Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in California

Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in California are among the most actively recruited software quality roles in the country, concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where technology companies, enterprise software firms, and semiconductor manufacturers maintain large engineering organizations. Employers such as Google, Apple, and Salesforce have sustained demand at every level from new graduate through principal engineer, with the strongest need in test automation frameworks, CI/CD pipeline validation, and mobile and embedded systems testing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles183+
Top employerApple
Top citySan Diego, CA
Cities hiring39
Work type51% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 183+ Software Development Engineer In Test jobs

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test
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New 6h ago
Senior Software Development Engineer in Test
SDVI
Sunnyvale, California
Customer Support
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$140k - $185k/yr
Remote (US)
11-50

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Prototype Software Test Engineer
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Added 1d ago
Prototype Software Test Engineer
Sigma Design
Burlingame, California
Embedded Systems Engineering
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$119k - $141k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
201-500

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Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
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Added 1d ago
Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
Robotics Technologies
Culver City, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
Remote (US)

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Software Test Engineer I (Systems Test)
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Added 1d ago
Software Test Engineer I (Systems Test)
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
San Diego, California
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$39.23 - $49/hr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in engineering
1,001-5,000

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Software Test Engineer I
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Added 1d ago
Software Test Engineer I
Applied Medical
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$73k - $85k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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See All 183+ Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in California

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

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Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
35 jobs
Sunnyvale
22 jobs
San Jose
12 jobs
Cupertino
12 jobs
San Mateo
10 jobs
Santa Clara
10 jobs
San Francisco
9 jobs
Palo Alto
8 jobs
Hawthorne
7 jobs

Software Development Engineer In Test Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Apple26
  • Northrop Grumman12
  • Sony Interactive Entertainment11
  • SpaceX6
  • TikTok6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software15
  • Aerospace & Defense4
  • Electronics & Hardware4
  • Manufacturing3
  • Automotive1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in software development engineer in test jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related technical field
  • Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Python, Java, or C++
  • Experience designing and maintaining automated test frameworks and test suites
  • Familiarity with CI/CD tools including Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar platforms
  • Ability to write clear bug reports and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams
  • Experience with performance, regression, or mobile testing in a product engineering environment

Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software development engineer in test in California?

The most direct path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, which is the standard educational baseline California employers expect. There is no state-issued license or government registration required to work in this role in California. Candidates who build a portfolio demonstrating test automation skills, contribute to open source testing projects, or complete internships at California technology firms strengthen their candidacy significantly before or after graduation.

How much do software development engineer in tests make in California?

Software development engineer in tests in California earn a median of about $128,740 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,890 for the lowest 10% to over $201,070 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire software development engineer in tests in California?

Employers hiring software development engineer in tests in California right now include Apple, Northrop Grumman, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of enterprise software, consumer technology, and semiconductor companies means sustained hiring across both established headquarters and regional engineering offices throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most software development engineer in test jobs?

San Diego, Sunnyvale, and San Jose have the most software development engineer in test openings in California, driven by the Bay Area's concentration of major technology headquarters and the growing engineering offices that Los Angeles and San Diego have attracted in defense technology, biotech software, and consumer applications. Smaller suburban markets near these metros often reflect satellite engineering campuses of the same large employers anchoring the primary cities.

Are there remote software development engineer in test jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 54% of software development engineer in test openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves writing code, reviewing test results, and collaborating through engineering tools rather than requiring physical lab or hardware access. The most remote-friendly specialties are web, API, and backend test automation, while embedded systems and hardware-in-the-loop testing roles tend to require on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is applying for associate software engineer in test or quality assurance engineer roles at mid-size California technology companies, which often hire new graduates without commercial testing experience. Large California employers such as Apple, Oracle, and Intuit run university recruiting and internship pipelines that place candidates directly into entry-level test engineering teams. Candidates moving from adjacent roles such as manual QA analyst or junior software developer can accelerate the transition by building a public portfolio of automated test scripts and contributing to open source projects that California engineering managers can evaluate directly.

Where can I find and apply to software development engineer in test jobs in California?

You can find and apply to software development engineer in test jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 183+ Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in California

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