Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Software Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines, and Kearny Mesa, driven by a dense cluster of defense tech, biotech software, and cybersecurity firms alongside a growing fintech presence downtown. Employers hiring right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and Northrop Grumman. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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SUMMARY
The Apple TV app brings together movies, shows, and live sports into one beautifully unified experience across Apple devices and dozens of third-party platforms. Our teams build the interfaces and interactions that millions of people rely on every day to discover, watch, and enjoy content they love. If you are passionate about crafting apps and experiences that ship at a global scale, this is your opportunity to leave a lasting mark on how the world experiences Apple.
DESCRIPTION
In this role, you will implement innovative UI features for the Apple TV app across a broad ecosystem of third-party devices, including smart TVs and streaming sticks, as well as Apple platforms. You will collaborate closely with design, product, and platform engineering teams to ship experiences that are fast, accessible, and visually exceptional on every screen. Your work will directly shape how fans follow live sports and how viewers everywhere, on whatever device they choose, engage with Apple's expanding content catalog.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of professional experience building production UI for consumer-facing applications on major third-party streaming devices or Apple platforms
- Deep expertise in TypeScript and JavaScript for building production UI
- Deep expertise using AI tools effectively to accelerate development, improve code quality, and solve complex engineering problems
- Proficiency in UI development with a working command of the Apple Human Interface Guidelines
- Solid understanding of software architecture and design fundamentals, including object-oriented design principles
- Demonstrated ability to own complex features end-to-end, navigating ambiguity and delivering polished results on schedule
- Ability to drive technical decisions independently, propose scope trade-offs proactively, and move work forward across design, product, and engineering without close oversight
- Strong background in collaborating with cross-functional teams including design, product management, and QA
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Hands-on experience shipping apps on third-party streaming platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, or Android TV, with additional experience on tvOS as a plus
- Familiarity with video playback pipelines and media session management in the context of third-party streaming platforms, including AVFoundation on Apple platforms
- Understanding of UI development for Apple platforms (Swift, UIKit, SwiftUI)
- Track record of shipping live sports or real-time content features where low-latency data updates and dynamic UI states are critical
- Understanding of performance profiling and rendering optimization techniques across diverse hardware, including GPU debugging tools
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $263,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Find Software Engineer JobsSoftware Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm69

- Apple66

- Northrop Grumman30

- Shield AI24

- Intuit12

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware33
- Technology & Software27
- Telecommunications18
- Aerospace & Defense6
- Medical Devices3
Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a software engineer job in San Diego?
San Diego's software engineering market is shaped by defense contractors, biotech companies, and cybersecurity firms, so candidates who can demonstrate experience with embedded systems, data pipelines, or security tooling stand out locally. Concentrating your search in Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines, and the downtown Gaslamp tech corridor puts you where hiring is densest. Tailoring your resume to reflect the sectors dominant here gives you a concrete edge over generalist applicants.
Which companies hire software engineers in San Diego?
San Diego software engineer roles are posted by Qualcomm, Apple, and Northrop Grumman and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local employer mix ranges from large defense primes and publicly traded biotech companies to Series B and C startups building SaaS and cybersecurity products.
Are there remote software engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, software engineering is one of the more remote-compatible disciplines given its desk-based, code-centric nature. About 35% of software engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote roles most common in web development and cloud infrastructure. On-site work is more typical for defense contractors and biotech companies that require physical access to secure labs or hardware.
How can I get a software engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is targeting junior or associate software engineer roles at mid-size SaaS startups in the Sorrento Valley and Kearny Mesa corridors, where teams tend to be smaller and early-career candidates take on real responsibilities faster. Building a portfolio with projects relevant to cybersecurity, data engineering, or defense-adjacent tooling reflects what San Diego employers value most. Internships at UCSD-affiliated research groups or local incubators can also convert directly into full-time offers.
Which industries hire the most software engineers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most software engineers in San Diego are Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Telecommunications, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's concentration of Navy and Marine Corps installations, world-class research universities, and a maturing startup ecosystem collectively fuel sustained software engineering demand across those industries.
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