Software Engineer AI Jobs in San Diego, CA

Software Engineer AI jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and Downtown, across defense tech, biotech, and enterprise software. Employers hiring right now include Qualcomm, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

Find Software Engineer AI Jobs

Overview

Open roles378+
Top employerQualcomm
Work type89% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree
Companies hiring11

Showing 5 of 378+ Software Engineer AI jobs

Qualcomm
Senior AI Software Program Manager
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Qualcomm
New 7h ago
Senior AI Software Program Manager
Qualcomm
San Diego, California
Community & Nonprofit Services
Human Resources
Social Work & Counseling
$154k - $232k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Booz Allen Hamilton
AI Software Developer, Junior
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Booz Allen Hamilton
Added 1d ago
AI Software Developer, Junior
Booz Allen Hamilton
San Diego, California
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Business Operations
$55k - $126k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Booz Allen Hamilton
AI Software Developer, Senior
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Booz Allen Hamilton
Added 1d ago
AI Software Developer, Senior
Booz Allen Hamilton
San Diego, California
Automation QA
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$87k - $198k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree in cybersecurity
10,000+

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Booz Allen Hamilton
AI Software Developer
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Booz Allen Hamilton
Added 1d ago
AI Software Developer
Booz Allen Hamilton
San Diego, California
Automation QA
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$69k - $158k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Qualcomm
#Software Engineer - Edge AI/Gen AI
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Qualcomm
Added 1w ago
#Software Engineer - Edge AI/Gen AI
Qualcomm
San Diego, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$94k - $141k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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See All 378+ Software Engineer AI Jobs in San Diego

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

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Software Engineer AI Job Market in San Diego

Who's Hiring

  • Qualcomm
    Qualcomm105
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
    Booz Allen Hamilton63
  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman42
  • Apple
    Apple21
  • Eli Lilly
    Eli Lilly21

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware42
  • Telecommunications21
  • Technology & Software21
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals21

Software Engineer AI Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a software engineer ai job in San Diego?

The strongest path into San Diego's market is targeting the city's defense contractors, biotech firms, and enterprise software companies clustered in Sorrento Valley and UTC. Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks and familiarity with production deployment gives candidates a clear edge here. Attending local tech meetups and engaging with the UC San Diego and San Diego State University research communities also opens doors that generic applications miss.

Which companies hire software engineer ais in San Diego?

San Diego software engineer ai roles are posted by Qualcomm, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's employer mix leans heavily toward defense and government contractors, life sciences companies, and venture-backed software startups, many of them headquartered or with major engineering hubs in the Torrey Pines and Sorrento Mesa corridors.

Are there remote software engineer ai jobs in San Diego?

Yes, software engineer ai work is largely desk-based and well-suited to remote arrangements. About 11% of software engineer ai openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how broadly distributed these teams have become. Model development, data pipeline work, and research roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while on-site requirements show up most often at defense contractors with security clearance obligations.

How can I get a software engineer ai job in San Diego with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path locally is targeting junior or associate AI engineer roles at San Diego's mid-size software companies and biotech firms, which hire more junior talent than the large defense primes. Contributing to open-source projects, completing a portfolio of applied ML work, and connecting with the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering alumni network all help. Some defense contractors also run structured new-grad programs that accept candidates without prior industry experience.

Which industries hire the most software engineer ais in San Diego?

The sectors hiring the most software engineer ais in San Diego are Electronics & Hardware, Telecommunications, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense technology firms, biotech and genomics companies, and enterprise SaaS startups creates consistent demand for AI engineering talent across all experience levels.

See All 378+ Software Engineer AI Jobs in San Diego

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

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