Senior Software Developer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Senior Software Developer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in defense technology, biotech, and enterprise software, with hiring activity spread across Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines, and the Kearny Mesa corridor. Employers hiring right now include Qualcomm, Shield AI, and Apple. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 130+ Senior Software Developer jobs
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software EngineeringGeneral Summary:
You will be part of the Core Platform bootloader team enabling diverse Qualcomm SoCs to boot all the way from ROM firmware till OS entry. Areas this team works on, but not limited to, include several stages of system initialization, secure boot and authentication, platform and device configurations, execution environment enablement across new emerging CPU architectures, enabling latest industry tuned peripherals and interfaces, multicore and multithreaded scheduler based boot initializations, next-gen volatile (DDRx) and non-volatile memory(UFS, NVMe, eMMC, NAND, SPI-NOR, etc) device and interfaces(USB, PCIe) initializations and device driver development.
You will be expected to collaborate closely with a team of engineers from multiple SW and firmware technology teams, besides product verification, system, architecture, tools and test teams, to instrument the firmware features and meet the myriad use cases for Qualcomm internal, OEM customization and commercialization.
You will be highly motivated engineer, a team player who is passionate to learn new technologies and write low level firmware that drives hardware and SoC. Your responsibilities may include, but not limited to:
- Design, development and integration of SoC firmware features, diagnostics and test capabilities for QCT boot platforms.
- Strong coordination and collaboration across wide range of technical areas to include software, hardware, ASIC, integration, architecture, emulation and simulation teams.
- Paying attention to the details during all phases of firmware design, development, integration, testing and release
- Work with Emulation, HW design teams, as necessary, in verifying and debugging firmware, driver and resolving platform issues
- Efficient and secure (ie. cognizant of not exposing security exploits) coding plus driving code review of firmware logic updates with all required stakeholders
- On time execution of defined tasks and deliverables, driving dependencies with other teams to closure
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
- 2+ years of academic or work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
What are we looking for?
- 4 + years of experience with embedded systems.
- C Programming
- Device Driver development
- Strong communication skills
- Strong collaborative skills working with multiple teams
Additional skills are a plus:
- Chip/SoC on-target, emulation and simulation platform bringup and debug experience
- Highly proficient in C, with a focus on system initialization and low-level code.
- Good analytical, debugging and problem solving skills.
- ARM microprocessor architecture and ARM Assembly language experience.
- Good understanding of basic real-time/embedded programming, resource-constrained environments, and operating system loaders.
- Open Source bootloader and firmware experiences - UEFI Tianocore EDK2, coreboot, uboot, TF-A, Zephyr RTOS
Preferred Education Requirements
- Master's, Computer Engineering and/or Computer Science and/or Electrical Engineering
- 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience
- 1+ year of work experience with Git, Perforce, or Source Code Management System
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits :
$117,800.00 - $176,600.00The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software EngineeringGeneral Summary:
You will be part of the Core Platform bootloader team enabling diverse Qualcomm SoCs to boot all the way from ROM firmware till OS entry. Areas this team works on, but not limited to, include several stages of system initialization, secure boot and authentication, platform and device configurations, execution environment enablement across new emerging CPU architectures, enabling latest industry tuned peripherals and interfaces, multicore and multithreaded scheduler based boot initializations, next-gen volatile (DDRx) and non-volatile memory(UFS, NVMe, eMMC, NAND, SPI-NOR, etc) device and interfaces(USB, PCIe) initializations and device driver development.
You will be expected to collaborate closely with a team of engineers from multiple SW and firmware technology teams, besides product verification, system, architecture, tools and test teams, to instrument the firmware features and meet the myriad use cases for Qualcomm internal, OEM customization and commercialization.
You will be highly motivated engineer, a team player who is passionate to learn new technologies and write low level firmware that drives hardware and SoC. Your responsibilities may include, but not limited to:
- Design, development and integration of SoC firmware features, diagnostics and test capabilities for QCT boot platforms.
- Strong coordination and collaboration across wide range of technical areas to include software, hardware, ASIC, integration, architecture, emulation and simulation teams.
- Paying attention to the details during all phases of firmware design, development, integration, testing and release
- Work with Emulation, HW design teams, as necessary, in verifying and debugging firmware, driver and resolving platform issues
- Efficient and secure (ie. cognizant of not exposing security exploits) coding plus driving code review of firmware logic updates with all required stakeholders
- On time execution of defined tasks and deliverables, driving dependencies with other teams to closure
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
- 2+ years of academic or work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
What are we looking for?
- 4 + years of experience with embedded systems.
- C Programming
- Device Driver development
- Strong communication skills
- Strong collaborative skills working with multiple teams
Additional skills are a plus:
- Chip/SoC on-target, emulation and simulation platform bringup and debug experience
- Highly proficient in C, with a focus on system initialization and low-level code.
- Good analytical, debugging and problem solving skills.
- ARM microprocessor architecture and ARM Assembly language experience.
- Good understanding of basic real-time/embedded programming, resource-constrained environments, and operating system loaders.
- Open Source bootloader and firmware experiences - UEFI Tianocore EDK2, coreboot, uboot, TF-A, Zephyr RTOS
Preferred Education Requirements
- Master's, Computer Engineering and/or Computer Science and/or Electrical Engineering
- 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience
- 1+ year of work experience with Git, Perforce, or Source Code Management System
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits :
$117,800.00 - $176,600.00The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
See All 130+ Senior Software Developer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Software Developer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm20
- Shield AI15
- Apple14
- Shield6
- Epsilon Systems Solutions6
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Medical Devices
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
- Telecommunications
Senior Software Developer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior software developer job in San Diego?
San Diego's strongest hiring comes from defense contractors, biotech and life sciences firms, and fintech companies, with a secondary cluster of enterprise SaaS companies based in Sorrento Valley and Carmel Valley. Candidates with experience in embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, or regulated industries stand out here. Targeting mid-size defense and biotech employers directly, rather than relying on national postings alone, gives you a real edge in this market.
Which companies hire senior software developers in San Diego?
Employers hiring senior software developers in San Diego right now include Qualcomm, Shield AI, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local market skews toward defense primes, life sciences technology firms, and growth-stage SaaS companies, all of which tend to hire at the senior level for specialized technical depth.
Are there remote senior software developer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, and senior software developer roles are among the more remote-friendly positions given that the work is largely code-driven and project-based. About 31% of senior software developer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though defense and government-adjacent roles often require on-site or cleared work. Cloud, platform, and product-focused roles at San Diego SaaS companies tend to offer the most scheduling flexibility.
How can I get a senior software developer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is targeting associate or mid-level developer roles at San Diego's biotech software vendors or defense subcontractors, where teams are smaller and growth into senior positions happens faster than at large primes. Local companies in the Torrey Pines and Sorrento Mesa areas regularly promote from within. Building familiarity with defense-adjacent technologies or life sciences data workflows gives candidates a concrete edge when competing for early-career roles that lead to senior tracks.
Which industries hire the most senior software developers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most senior software developers in San Diego are Electronics & Hardware, Medical Devices, and Aerospace & Defense, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense contractors, genomics and biotech companies, and venture-backed SaaS firms creates sustained, year-round demand for senior technical talent at levels not typical of smaller metros.
Related Jobs in California
See All 130+ Senior Software Developer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs