Software Engineer Jobs in California
Software engineer jobs in California sit at the center of the US tech industry, with more openings than any other state and pay among the highest in the country. Most of the hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, in cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, where companies like Apple, NVIDIA, and Google hire at every level from junior developer to staff and principal engineer. Demand runs strongest in software, hardware, and AI. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
From Fivetran's founding until now, our mission has remained the same: to make access to data as simple and reliable as electricity. With Fivetran, customer data arrives in their warehouses, canonical and ready to query, with no engineering or maintenance required. We're proud that more organizations continue to leverage our technology every day to become truly data-driven.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Fivetran is building data pipelines to power the modern data stack for thousands of companies. We're looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer with a passion for building enterprise grade software to join the team. You will be focusing on developing world-class enterprise capabilities and features in support of our largest and most sophisticated customers. The work we do is both highly visible and critically important to the long term growth and success of Fivetran. You will have an impact across the entire product as we develop our next generation of enterprise, data governance, and solutions engineering offerings.
This team is tasked with ensuring a high quality of Fivetran systems using AI and other advanced tools. The role will challenge you to solve problems in the domains of performance engineering, data security, and cluster orchestration. You don't necessarily need to be a subject matter expert before you join us (you will be one before you leave!).
We're looking for people who can understand the key values that make our product great and implement those values in the many small decisions you make every day.
This is a full-time position based out of our Oakland office. Our hybrid work model offers a blend of remote flexibility and in-person collaboration, including two days in the office each week to connect and build as a team.
TECHNOLOGIES YOU'LL USE
- Java
- SQL
- Bazel, BuildKite, Docker, Kubernetes, Github
- AWS, GCP, Azure
- Postgres database
- AI Tools
- Design and implement features and performance improvements to create highly scalable distributed data pipelines on the cloud
- Develop, maintain, and test code
- Conduct design and code reviews
- Collaborate with peers, product managers, customer support, and other stakeholders to deliver the best product with high quality, performance, and scalability
- Understand and fix challenges related to performance and scalability
- Participate periodically in on-call rotation
- Participate in the hiring process
- Mentor Junior developers
- Make Fivetran the most reliable and secure component of our customers' data infrastructure
SKILLS WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Bachelor's degree, preferably in Software Engineering or Computer Science
- 5+ years of experience in the software industry with a passion for solving complex software engineering problems
- Software engineering foundation - experience designing and developing reusable libraries and experimentation platforms for backend and frontend from scratch leveraging industry best practices
- Experience working with distributed systems
- Demonstrated ability to write well-structured and performant code
- Ability to lead software and infrastructure design to satisfy project requirements
- Experience in code reviews, design, troubleshooting and testing
- Experience programming in an object oriented / systems language such as Java, C++, C# etc
- Hands-on experience working with any cloud technologies (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization methodologies like Docker, K8s
- Experience interacting with continuous integration tools like Buildkite
- Knowledge of observability tools like New Relic/Grafana is a plus
- Knowledge of AI tools and usage is a plus
BONUS SKILLS
- Experience in data processing (ETL, ELT) and/or cloud-based platforms
PERKS AND BENEFITS
- 100% employer-paid medical insurance
- Generous paid time-off policy (PTO), plus paid sick time, inclusive parental leave policy, holidays, and volunteer days off
- RSU stock grants
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Company virtual happy hours, free food, and fun team-building activities
- Monthly cell phone stipend
- Access to an innovative mental health support platform that offers personalized care and resources in areas such as: therapy, coaching, and self-guided mindfulness exercises for all covered employees and their covered dependents
We're honored to be valued at over $5.6 billion, but more importantly, we're proud of our core values of Get Stuck In, Do the Right Thing, and One Team, One Dream.
Fivetran brings together high-quality talent across the globe to make data access as easy and reliable as electricity for our customers. We value and recognize that our customers benefit from having innovative teams made of people from many backgrounds, experiences, and identities. Fivetran promotes diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging through attracting, recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us build a world-class company to better serve our customers, our people and our communities.
To learn more about Fivetran's culture and what it's like to be part of the team, click here and enjoy our video.
To learn more about our candidate privacy policy, you can read our statement here.
We are committed to ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to participate in our interview process. If you require accommodations at any stage of the process due to a disability, medical condition, or any other circumstance, please don't hesitate to submit your request by filling out this form. We will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate your participation and ensure a fair and accessible interview experience. Your request and any information provided will be kept confidential and will not impact your candidacy. We look forward to hearing from you and accommodating your needs to the best of our ability.
See All 19,097+ Software Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Software Engineer JobsSoftware Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple2,367

- NVIDIA842

- Google456

- Amazon425

- TikTok323

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software7,057
- Electronics & Hardware4,464
- Consulting & Professional Services1,752
- Science & Research773
- Banking & Financial Services629
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in one or more languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, or C++
- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git
- Ability to design, build, and maintain scalable distributed systems or APIs
- Strong collaboration and communication skills for cross-functional engineering teams
Software Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software engineer in California?
California does not require a state-issued license to work as a software engineer, so the path runs through education and demonstrated technical skill. Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related discipline, though strong portfolios and bootcamp graduates are hired at some companies. Building projects, contributing to open-source work, and completing technical interviews are the concrete steps that move candidates through California hiring pipelines.
How much do software engineers make in California?
Software 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 engineers in California?
Employers hiring software engineers in California right now include Apple, NVIDIA, and Google, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of technology companies, from large enterprise firms to early-stage startups, means active hiring is spread across a wide range of industries including cloud infrastructure, consumer apps, and defense technology.
Which California cities have the most software engineer jobs?
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Jose have the most software engineer openings in California based on current listings. These hubs reflect California's established technology corridors, from the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley to the growing engineering communities in Southern California.
Are there remote software engineer jobs in California?
Yes. About 19% of California software engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, much higher than most fields thanks to the tech sector's flexibility. Backend, cloud, and platform engineering roles carry the biggest share of fully remote arrangements.
How can I get a software engineer job in California with little experience?
Target new-grad and university hiring programs, which large California employers like Apple, Google, and NVIDIA run specifically for early-career engineers, alongside the many Bay Area startups that hire junior talent. A strong GitHub portfolio and solid technical-interview performance count more than years of experience, so focus on shipping real projects and practicing interviews.
Where can I find and apply to software engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to software engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and seniority levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from each listing without any additional steps required.
See All 19,097+ Software Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Software Engineer Jobs