Software Design Engineer Jobs in California
Software Design Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, enterprise software, and semiconductor manufacturing, with openings at every level from new graduate through principal engineer. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Apple, Qualcomm, and Northrop Grumman maintain large engineering workforces. Embedded systems design, FPGA development, and hardware-software integration are the most in-demand specialties across California hiring right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 42+ Software Design Engineer jobs
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The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $118800 - $269800 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is dedicated to the safety and security of millions of Americans who create, discover, and connect with what they love on the apps we operate. The Joint Venture has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025. Our foundation is a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program we operate under defined safeguards to protect national security and secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm. We safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem, holding decision-making authority for trust and safety policies and moderation. USDS Joint Venture helps ensure Americans can continue to express their creativity, discover new hobbies and interests, and build thriving communities and businesses on a global scale.
On-site presence across teams allows the company to operate with greater speed, alignment, and agility — especially in areas like real-time decision-making, team development, and integrated execution. As such, the company is shifting from a hybrid work model to a fully in-person schedule up to 5 days a week.
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/USDS-RA
to this job
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $118800 - $269800 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is dedicated to the safety and security of millions of Americans who create, discover, and connect with what they love on the apps we operate. The Joint Venture has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025. Our foundation is a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program we operate under defined safeguards to protect national security and secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm. We safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem, holding decision-making authority for trust and safety policies and moderation. USDS Joint Venture helps ensure Americans can continue to express their creativity, discover new hobbies and interests, and build thriving communities and businesses on a global scale.
On-site presence across teams allows the company to operate with greater speed, alignment, and agility — especially in areas like real-time decision-making, team development, and integrated execution. As such, the company is shifting from a hybrid work model to a fully in-person schedule up to 5 days a week.
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/USDS-RA
See All 42 Software Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Software Design Engineer JobsSoftware Design Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Automotive
- Medical Devices
- Science & Research
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
- Proficiency in C, C++, or Python for embedded or systems-level development
- Experience with hardware-software co-design, schematics, or PCB layout tools
- Familiarity with FPGA development using VHDL, Verilog, or Vivado toolchains
- Understanding of signal processing, real-time operating systems, or firmware architecture
- Strong collaboration skills for cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and QA
Software Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software design engineer in California?
Most software design engineer roles in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science from an accredited program. California does not mandate a state-specific license for this role, but engineers who sign off on hardware or embedded systems destined for public use may work alongside licensed professional engineers. A strong portfolio demonstrating embedded, FPGA, or systems work carries significant weight with California employers.
How much do software design engineers make in California?
Software design 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 software design engineers in California?
Employers hiring software design engineers in California right now include Tesla, Google, and Divergent, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of aerospace primes, fabless semiconductor companies, and consumer electronics giants means demand is spread across both large defense contractors in Southern California and product-focused tech firms in the Bay Area.
Which California cities have the most software design engineer jobs?
San Jose, San Francisco, and Palo Alto have the most software design engineer openings in California. The Bay Area concentration is driven by Apple, Intel, and hundreds of semiconductor and enterprise software firms, while San Diego anchors defense electronics and wireless hardware through Qualcomm and major aerospace primes, and Los Angeles draws volume from aerospace, media technology, and SpaceX-adjacent suppliers.
Are there remote software design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused roles, since many software design engineer positions involve lab access, hardware prototyping, or classified facility requirements. About 70% of software design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, skewing toward firmware architecture, algorithm development, and simulation work rather than hands-on hardware integration.
How can I get hired as a software design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate rotational engineering programs at large California employers like Northrop Grumman, Apple, or Qualcomm, which take candidates directly from accredited engineering programs. Entry-level titles like associate embedded engineer or junior FPGA engineer often require only a degree and a lab or capstone project portfolio. Candidates transitioning from adjacent roles such as test engineer or hardware validation engineer commonly make the move at California defense and semiconductor firms.
Where can I find and apply to software design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to software design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Find roles that fit your experience level and specialty, then apply directly through each listing.
See All 42 Software Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Software Design Engineer Jobs