Back-End Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Back-End Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and Downtown, with strong demand from defense tech, biotech, and software companies across the region. Employers actively hiring right now include Tillster, Apple, and Qualcomm. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Build the backend systems that power location intelligence for billions of people. Craft the next generation of location-aware experiences by architecting systems that seamlessly connect people's digital and physical lives — at a scale few engineers ever get to work with. Are you passionate about solving hard problems in clever ways? Do you love digging into data and proposing bold ideas, not just implementing them? Do you want your work to have real impact — from someone's daily commute to a life-critical emergency? If so, we might just be the team for you.
Description
Here at Apple, we build devices and services that enrich our customers' lives. In the location technologies group, we power navigation, emergency response, fitness, and a rapidly expanding set of indoor and outdoor services across new and existing hardware — spanning the full stack from raw sensors to the application layer. We reach more than a billion people every day, and what we do makes a difference. Join our team, and we'll help you do the best work of your life. If you join our team, you'll architect and build backend systems that process crowdsourced sensor data from hundreds of millions of devices, fueling algorithms that solve problems from everyday navigation to life-critical emergencies. You'll propose ideas, crunch data, leverage modern AI tools, and ship systems that run under demanding real-world efficiency requirements at global scale.
Minimum Qualifications
- Proficient in Java or equivalent backend languages such as Scala
- Strong foundation in object-oriented design, distributed systems, and real-time software architecture
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science or related field, or a Bachelor's degree with proven experience architecting real production systems at scale
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience architecting and operating high-scale production backend systems
- Experience with crowdsourced, sensor, or telemetry data systems
- Comfortable implementing complex mathematical or statistical algorithms
- Familiarity with AI/ML tools applied to accelerate development and analysis
- Familiar with Linux-based development environments
- Strong communication skills — you can explain complex systems clearly to any audience
- Curious and energized by problems that do not have obvious solutions yet
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $263,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Back-End Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a back-end engineer job in San Diego?
Focus your search on Sorrento Valley, UTC, and the Torrey Pines corridor, where defense contractors, biotech firms, and software companies cluster and hire back-end engineers consistently. Experience with APIs, cloud infrastructure, or data pipelines is particularly valued across San Diego's tech-heavy sectors. Candidates who can demonstrate work on high-availability systems or embedded software tend to stand out in a market shaped by defense and life-sciences employers.
Which companies hire back-end engineers in San Diego?
Employers hiring back-end engineers in San Diego right now include Tillster, Apple, and Qualcomm, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's hiring mix leans toward defense contractors, biotech and medtech companies, and growth-stage software startups, alongside a smaller set of established enterprise tech firms.
Are there remote back-end engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, back-end engineering is among the more remote-friendly disciplines because the work is code-based and rarely requires physical presence. About 80% of back-end engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, making it a realistic option for many candidates. Roles at software and SaaS companies in the UTC and Downtown corridor tend to offer the most flexibility.
How can I get a back-end engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is targeting junior or associate software engineer roles at mid-size software startups and tech-forward biotech companies, where teams are lean and new engineers take on real backend work early. UCSD's extension programs and San Diego's active tech meetup community can help build connections. Contributing to open-source projects and having deployed personal APIs or services on GitHub gives local hiring managers something concrete to evaluate.
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