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 roles42
Top employerNVIDIA
Top citySunnyvale, CA
Cities hiring19
Work type75% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 42+ Software QA Engineer jobs

Keysight Technologies
R&D Software Engineer QA DevOps, Intern
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Keysight Technologies
Added 1d ago
R&D Software Engineer QA DevOps, Intern
Keysight Technologies
Santa Rosa, California
Backend Engineering
Data Science
Software Engineering
$38.31 - $41.25/hr
On-Site
10,000+

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NVIDIA
Software QA Engineer
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NVIDIA
Added 4d ago
Software QA Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Automation QA
$132k - $207k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Dolby
DVIP QA / Software Engineer in Test
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Dolby
Added 1w ago
DVIP QA / Software Engineer in Test
Dolby
Sunnyvale, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$137k - $188k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Intel Corporation
Software QA Engineer
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Intel Corporation
Added 1w ago
Software QA Engineer
Intel Corporation
Santa Clara, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$101k - $194k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Saalex
Junior Software Quality Assurance Analyst & Tester
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Saalex
Added 2w ago
Junior Software Quality Assurance Analyst & Tester
Saalex
Ridgecrest, California
Compliance & Legal
Procurement & Purchasing
Project Management
$78k - $90k/yr
Bachelor of Science
501-1,000

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See All 42 Software QA Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Software QA Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Sunnyvale
10 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
Fremont
2 jobs
Moorpark
2 jobs
Palo Alto
2 jobs
San Diego
2 jobs
Pasadena
1 job
San Jose
1 job

Software QA Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

NVIDIA
NVIDIA6 open roles
Fortinet
Fortinet4 open roles
Tesla
Tesla3 open roles

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