Software Developer Jobs in California

Software Developer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, enterprise software, fintech, and defense, with openings at every level from entry-level to principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Apple, and Salesforce maintain major engineering operations. Full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, and machine learning engineering are the most in-demand specializations across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles841+
Top employerGoogle
Top citySan Jose, CA
Cities hiring76
Work type46% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 841+ Software Developer jobs

Saronic Technologies
Senior Systems Software Engineer
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Saronic Technologies
New 22h ago
Senior Systems Software Engineer
Saronic Technologies
San Diego, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
Master's degree

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The Voleon Group
Senior Software Engineer, Developer Experience
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The Voleon Group
New 22h ago
Senior Software Engineer, Developer Experience
The Voleon Group
Berkeley, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
$225k - $255k/yr
Hybrid
Experience equivalent to degree accepted

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The Voleon Group
Software Engineer, Strategy Research Analytics
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The Voleon Group
New 22h ago
Software Engineer, Strategy Research Analytics
The Voleon Group
Berkeley, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
$230k - $295k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree

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Handshake
Associate Software Engineer, Operator Experience
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Handshake
New 22h ago
Associate Software Engineer, Operator Experience
Handshake
San Francisco, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
$135 - $150/hr

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Speechify
Software Engineer, iOS Core Product - Palo Alto, CA, USA
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Speechify
New 22h ago
Software Engineer, iOS Core Product - Palo Alto, CA, USA
Speechify
Palo Alto, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
$140k - $200k/yr
Remote (US)

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See All 841+ Software Developer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Software Developer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Software Developer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Google
    Google77
  • TikTok
    TikTok46
  • Apple
    Apple30
  • Speechify
    Speechify28
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA25

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software29
  • Electronics & Hardware9
  • Automotive2
  • Manufacturing2
  • Law & Legal Services2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in software developer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
  • Proficiency in one or more languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, or Go
  • Experience with cloud platforms including AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure
  • Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control using Git
  • Ability to design, build, and maintain scalable APIs and distributed systems
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills for cross-functional engineering teams

Software Developer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software developer in California?

California does not require a state-issued license to work as a software developer. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field from a California university system such as UC or CSU, followed by an internship or junior engineering role. Candidates who complete coding bootcamps accredited by California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education also compete effectively, particularly with a strong portfolio of projects.

How much do software developers make in California?

Software developers 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 developers in California?

Employers hiring software developers in California right now include Google, TikTok, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters and defense contractors means software developer hiring is distributed across both high-growth startups in the Bay Area and large enterprise employers in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Which California cities have the most software developer jobs?

The California cities with the most software developer openings are San Jose, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because it is home to the headquarters and major engineering campuses of many of the world's largest technology companies, while Los Angeles draws volume from entertainment technology, aerospace, and a growing fintech sector, and San Diego is anchored by defense contractors and biotech firms with substantial engineering teams.

Are there remote software developer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 63% of software developer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how naturally suited the role is to distributed work. Backend, cloud, and data engineering positions tend to offer the most fully remote arrangements, while roles requiring hardware integration or on-site collaboration with product teams are more likely to require in-person presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is securing a junior or associate software engineer role by applying directly to California's large technology employers, many of which run structured new-graduate hiring programs through their university recruiting partnerships with UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal Poly. Internship-to-full-time conversion is common at companies like Cisco and Intel. Candidates moving laterally from QA engineering or technical support, with a portfolio of personal or open-source projects, are consistently competitive for entry-level openings.

Where can I find and apply to software developer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to software developer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your experience and location preference and apply directly from the listing.

See All 841+ Software Developer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Software Developer Jobs