Backend Engineer Jobs in California

Backend Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with demand concentrated in enterprise software, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and consumer tech at every level from entry-level to staff and principal engineer. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Salesforce, and Qualcomm maintain major engineering headquarters and continuously recruit across backend specialties. The most in-demand sub-areas are distributed systems, API design, and cloud-native development on AWS and GCP. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles347+
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring42
Work type44% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 347+ Backend Engineer jobs

CVS Health
Pharmacy Technician Back End
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CVS Health
Added 2d ago
Pharmacy Technician Back End
CVS Health
Cerritos, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$16 - $28.84/hr
PTCB Certification
10,000+

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Affirm
Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Trust and Safety)
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Affirm
Added 2d ago
Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Trust and Safety)
Affirm
San Francisco, California
Product Management
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$204k - $290k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Happen Bank
Sr Software Engineer (Backend)
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Happen Bank
Added 2d ago
Sr Software Engineer (Backend)
Happen Bank
San Francisco, California
Account Management
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
$190k - $207k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Tesla
Sr. Software Backend Engineer, Machine Learning Data Pipelines
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Tesla
Added 2d ago
Sr. Software Backend Engineer, Machine Learning Data Pipelines
Tesla
Fremont, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
$140k - $252k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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MyHealthTeam
Senior Backend Engineer, NimbleRx
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MyHealthTeam
Added 3d ago
Senior Backend Engineer, NimbleRx
MyHealthTeam
Redwood City, California
Project & Program Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$205k - $240k/yr
Hybrid

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See All 347+ Backend Engineer Jobs in California

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Backend Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Sunnyvale
17 jobs
Palo Alto
15 jobs
Fremont
11 jobs
Cupertino
9 jobs
San Diego
8 jobs

Backend Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • TikTok
    TikTok28
  • Rippling
    Rippling15
  • Walmart
    Walmart9
  • Apple
    Apple8
  • Affirm
    Affirm8

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software76
  • Banking & Financial Services10
  • Consulting & Professional Services8
  • Electronics & Hardware5
  • Artificial Intelligence5

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in backend engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field
  • Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Python, Java, Go, or Node.js
  • Experience designing and maintaining RESTful or GraphQL APIs at production scale
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly AWS or Google Cloud, and containerization tools
  • Demonstrated experience with relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL and MongoDB
  • Ability to collaborate within cross-functional engineering teams using agile development practices

Backend Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a backend engineer in California?

Backend engineering has no state-issued license in California, so the path runs through education and demonstrated technical skill. Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent experience verified through a portfolio and technical interviews. Completing coursework at a UC or CSU campus, or a recognized coding bootcamp, is a common entry path. Building open-source projects and contributing to public repositories strengthens any application significantly.

How much do backend engineers make in California?

Backend engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire backend engineers in California?

Employers hiring backend engineers in California right now include TikTok, Rippling, and Walmart, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of enterprise software, semiconductor, and consumer internet companies means backend engineering roles appear across a wide range of industries and company sizes, from large tech headquarters to well-funded Series B startups.

Which California cities have the most backend engineer jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Mountain View have the most backend engineer openings in California. San Francisco and the broader Bay Area lead because of the density of enterprise software and cloud infrastructure companies headquartered there, while Los Angeles has grown significantly as a hub for media tech and fintech employers, and San Diego draws from its established base of defense technology and biotech software firms.

Are there remote backend engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 60% of backend engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how naturally backend work adapts to distributed teams. Roles focused on API development, microservices, and cloud infrastructure tend to be the most consistently offered as fully remote, while positions requiring close collaboration with on-site hardware or embedded systems teams skew toward hybrid arrangements.

How can I get hired as a backend engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior engineer role, which large California employers like Salesforce, Oracle, and smaller Bay Area and Los Angeles startups post regularly for new graduates and career changers. Internship pipelines at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD feed directly into entry-level offers. Building a portfolio of personal projects on GitHub, earning a cloud certification such as AWS Certified Developer, and contributing to open-source projects gives candidates a measurable edge over those with only coursework.

Where can I find and apply to backend engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to backend engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 347+ Backend Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Backend Engineer Jobs