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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Overview

Open roles403+
Top employerQualcomm
Work type65% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree
Companies hiring100+

Showing 5 of 403+ Software Engineer jobs

UI Software Engineer
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New 5h ago
UI Software Engineer
Apple
San Diego, California
Software Engineering
Creative & Design
UI/UX Design
Frontend Engineering
Backend Engineering
$142k - $263k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Software Engineer (G)
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New 20h ago
Software Engineer (G)
TDX
San Diego, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's degree

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Java Software Engineer
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New 21h ago
Java Software Engineer
Leidos
San Diego, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$70k - $126k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Mid-Level Java Software Engineer
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New 21h ago
Mid-Level Java Software Engineer
Leidos
San Diego, California
Cloud Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$87k - $157k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Embedded Software Senior Engineer- SOC Firmware
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Added 1d ago
Embedded Software Senior Engineer- SOC Firmware
Qualcomm
San Diego, California
Embedded Systems Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Technical Program Management
$118k - $177k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

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See All 403+ Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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Software 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.

See All 403+ Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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