Software Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
Software Engineer jobs in Palo Alto are concentrated across enterprise software, AI infrastructure, and semiconductor design, with hiring centered in the Stanford Research Park, Downtown Palo Alto, and the California Avenue corridor. Employers posting roles right now include Tesla, JPMorganChase, and Rivian. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 331+ Software Engineer jobs
DESCRIPTION
The goal is to give millions of sellers and brands the kind of advanced optimization tools that used to be available only through agencies or expensive third-party providers. You'll own the architectural direction for the team's AI systems in an ambiguous space, where both the business problem and the solution approach still need to be defined. The work ranges from guiding less experienced sellers through campaign setup to automatically surfacing optimization opportunities that help advertisers succeed.
Key job responsibilities
- Own the architectural direction for full funnel optimization systems that combine LLMs, traditional optimization and first-party shopper data, making foundational decisions on how they evolve
- Lead the design and delivery of complex end-to-end AI solutions in problem areas where both the business problem and the technical approach need to be defined
- Drive the team's engineering strategy and influence the product roadmap, giving context on current and future technology choices
- Build agentic capabilities that reason, plan and act for advertisers, from guided campaign setup to automatically surfacing optimization opportunities
- Build consensus with stakeholders, scientists and engineering peers across multiple teams, and make strategic recommendations on system architecture and implementation
- Mentor engineers and help set the engineering foundations of a newly formed team
About the team
We're a newly formed team in Amazon Advertising building the next generation of Full Funnel Optimization. We combine large language models, traditional optimization and Amazon's first-party data on shopper behavior and conversion patterns to build intelligent systems that reason, plan and act on behalf of advertisers. Our goal is to give millions of sellers and brands the kind of advanced optimization tools that used to be available only through agencies or expensive third-party providers.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, Palo Alto - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 184,900.00 - 250,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
The goal is to give millions of sellers and brands the kind of advanced optimization tools that used to be available only through agencies or expensive third-party providers. You'll own the architectural direction for the team's AI systems in an ambiguous space, where both the business problem and the solution approach still need to be defined. The work ranges from guiding less experienced sellers through campaign setup to automatically surfacing optimization opportunities that help advertisers succeed.
Key job responsibilities
- Own the architectural direction for full funnel optimization systems that combine LLMs, traditional optimization and first-party shopper data, making foundational decisions on how they evolve
- Lead the design and delivery of complex end-to-end AI solutions in problem areas where both the business problem and the technical approach need to be defined
- Drive the team's engineering strategy and influence the product roadmap, giving context on current and future technology choices
- Build agentic capabilities that reason, plan and act for advertisers, from guided campaign setup to automatically surfacing optimization opportunities
- Build consensus with stakeholders, scientists and engineering peers across multiple teams, and make strategic recommendations on system architecture and implementation
- Mentor engineers and help set the engineering foundations of a newly formed team
About the team
We're a newly formed team in Amazon Advertising building the next generation of Full Funnel Optimization. We combine large language models, traditional optimization and Amazon's first-party data on shopper behavior and conversion patterns to build intelligent systems that reason, plan and act on behalf of advertisers. Our goal is to give millions of sellers and brands the kind of advanced optimization tools that used to be available only through agencies or expensive third-party providers.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, Palo Alto - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 184,900.00 - 250,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
See All 331+ Software Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto
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Find Software Engineer JobsSoftware Engineer Job Market in Palo Alto
Who's Hiring
- Tesla137
- JPMorganChase18
- Rivian17
- SpaceXSI17S
- Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies14
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software39
- Manufacturing6
- Artificial Intelligence4
- Automotive3
- Science & Research3
Software Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a software engineer job in Palo Alto?
The most direct path is targeting the sectors that dominate Palo Alto hiring: enterprise software, AI and machine learning infrastructure, and deep-tech startups. Jobs concentrate in Stanford Research Park, the California Avenue corridor, and Downtown Palo Alto. Candidates with experience in distributed systems, cloud-native development, or applied ML stand out. Networking through Stanford-affiliated meetups and local tech communities also opens doors that cold applications often do not.
Which companies hire software engineers in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto software engineer roles are posted by Tesla, JPMorganChase, and Rivian and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local employer mix leans toward established enterprise software firms, venture-backed AI startups, and semiconductor companies, many of which maintain engineering headquarters or core R&D teams in Palo Alto rather than just satellite offices.
Are there remote software engineer jobs in Palo Alto?
Yes, software engineering is one of the more remote-compatible roles given that most of the work is code-based and asynchronous. About 42% of software engineer openings tied to Palo Alto are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies by company stage and team. Early-stage Palo Alto startups and established enterprise firms with distributed engineering teams tend to post the most remote-friendly roles locally.
How can I get a software engineer job in Palo Alto with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Palo Alto is targeting internship-to-hire pipelines at mid-size enterprise software companies and growth-stage startups in Stanford Research Park, which regularly convert university talent into full-time roles. Applying for associate or junior engineer positions at companies affiliated with Stanford's computer science ecosystem gives an additional edge. Building a portfolio of open-source contributions or side projects in AI, developer tooling, or cloud infrastructure aligns directly with what Palo Alto employers hire for at the entry level.
Which industries hire the most software engineers in Palo Alto?
The sectors hiring the most software engineers in Palo Alto are Technology & Software, Manufacturing, and Artificial Intelligence, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Palo Alto's proximity to Stanford University and its long history as a headquarters city for enterprise technology and semiconductor firms means these sectors have deep local roots rather than being simply regional branches of larger national hiring trends.
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