Software QA Engineer Jobs in California

Software QA Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in the technology, enterprise software, fintech, and defense sectors with openings from entry-level associate testers through principal and staff QA engineers. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Apple, Qualcomm, and Google maintain major engineering operations and consistently recruit software qa engineers across test automation, performance testing, and security QA. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Software QA Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles1,088+
Top employerApple
Top citySanta Clara, CA
Cities hiring94
Work type87% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 1,088+ Software QA Engineer jobs

Ooma, Inc.
Software QA Engineer
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Ooma, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Software QA Engineer
Ooma, Inc.
Sunnyvale, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Automation QA
$135k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Apple
Software QA Engineer
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Apple
Added 2w ago
Software QA Engineer
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$142k - $259k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Applied Materials
Software QA Engineer III
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Applied Materials
Added 3w ago
Software QA Engineer III
Applied Materials
Santa Clara, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$124k - $171k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Apple
Senior Software QA Engineer
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Apple
Added 3w ago
Senior Software QA Engineer
Apple
Cupertino, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$181k - $318k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Crystal Equation Corporation
Software QA Engineer
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Crystal Equation Corporation
Added 3w ago
Software QA Engineer
Crystal Equation Corporation
Santa Clara, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$150k - $180k/yr
Hybrid
None

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See All 1,088+ Software QA Engineer Jobs in California

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Software QA Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Clara
161 jobs
San Jose
121 jobs
Cupertino
91 jobs
San Diego
86 jobs
Sunnyvale
81 jobs
San Francisco
71 jobs
Irvine
43 jobs
Mountain View
27 jobs
San Mateo
27 jobs

Software QA Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Apple
    Apple211
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA52
  • PlayStation
    PlayStation27
  • Zoox
    Zoox23
  • Palo Alto Networks
    Palo Alto Networks17

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software402
  • Electronics & Hardware374
  • Manufacturing56
  • Consulting & Professional Services52
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals37

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in software QA engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field
  • Hands-on experience writing and maintaining automated test scripts in Python, Java, or JavaScript
  • Proficiency with test frameworks such as Selenium, Pytest, JUnit, or Cypress
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or CircleCI
  • Experience with Agile or Scrum development environments and sprint-based testing cycles
  • Strong understanding of API testing using tools like Postman, REST Assured, or similar

Software QA Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software qa engineer in California?

Software qa engineer roles in California require no state-issued license, so the path runs through education and demonstrated technical skill. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, though candidates with associate degrees plus strong portfolios are competitive at smaller firms. Building hands-on experience with test automation frameworks, contributing to open-source test projects, and earning vendor-neutral certifications such as ISTQB significantly strengthens a California application.

How much do software QA engineers make in California?

Software QA engineers in California earn a median of about $128,740 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,890 for the lowest 10% to over $201,070 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire software qa engineers in California?

Employers hiring software qa engineers in California right now include Apple, NVIDIA, and PlayStation, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of enterprise software companies, defense contractors, and consumer technology firms means steady QA demand across a wide range of industries and company sizes.

Which California cities have the most software qa engineer jobs?

The cities with the most software qa engineer openings in California are Santa Clara, San Jose, and Cupertino. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of its concentration of enterprise software and consumer technology headquarters, while San Diego's defense and biotech sectors and Los Angeles's growing fintech and entertainment technology industries generate consistent QA hiring in those metros.

Are there remote software qa engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 13% of software qa engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how naturally the role fits asynchronous, distributed engineering teams. Test automation, exploratory testing, and code review work are the functions most commonly performed fully remotely, while roles involving hardware-in-the-loop or on-device testing tend to require an in-person presence.

How can I get hired as a software qa engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior QA role at a mid-size California software company, where hiring managers often value a strong automated testing portfolio over years of experience. Large California employers like Apple and Salesforce run university recruiting programs and new-grad engineering rotations that include QA tracks. Candidates transitioning from adjacent roles such as technical support, manual testing, or software development intern positions find it easier to step into a QA role, and earning an ISTQB Foundation certification gives applicants a concrete, recognizable credential on a California resume.

Where can I find and apply to software qa engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to software qa engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other metros. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly.

See All 1,088+ Software QA Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Software QA Engineer Jobs