Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in California

Senior C Software Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, embedded systems, automotive software, and enterprise infrastructure across a state that houses some of the world's densest engineering talent. The heaviest hiring happens in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Qualcomm, Northrop Grumman, and Apple maintain large engineering workforces and consistently recruit for senior-level systems and embedded expertise. The most in-demand specialties are real-time systems programming, embedded firmware development, and high-performance computing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles14+
Top employerEsri
Top cityRedlands, CA
Cities hiring8
Work type64% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 14+ Senior C Software Engineer jobs

Esri
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
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Esri
Added 3w ago
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
Esri
Redlands, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$123k - $202k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Environmental Systems Research Institute
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer - ArcGIS Geocoding Algorithms
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Environmental Systems Research Institute
Added 1mo ago
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer - ArcGIS Geocoding Algorithms
Environmental Systems Research Institute
Redlands, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
$123k - $202k/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Esri
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
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Esri
Added 4mo ago
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
Esri
Redlands, California
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
$198k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Esri
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
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Esri
Added 4mo ago
Sr. C++ Software Development Engineer
Esri
Redlands, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Data Science & Analytics
Cloud Engineering
$119k - $198k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Nobel Biocare Usa, LLC
Sr. 3D C++ Software Engineer
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Nobel Biocare Usa, LLC
Added 1mo ago
Sr. 3D C++ Software Engineer
Nobel Biocare Usa, LLC
Pomona, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Backend Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's

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See All 14 Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in California

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Senior C Software Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Redlands
5 jobs
Mountain View
2 jobs
Pomona
2 jobs
Lathrop
1 jobs
Los Angeles
1 jobs
Palo Alto
1 jobs
San Jose
1 jobs
Sunnyvale
1 jobs

Senior C Software Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Esri
    Esri3
  • Artech
    Artech1
  • C&S Wholesale Grocers
    C&S Wholesale Grocers1
  • ENTRUST Solutions
    ENTRUST Solutions1
  • Environmental Systems Research Institute
    Environmental Systems Research Institute1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software9
  • Consulting & Professional Services5
  • Distribution & Wholesale1
  • Medical Devices1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior C software engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering
  • Five or more years of production-level C programming experience in systems or embedded environments
  • Deep knowledge of memory management, pointers, and low-level hardware interfaces
  • Experience with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or POSIX-compliant systems
  • Proficiency with debugging tools, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded development environments
  • Familiarity with version control systems and collaborative development workflows such as Git

Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior c software engineer in California?

Senior c software engineer roles in California do not require a state-issued license, but the path to senior-level positions typically runs through a computer science or electrical engineering degree followed by several years writing production C in embedded, systems, or aerospace environments. California employers in defense and aerospace often require or strongly prefer candidates who can obtain a federal security clearance, which adds an additional qualification layer. Building a portfolio of firmware or systems projects and contributing to open-source C repositories significantly strengthens a candidacy for senior roles at California companies.

How much do senior C software engineers make in California?

Senior C 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 senior c software engineers in California?

Employers hiring senior c software engineers in California right now include Esri, Artech, and C&S Wholesale Grocers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor companies, and defense contractors makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for senior-level C engineering talent.

Which California cities have the most senior c software engineer jobs?

The cities with the most senior c software engineer openings in California are Redlands, Mountain View, and Pomona. The distribution reflects California's major engineering corridors: the Bay Area's dense concentration of semiconductor and infrastructure companies drives volume in the north, while San Diego's established defense and wireless industry base and Los Angeles's aerospace and entertainment technology sectors sustain strong demand in the south.

Are there remote senior c software engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than many engineering disciplines, though the share depends heavily on the sub-specialty. About 36% of senior c software engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting that some systems work is lab-bound. The roles most likely to be fully remote are those focused on application-layer C development, toolchain engineering, or platform work that does not require physical access to hardware.

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

The most realistic entry path is through an associate or junior embedded software engineer role, then building toward senior standing over time. Large California defense and aerospace employers like Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin run new-graduate hiring programs that accept strong computer engineering or computer science graduates with relevant coursework in operating systems and C. Candidates who come from adjacent roles such as hardware verification engineer, firmware test engineer, or systems integration engineer have a concrete path sideways into C development. A personal portfolio of embedded or systems projects on GitHub gives a candidate without commercial experience a tangible signal of capability.

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

You can find and apply to senior c software engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across defense, semiconductor, automotive, and enterprise sectors. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 14 Senior C Software Engineer Jobs in California

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