Full-stack Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Full-stack software engineer jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and Downtown across defense technology, biotech software, and direct-to-consumer tech startups. Companies hiring right now include Shield AI, Intuit, and Qualcomm. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 295+ Full-stack Software Engineer jobs
At Keysight, people come together to explore new ideas, challenge what's possible, and advance the technologies defining the future. Here, you'll find opportunities to do your best work, take your career further, and thrive in an award-winning culture. Learn more about our benefits.
About the Role
Keysight is seeking a highly skilled Wireless Software Engineer with deep wireless protocol expertise to join our Forward Deployment Engineer team. The individual will work at the forefront of 5G-Advanced and next-generation wireless technologies. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving complex protocol challenges, developing production-quality software, and collaborating directly with leading wireless technology companies.
You will work closely with customer engineering teams and Keysight R&D to develop, customize, integrate, and optimize software solutions used in the development of next-generation wireless systems. Unlike traditional support or deployment roles, you will actively contribute code, debug protocol stack behavior, build software features, and drive technical solutions that influence both customer products and Keysight technology roadmaps.
This is a highly development-focused role requiring strong software engineering expertise and deep knowledge of 3GPP wireless protocols. Successful candidates will be comfortable investigating issues across multiple protocol layers, performing root-cause analysis, modifying production code, and developing software enhancements that directly address customer and product requirements. You will have the opportunity to influence both customer solutions and future Keysight product capabilities by translating field challenges into product enhancements, software innovations, and new technical approaches.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and enhance software features within wireless communication systems and protocol stacks.
- Develop production-quality software in C/C++ and Python for Linux-based environments.
- Analyze and debug complex issues across Layer 1 (PHY), Layer 2 (MAC/RLC/PDCP), and Layer 3 (RRC/NAS) protocols.
- Investigate and troubleshoot issues across the full protocol stack, including areas outside your primary domain expertise, collaborating with development teams to drive root-cause resolution.
- Diagnose and resolve complex issues encountered during customer deployments, integrations, and performance optimization activities.
- Modify existing software and develop new code to address customer-specific requirements and technical challenges.
- Develop APIs, software tools, automation frameworks, and diagnostics that improve development productivity and system visibility.
- Analyze signaling logs, traces, packet captures, performance metrics, and timing behavior to identify root causes of system issues.
- Build prototypes and rapidly validate new features and protocol enhancements.
- Enhance existing Keysight software through feature development, performance improvements, and customer-driven innovations.
- Participate in code reviews and contribute to software quality, maintainability, and engineering best practices.
- Develop a deep understanding of Keysight software architecture, feature implementation, and protocol stack behavior to effectively diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
- Collaborate closely with Keysight R&D teams to translate field findings into product improvements, software enhancements, and new capabilities.
- Lead technical discussions with customers and provide guidance on protocol implementation, system architecture, and performance optimization.
- Contribute to software releases, validation activities, and deployment of new features into customer development environments.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in software development for wireless communication systems.
- Strong software development experience in C/C++ and Python.
- Experience developing software in Linux environments.
- Solid understanding of 4G LTE, 5G NR, or 5G-Advanced technologies.
- Deep understanding of 3GPP protocols across Layers 1-3, particularly RRC and NAS.
- Hands-on software development experience within one or more wireless protocol stack layers, including PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC, or NAS.
- Proven experience as an R&D, platform, systems, or protocol-stack development engineer with demonstrated ownership of software design, implementation, debugging, and maintenance.
- Experience investigating and troubleshooting complex software and protocol issues across multiple layers of the wireless stack.
- Strong root-cause analysis and debugging skills using logs, traces, packet captures, signaling analysis, performance metrics, and software debugging tools.
- Familiarity with 3GPP specifications and wireless protocol implementation.
- Strong understanding of software architecture and development processes, with the ability to understand, modify, and extend existing codebases.
- Experience participating in code reviews and working within collaborative software development environments.
- Ability to design, develop, test, and deliver production-quality software.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate combines deep wireless protocol expertise with strong hands-on software development skills and a demonstrated ability to design, implement, debug, and enhance production software systems. They enjoy solving difficult technical problems, working directly with cutting-edge customers, and collaborating with R&D teams to deliver innovative solutions. This role is best suited for engineers with strong software development and protocol-stack implementation experience who enjoy combining product development with customer-facing technical problem solving.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with modem software, protocol stack development, wireless infrastructure, device testing, or network simulation platforms.
