Cloud Architect Jobs in California
Cloud Architect jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with concentrated demand across enterprise technology, financial services, healthcare, and entertainment, and openings at every level from associate cloud architect through principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring metros are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where anchor employers such as Google, Salesforce, and Kaiser Permanente maintain substantial cloud engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties include multi-cloud infrastructure, cloud security architecture, and DevOps platform design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 4 of 45+ Cloud Architect jobs
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5 years of experience in computer architecture, chip architecture, IP architecture, co-design, performance analysis, or hardware design.
- Experience in developing software systems in C++ or Python.
Preferred qualifications:
- Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science, with an emphasis on Computer Architecture, or a related field.
- 8 years of experience in computer architecture, chip architecture, IP architecture, co-design, performance analysis, or hardware design.
- Experience in processor design or accelerator designs and mapping ML models to hardware architectures.
- Experience with deep learning frameworks including TensorFlow and PyTorch.
- Knowledge of Machine Learning market, technological and business trends, software ecosystem, and emerging applications.
- Knowledge of hardware/software stack for deep learning accelerators.
About the job
In this role, you’ll work to shape the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration. You will have an opportunity to drive cutting-edge TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) technology that powers Google's most demanding AI/ML applications. You’ll be part of a team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's TPU. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide, and leverage your design and verification expertise to verify complex digital designs, with a specific focus on TPU architecture and its integration within AI/ML-driven systems.In this role, you will be at the forefront of advancing ML accelerator performance and efficiency, employing a approach that spans compiler interactions, system modeling, power architecture, and host system integration. You will prototype new hardware features, such as instruction extensions and memory layouts, by leveraging existing compiler and runtime stacks, and develop transaction-level models for early performance estimation and workload simulation. A critical part of your work will be to optimize the accelerator design for maximum performance under strict power and thermal constraints this includes evaluating novel power technologies and collaborating on thermal design. You will streamline host-accelerator interactions, minimize data transfer overheads, ensure seamless software integration across different operational modes like training and inference, and devise strategies to enhance overall ML hardware utilization. To achieve these goals, you will collaborate closely with specialized teams, including XLA (Accelerated Linear Algebra) compiler, Platforms performance, package, and system design to transition innovations to production and maintain a unified approach to modeling and system optimization.
The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.
We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.US: $163000 - $236000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google.
Responsibilities
- Create differentiated architectural innovations for Google’s semiconductor Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) roadmap.
- Evaluate the power, performance, and cost of prospective architecture and subsystems.
- Collaborate with partners in Hardware Design, Software, Compiler, ML Model and Research teams for hardware/software co-design.
- Work on Machine Learning (ML) workload characterization and benchmarking.
- Develop architecture for differentiating features on next generation TPUs.
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5 years of experience in computer architecture, chip architecture, IP architecture, co-design, performance analysis, or hardware design.
- Experience in developing software systems in C++ or Python.
Preferred qualifications:
- Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science, with an emphasis on Computer Architecture, or a related field.
- 8 years of experience in computer architecture, chip architecture, IP architecture, co-design, performance analysis, or hardware design.
- Experience in processor design or accelerator designs and mapping ML models to hardware architectures.
- Experience with deep learning frameworks including TensorFlow and PyTorch.
- Knowledge of Machine Learning market, technological and business trends, software ecosystem, and emerging applications.
- Knowledge of hardware/software stack for deep learning accelerators.
About the job
In this role, you’ll work to shape the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration. You will have an opportunity to drive cutting-edge TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) technology that powers Google's most demanding AI/ML applications. You’ll be part of a team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's TPU. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide, and leverage your design and verification expertise to verify complex digital designs, with a specific focus on TPU architecture and its integration within AI/ML-driven systems.In this role, you will be at the forefront of advancing ML accelerator performance and efficiency, employing a approach that spans compiler interactions, system modeling, power architecture, and host system integration. You will prototype new hardware features, such as instruction extensions and memory layouts, by leveraging existing compiler and runtime stacks, and develop transaction-level models for early performance estimation and workload simulation. A critical part of your work will be to optimize the accelerator design for maximum performance under strict power and thermal constraints this includes evaluating novel power technologies and collaborating on thermal design. You will streamline host-accelerator interactions, minimize data transfer overheads, ensure seamless software integration across different operational modes like training and inference, and devise strategies to enhance overall ML hardware utilization. To achieve these goals, you will collaborate closely with specialized teams, including XLA (Accelerated Linear Algebra) compiler, Platforms performance, package, and system design to transition innovations to production and maintain a unified approach to modeling and system optimization.
The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.
We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.US: $163000 - $236000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google.
Responsibilities
- Create differentiated architectural innovations for Google’s semiconductor Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) roadmap.
- Evaluate the power, performance, and cost of prospective architecture and subsystems.
- Collaborate with partners in Hardware Design, Software, Compiler, ML Model and Research teams for hardware/software co-design.
- Work on Machine Learning (ML) workload characterization and benchmarking.
- Develop architecture for differentiating features on next generation TPUs.
See All 45 Cloud Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Cloud Architect JobsCloud Architect Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Cloud Architect Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
- Gaming & Esports
- Fashion & Apparel
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cloud architect jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related engineering field
- Professional cloud certification such as AWS Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Professional, or Azure Solutions Architect
- Five or more years of hands-on experience designing and deploying cloud infrastructure at enterprise scale
- Demonstrated expertise with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform or Pulumi in production environments
- Experience architecting multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments across at least two major cloud platforms
- Strong background in cloud security frameworks, identity management, and compliance standards such as SOC 2 or FedRAMP
Cloud Architect Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cloud architect in California?
Becoming a cloud architect in California typically starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field, followed by several years in cloud engineering or infrastructure roles. California has no state-issued license for cloud architects, so hiring decisions center on vendor certifications from AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, along with a portfolio of enterprise architecture work. Most California employers expect candidates to progress from cloud engineer or solutions engineer roles before moving into architecture positions.
How much do cloud architects make in California?
Cloud architects in California earn a median of about $158,870 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,070 for the lowest 10% to over $224,930 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire cloud architects in California?
Employers hiring cloud architects in California right now include Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, and Deloitte, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, major healthcare systems, and financial services firms means cloud architect hiring is active across a wide range of industries year-round.
Which California cities have the most cloud architect jobs?
San Diego, San Jose, and Santa Clara have the most cloud architect openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of the density of technology headquarters and enterprise software companies based there, while Los Angeles draws demand from media, entertainment, and fintech, and San Diego's concentration of defense contractors and biotech firms creates consistent openings outside the major tech corridor.
Are there remote cloud architect jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Cloud architecture is inherently well suited to remote and hybrid work because the role centers on design, documentation, and platform configuration rather than physical infrastructure. About 63% of cloud architect openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how broadly California tech employers have adopted distributed work models. The most fully remote openings tend to be in platform architecture and cloud governance rather than roles requiring close coordination with on-site data center teams.
How can I get hired as a cloud architect in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a cloud architect role from a cloud engineer or DevOps engineer position, which California employers commonly treat as a pipeline for architecture candidates. Large California technology and healthcare employers including those in the Bay Area and greater Los Angeles regularly hire associate cloud engineers and platform engineers as entry points, and completing an AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure associate-level certification before applying gives candidates a measurable edge. Building a project portfolio using personal or open-source cloud environments, then targeting junior architect or cloud infrastructure analyst postings, accelerates the transition.
Where can I find and apply to cloud architect jobs in California?
You can find and apply to cloud architect jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to see roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 45 Cloud Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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