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.
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Our award-winning culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.
We are seeking a highly motivated Software R&D Intern to help design and implement an automated Quality Assurance (QA) and regression testing framework for complex engineering software applications. This role provides an opportunity to work alongside experienced software engineers and contribute directly to improving product quality, development efficiency, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes.
- Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for desktop and/or web-based applications.
- Create automated functional, integration, and regression test suites to validate software features and system behavior.
- Integrate automated test execution into Jenkins continuous integration and build pipelines.
- Develop scripts and tools to automate test setup, execution, result collection, and reporting.
- Analyze test results and collaborate with development teams to identify, reproduce, and resolve software defects.
- Implement dashboards and reporting mechanisms to provide visibility into software quality metrics and test coverage.
- Improve the reliability, scalability, and maintainability of test automation infrastructure.
- Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and Agile development activities.
- Document test architecture, automation strategies, and best practices.
Required Skills:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience programming in one or more modern languages such as C#, Python, Java, or C++.
- Familiarity with software development principles, object-oriented design, and source control systems (Git).
- Understanding of software testing concepts, including unit, integration, and regression testing.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Software Development
- Test Automation
- C#
- Python
- Jenkins
- Git
- CI/CD
- Quality Assurance
- DevOps
- Problem Solving
CA pay range Min $ 38.31 to Max $41.25
Other Information
This position is on-site in Santa Rosa, CA or San Diego, CA
Relocation is available for this position
Careers Privacy Statement***Keysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.***
See All 42 Software QA Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Software QA Engineer JobsSoftware QA Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software QA Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software14
- Cybersecurity3
- Electronics & Hardware2
- Telecommunications1
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
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 NVIDIA, Fortinet, and Tesla, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Irvine. 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 25% of software qa engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 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 42 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