- Experience with embedded software, real-time systems, or firmware development.
- Experience developing software tools, automation frameworks, and APIs.
- Knowledge of wireless test and measurement systems.
- Experience working directly with customers on complex technical projects.
- Experience leading technical investigations and cross-functional engineering efforts.
- Exposure to 5G-Advanced, NTN, Open RAN, or emerging 6G technologies.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Develop software that directly impacts next-generation wireless technologies.
- Work alongside leading wireless device manufacturers, chipset vendors, and infrastructure providers.
- Solve complex protocol and software challenges spanning the full wireless stack.
- Influence product direction through direct collaboration with customers and Keysight R&D teams.
- Combine deep software engineering with cutting-edge wireless technology innovation.
- Own technical problems from investigation through code implementation and deployment.
- Help shape future product capabilities by translating real-world customer challenges into software solutions and product enhancements.
Travel Requirement: Up to 50% travel to local client sites. Occasional international travel may also be required.
Other Information
This position is on-site in San Diego, California
Relocation is available for this position
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position
The level of role will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below:
California Pay Range: MIN $149,850.00 -MID $199,800.00 - MAX $249,750.00
Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region
Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Health Savings Account
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life, Accident, Disability insurance
- Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
- 401(k) Plan
- Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
- Paid Family Leave
- Discounts, Perks
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption Assistance
- ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
#LI-CS1
At Keysight, people come together to explore new ideas, challenge what's possible, and advance the technologies defining the future. Here, you'll find opportunities to do your best work, take your career further, and thrive in an award-winning culture. Learn more about our benefits.
About the Role
Keysight is seeking a highly skilled Wireless Software Engineer with deep wireless protocol expertise to join our Forward Deployment Engineer team. The individual will work at the forefront of 5G-Advanced and next-generation wireless technologies. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving complex protocol challenges, developing production-quality software, and collaborating directly with leading wireless technology companies.
You will work closely with customer engineering teams and Keysight R&D to develop, customize, integrate, and optimize software solutions used in the development of next-generation wireless systems. Unlike traditional support or deployment roles, you will actively contribute code, debug protocol stack behavior, build software features, and drive technical solutions that influence both customer products and Keysight technology roadmaps.
This is a highly development-focused role requiring strong software engineering expertise and deep knowledge of 3GPP wireless protocols. Successful candidates will be comfortable investigating issues across multiple protocol layers, performing root-cause analysis, modifying production code, and developing software enhancements that directly address customer and product requirements. You will have the opportunity to influence both customer solutions and future Keysight product capabilities by translating field challenges into product enhancements, software innovations, and new technical approaches.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and enhance software features within wireless communication systems and protocol stacks.
- Develop production-quality software in C/C++ and Python for Linux-based environments.
- Analyze and debug complex issues across Layer 1 (PHY), Layer 2 (MAC/RLC/PDCP), and Layer 3 (RRC/NAS) protocols.
- Investigate and troubleshoot issues across the full protocol stack, including areas outside your primary domain expertise, collaborating with development teams to drive root-cause resolution.
- Diagnose and resolve complex issues encountered during customer deployments, integrations, and performance optimization activities.
- Modify existing software and develop new code to address customer-specific requirements and technical challenges.
- Develop APIs, software tools, automation frameworks, and diagnostics that improve development productivity and system visibility.
- Analyze signaling logs, traces, packet captures, performance metrics, and timing behavior to identify root causes of system issues.
- Build prototypes and rapidly validate new features and protocol enhancements.
- Enhance existing Keysight software through feature development, performance improvements, and customer-driven innovations.
- Participate in code reviews and contribute to software quality, maintainability, and engineering best practices.
- Develop a deep understanding of Keysight software architecture, feature implementation, and protocol stack behavior to effectively diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
- Collaborate closely with Keysight R&D teams to translate field findings into product improvements, software enhancements, and new capabilities.
- Lead technical discussions with customers and provide guidance on protocol implementation, system architecture, and performance optimization.
- Contribute to software releases, validation activities, and deployment of new features into customer development environments.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in software development for wireless communication systems.
- Strong software development experience in C/C++ and Python.
- Experience developing software in Linux environments.
- Solid understanding of 4G LTE, 5G NR, or 5G-Advanced technologies.
- Deep understanding of 3GPP protocols across Layers 1-3, particularly RRC and NAS.
- Hands-on software development experience within one or more wireless protocol stack layers, including PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC, or NAS.
