Backend Software Engineer Jobs in California

Backend Software Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software, with openings at every level from entry-level junior engineers through principal and staff engineers. The heaviest hiring is in San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles, where companies like Google, Apple, and Salesforce maintain large engineering organizations. The most in-demand specialties in California include distributed systems, API design, and cloud-native backend development across platforms like AWS and GCP. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles4,221+
Top employerApple
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring116
Work type74% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 4,221+ Backend Software Engineer jobs

Apple
Senior Backend Software Engineer
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Apple
Added 2d ago
Senior Backend Software Engineer
Apple
Cupertino, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Backend Engineering
Cloud Engineering
$181k - $272k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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OpenAI
Backend Software Engineer
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OpenAI
Added 5d ago
Backend Software Engineer
OpenAI
Mountain View, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Backend Engineering
$185k - $385k/yr
On-Site
None

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OpenAI
Backend Software Engineer
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OpenAI
Added 1w ago
Backend Software Engineer
OpenAI
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Backend Engineering
$185k - $305k/yr
On-Site
None
51-200

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Semgrep
Senior Backend Software Engineer
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Semgrep
Added 2w ago
Senior Backend Software Engineer
Semgrep
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Backend Engineering
$163k - $247k/yr
Hybrid
None

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Salesforce
Backend Software Development Engineer
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Salesforce
Added 3w ago
Backend Software Development Engineer
Salesforce
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Engineering
Backend Engineering
$314k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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See All 4,221+ Backend Software Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Backend Software Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
1,173 jobs
Mountain View
367 jobs
Sunnyvale
345 jobs
Santa Clara
341 jobs
San Jose
338 jobs
San Mateo
223 jobs
Cupertino
214 jobs
Palo Alto
142 jobs
Los Angeles
131 jobs

Backend Software Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Apple
    Apple280
  • Google
    Google187
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA132
  • Roblox
    Roblox100
  • TikTok
    TikTok84

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software2,338
  • Electronics & Hardware538
  • Artificial Intelligence230
  • Banking & Financial Services185
  • Consulting & Professional Services168

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in backend software 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 REST or GraphQL APIs at production scale
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
  • Experience with relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB
  • Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams including product, DevOps, and frontend engineering

Backend Software Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a backend software engineer in California?

Backend software engineering has no state-issued license in California, so the path is driven by education and demonstrated skills. Most California employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related discipline, though graduates of accredited coding bootcamps are increasingly considered for junior roles. Building a portfolio of personal or open-source projects and completing internships at California technology companies strengthens applications considerably at every level.

How much do backend software engineers make in California?

Backend software 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 software engineers in California?

Employers hiring backend software engineers in California right now include Apple, Google, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of technology headquarters, from the Bay Area to greater Los Angeles, means that large platforms, cloud providers, and enterprise software companies consistently post backend engineering roles throughout the year.

Which California cities have the most backend software engineer jobs?

San Francisco, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale have the most backend software engineer openings in California. San Francisco and San Jose lead because of the Bay Area's concentration of technology company headquarters and venture-backed startups, while Los Angeles has grown significantly as a hub for entertainment technology, fintech, and e-commerce companies that depend on large-scale backend infrastructure.

Are there remote backend software engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 26% of backend software engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how naturally the work translates to distributed teams. Roles focused on API development, cloud infrastructure, and microservices architecture are the most likely to be fully remote, while positions requiring close collaboration with hardware or on-site platform teams tend to be in-person.

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

The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior engineer role, which large California technology companies like Google, Apple, Meta, and Salesforce fill through structured new-grad hiring programs that open each fall. Candidates without a computer science degree can build credibility through portfolio projects hosted publicly, contributions to open-source repositories, and completion of a recognized bootcamp. Adjacent roles such as QA engineer, DevOps associate, or technical support engineer at a California software company are common lateral moves that lead to backend engineering positions within one to two years.

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

You can find and apply to backend software 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 ones that match.

See All 4,221+ Backend Software Engineer Jobs in California

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