000 for the Los Angeles, CA office location and $200,000–$220,000 for San Diego, CA . In addition to the annual base salary, this role has an annual bonus target of 17%. This range does not include any other compensation components or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.
#LI-AS1
SCA will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.
Disability Accommodation for Applicants to Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact us by email at careers@sonyusa.com or by mail to: Sony Corporation of America, People Experience Department, 25 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Please indicate the position you are applying for.
We are aware that unauthorized individuals or organizations may attempt to solicit personal information or payments from job applicants by impersonating our company through fraudulent job postings. We take these matters seriously but cannot control third-party websites. To protect your personal information, please verify that any job posting you respond to also appears on our official Careers page: www.sonyjobs.com . Please also be advised that we never request personal identifying information (such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or copies of identification documents) during the initial stages of our application process. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a job posting or communication, please contact careers@sonyusa.com before submitting any information.
Right to Work (English/Spanish)
E-Verify Participation (English/Spanish)
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Find AI Engineer JobsAI Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm306
- Xora Innovation83X
- Teradata56
- Murata America56M
- Innovative Defense Technologies56
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software56
- Insurance28
- Banking & Financial Services28
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals28
AI Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a ai engineer job in San Diego?
San Diego ai engineer hiring concentrates in defense and government contracting, biotech, and enterprise software, with clusters in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and Kearny Mesa. Candidates who can work across machine learning pipelines and data infrastructure get the most traction here. Tailoring your portfolio to defense-adjacent or life-sciences applications gives you a concrete edge over generalist applicants in this market.
Which companies hire ai engineers in San Diego?
San Diego ai engineer roles are posted by Qualcomm, Xora Innovation, and Teradata and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. The local employer mix leans heavily toward defense contractors, biotech firms, and mid-size enterprise software companies, many of which are headquartered or have major operations in the Sorrento Valley and UTC corridors.
Are there remote ai engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, and ai engineering is one of the more remote-friendly technical disciplines since most of the core work happens in code and cloud environments rather than on-site hardware. About 71% of ai engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, though defense and government contractor roles typically require on-site presence due to clearance and compliance requirements. Model development, research, and data pipeline work are the functions most commonly offered remotely.
How can I get a ai engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through research or data roles at one of the city's many biotech or defense-adjacent employers, where junior contributors can move into applied AI work within a year or two. UC San Diego and local community college programs produce a steady pipeline of entry-level candidates, so demonstrating a project-based portfolio on open datasets or Kaggle competitions helps you stand out. Internships at mid-size software companies in Sorrento Valley or Kearny Mesa are a consistent way in.
Which industries hire the most ai engineers in San Diego?
Most ai engineer openings in San Diego sit in Technology & Software, Insurance, and Banking & Financial Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense contractors, life-sciences companies, and enterprise software firms creates sustained local demand across those sectors, particularly for engineers who can work with classified data environments or regulated clinical datasets.
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