- Proven experience as an R&D, platform, systems, or protocol-stack development engineer with demonstrated ownership of software design, implementation, debugging, and maintenance.
- Experience investigating and troubleshooting complex software and protocol issues across multiple layers of the wireless stack.
- Strong root-cause analysis and debugging skills using logs, traces, packet captures, signaling analysis, performance metrics, and software debugging tools.
- Familiarity with 3GPP specifications and wireless protocol implementation.
- Strong understanding of software architecture and development processes, with the ability to understand, modify, and extend existing codebases.
- Experience participating in code reviews and working within collaborative software development environments.
- Ability to design, develop, test, and deliver production-quality software.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate combines deep wireless protocol expertise with strong hands-on software development skills and a demonstrated ability to design, implement, debug, and enhance production software systems. They enjoy solving difficult technical problems, working directly with cutting-edge customers, and collaborating with R&D teams to deliver innovative solutions. This role is best suited for engineers with strong software development and protocol-stack implementation experience who enjoy combining product development with customer-facing technical problem solving.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with modem software, protocol stack development, wireless infrastructure, device testing, or network simulation platforms.
- Experience with embedded software, real-time systems, or firmware development.
- Experience developing software tools, automation frameworks, and APIs.
- Knowledge of wireless test and measurement systems.
- Experience working directly with customers on complex technical projects.
- Experience leading technical investigations and cross-functional engineering efforts.
- Exposure to 5G-Advanced, NTN, Open RAN, or emerging 6G technologies.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Develop software that directly impacts next-generation wireless technologies.
- Work alongside leading wireless device manufacturers, chipset vendors, and infrastructure providers.
- Solve complex protocol and software challenges spanning the full wireless stack.
- Influence product direction through direct collaboration with customers and Keysight R&D teams.
- Combine deep software engineering with cutting-edge wireless technology innovation.
- Own technical problems from investigation through code implementation and deployment.
- Help shape future product capabilities by translating real-world customer challenges into software solutions and product enhancements.
Travel Requirement: Up to 50% travel to local client sites. Occasional international travel may also be required.
Other Information
This position is on-site in San Diego, California
Relocation is available for this position
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position
The level of role will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below:
California Pay Range: MIN $149,850.00 -MID $199,800.00 - MAX $249,750.00
Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region
Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Health Savings Account
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life, Accident, Disability insurance
- Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
- 401(k) Plan
- Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
- Paid Family Leave
- Discounts, Perks
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption Assistance
- ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
#LI-CS1
See All 295+ Full-stack Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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Find JobsFull-stack Software Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Shield AI107
- Intuit54
- Qualcomm27
- AeroVironment27
- Nathan Kunes27N
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
Full-stack Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a full-stack software engineer job in San Diego?
Target San Diego's strongest hiring sectors: defense tech contractors in Sorrento Valley, health tech and biotech software firms in Torrey Pines and UTC, and the growing consumer app and fintech scene Downtown. Candidates who can demonstrate experience with cloud-native architecture, API development, and modern JavaScript frameworks stand out locally. Building a portfolio that reflects work relevant to one of these sectors gives you a concrete edge over generalist applicants in this market.
Which companies hire full-stack software engineers in San Diego?
San Diego full-stack software engineer roles are posted by Shield AI, Intuit, and Qualcomm and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local hiring pool includes a mix of publicly traded defense contractors, venture-backed health tech firms, and mid-size SaaS companies that have established engineering hubs in the city.
Are there remote full-stack software engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, full-stack software engineering is well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements given the desk-based, collaborative nature of the work. About 33% of full-stack software engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is relatively high compared to hands-on technical roles. Front-end and back-end development tasks tend to be the most remote-friendly portions of the role in San Diego's market.
How can I get a full-stack software engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is targeting junior or associate developer roles at mid-size SaaS companies and health tech startups, which tend to hire entry-level engineers more actively than large defense contractors. Coding bootcamp graduates with strong project portfolios have found traction at consumer-facing tech firms Downtown. Contributing to open-source projects or building apps that address local industries like biotech or hospitality tech can also differentiate you with San Diego hiring managers reviewing entry-level applications.
Which industries hire the most full-stack software engineers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most full-stack software engineers in San Diego are Aerospace & Defense and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense technology primes, life sciences companies investing in software infrastructure, and a growing startup ecosystem collectively sustain consistent demand for full-stack engineering talent across the city.
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