Senior Software Engineering Jobs in California
Senior Software Engineering jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and defense technology with demand from junior engineers through principal and staff-level roles. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles, where companies like Google, Apple, and Northrop Grumman maintain major engineering operations and hire continuously. The most in-demand specialties in California right now are distributed systems, machine learning infrastructure, and platform engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Claris is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple and the leader in the workspace innovation platform space. We are advancing existing technologies and developing new and exciting products.
We are seeking a Sr Software Engineering Program Manager. This role entails managing the entire software development lifecycle across various functions including Software Engineering, Product Management, QA, Legal, Customer Success, Design, Finance, DevOps, IT, InfoDev and Marketing while fostering innovation, collaboration, and operational effectiveness. Your leadership will be crucial in delivering high-quality software solutions for Claris's SaaS Platform.
Description
We value great teammates with ability to operate and communicate at a strategic level as well as to dive into operational and tactical details of each deliverable. Daily tasks may include requirements gathering, facilitating design discussions, project planning, mocking up proof-of-concept, tracking and reporting on feature and product validations, performing data analysis, working with partners, building team readouts, and more. A successful candidate will drive initiatives from ideation through launch, and build out the vision into sustainable long term programs and products. Strong EPM fundamentals are a requirement, and we are looking for someone with a passion, patience, and track record for solving complex and dynamic operational and technical problems. If you have a growth mindset and the motivation to build critical products in a fast-paced environment - this role is for you!
","responsibilities":"Lead software development programs from planning through launch, building and maintaining project plans that track priorities, dependencies, risks, and timelines.
Partner with Product Management to define release strategies that deliver iterative value to customers through scalable architecture and cohesive user experiences.
Communicate program status, risks, and decisions to stakeholders and senior leadership, and resolve misalignments across teams.
Build cross-team relationships that support collaboration and shared problem-solving.
Define and implement project governance processes and metrics-driven reporting to improve program transparency.
Adapt project plans and priorities in response to changing business needs.
Support your team hands-on, helping to resolve blockers and keep programs moving forward.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Business Operations, Project Management or related.
Proficiency with a variety of project management tools, including Jira, Quip, Slack, Box, and Keynote.
Experience with Claris Platform Products: FileMaker, Connect, and Studio.
Familiarity with SaaS platform product development, cloud technologies and platform services.
Experience delivering software solutions to small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Experience in developing and launching AI-enabled features.
Minimum Qualifications
8+ years of experience in software engineering project or program management.
Experience leading complex software programs from initiation through launch.
Experience managing processes across the full software development lifecycle, including tracking metrics to improve efficiency.
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $207,400 and $311,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
See All 92 Senior Software Engineering Jobs in California
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Find JobsSenior Software Engineering Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Software Engineering Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Google11

- Apple7

- Qualcomm5

- NVIDIA4

- Everpure4

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software13
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
- Fintech1
- Insurance1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior software engineering jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
- Seven or more years of professional software engineering experience in production environments
- Proficiency in one or more languages such as Python, Java, Go, or C++
- Demonstrated experience designing and operating large-scale distributed or cloud-native systems
- Strong collaboration skills working with cross-functional teams including product and data engineering
- Familiarity with Agile development practices and continuous integration and delivery pipelines
Senior Software Engineering Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior software engineering in California?
Reaching a senior software engineering role in California typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline, followed by several years of progressive engineering experience in production environments. California has no state-issued license for software engineers, so the path is defined by demonstrated technical depth and impact. Most engineers advance by building expertise in systems design, leading projects, and earning recognition within their organization or through open-source contributions.
How much do senior software engineerings make in California?
Senior software engineerings 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 software engineerings in California?
Employers hiring senior software engineerings in California right now include Google, Apple, and Qualcomm, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's density of technology headquarters, aerospace contractors, and fintech firms means senior engineering demand is spread across a wide range of industries beyond consumer software.
Which California cities have the most senior software engineering jobs?
Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale have the most senior software engineering openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose concentrate the highest volume due to the headquarters presence of major cloud, enterprise software, and semiconductor companies, while Los Angeles draws significant engineering hiring from aerospace, entertainment technology, and a fast-growing startup ecosystem.
Are there remote senior software engineering jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 56% of senior software engineering openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based and collaborative-tool-native nature of the work. Backend, platform, and infrastructure roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while roles involving on-site hardware, lab environments, or classified defense work are typically in-person.
How can I get hired as a senior software engineering in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing an associate or junior software engineer role at a California company with a structured growth track. Large California employers like Apple, Intel, and Salesforce run new-graduate programs and university recruiting pipelines aimed at candidates without professional experience. Building a strong GitHub portfolio, contributing to open-source projects, and targeting roles in quality assurance engineering or technical support at software companies are common lateral moves that open the door to a full engineering career path.
Where can I find and apply to senior software engineering jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior software engineering jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to each one.
See All 92 Senior Software Engineering Jobs in California
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