Software Quality Assurance Jobs in California
Software Quality Assurance jobs in California sit at the center of one of the most active technology markets in the world, with demand concentrated in software, semiconductors, biotech, and enterprise SaaS across every level from junior QA analyst to principal engineer. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Apple, Google, and Qualcomm maintain deep QA teams and recruit continuously. Automation testing, mobile QA, and embedded systems verification are the most sought-after specialties across California listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Bring more to life.
Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?
At Molecular Devices, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.
You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact, innovating at the speed of life.
Join Molecular Devices and help drive scientific discovery for life science customers in academia, biotech, pharma, and government. Our automated and AI-enabled technology empowers researchers to tackle complex questions and gain deep insights, accelerating the development of safer, more effective therapeutics. As part of our team, rooted in collaboration, authenticity, and innovation, you’ll ultimately contribute to groundbreaking science that enhances lives globally and shapes a healthier future for all.
Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.
The Senior Software QA Engineer is responsible for driving software quality strategy and comprehensive manual testing for key Molecular Devices software products, from sprint-level execution through full release cycles. This role defines test approaches, coverage models, quality standards, and data-driven quality metrics to reduce release risk and improve product readiness across complex imaging, acquisition, and analysis software workflows.
This position reports to the Software Engineering Manager and is part of the R&D – Software Engineering team located at Molecular Devices in San Jose, CA and will be an on-site role.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Own and drive QA strategy for key software products, including test architecture, coverage models, and quality standards across Agile sprint execution and product release cycles.
- Establish and enforce testing standards and best practices for manual test planning, test case design, exploratory testing, regression testing, test documentation, and defect lifecycle management using Jira or equivalent tools.
- Champion quality early in the development lifecycle by participating in requirements reviews, architecture discussions, and sprint grooming for imaging, acquisition, and analysis software workflows.
- Drive continuous improvement of QA processes using Danaher Business System principles to reduce waste, rework, and systemic quality gaps, while collaborating cross-functionally with software engineers, product owners, application scientists, and hardware teams.
The essential requirements of the job include:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years experience in software quality assurance, including ownership of manual test strategy, test planning, test case design, execution, and defect management for complex software products.
- Strong hands-on experience with manual functional, integration, system, exploratory, and regression testing; familiarity or experience with creating and troubleshooting automated tests is a plus.
- Experience validating software builds, documenting test results, investigating failures, and supporting release-readiness decisions; experience with CI/CD tools is a plus.
- Experience using Jira or equivalent defect tracking and lifecycle management tools for defect management, test planning, sprint reporting, and cross-team quality visibility.
Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements:
- Ability to work in an office and laboratory/instrument environment as needed to support software verification and instrument-software integration testing.
- Occasional travel may be required for cross-site collaboration, product validation, or team/customer engagement; specific travel requirements to be confirmed by the hiring manager.
It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:
- Imaging, acquisition, and analysis software platforms in a life science or laboratory instrument environment.
- Hardware-software integration testing for lab instrument systems such as imaging platforms, automated liquid handlers, or robotic workflows.
Molecular Devices, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.
The annual salary range for this role is $135,000 - $150,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.
Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.
For more information, visit www.danaher.com.
See All 51 Software Quality Assurance Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSoftware Quality Assurance Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Quality Assurance Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Fortinet12

- Apple4

- Nokia2

- AeroVironment2

- HP1

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software10
- Cybersecurity6
- Telecommunications1
- Electronics & Hardware1
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software quality assurance jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field
- Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks such as Selenium or Appium
- Proficiency writing and executing test plans, test cases, and defect reports
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or CircleCI
- Familiarity with Agile or Scrum development processes and sprint-based testing cycles
- ISTQB Certified Tester or equivalent QA certification preferred by California employers
Software Quality Assurance Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software quality assurance in California?
California has no state-issued license for software quality assurance roles, so the path runs through education and certification. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or information systems. The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level is the most widely recognized credential California hiring managers look for and can be earned without prior work experience. Building a portfolio of test plans and automation scripts strengthens applications at every level.
How much do software quality assurances make in California?
Software quality assurances 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 quality assurances in California?
Employers hiring software quality assurances in California right now include Fortinet, Apple, and Nokia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor, enterprise software, and consumer technology companies means QA roles here often require both manual and automated testing depth.
Which California cities have the most software quality assurance jobs?
The cities with the most software quality assurance openings in California are Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Irvine. The Bay Area leads because of its density of product-driven tech companies and semiconductor firms, while Los Angeles reflects growth in entertainment technology and enterprise software, and San Diego's openings are largely driven by defense contractors and biotech companies that rely heavily on embedded and regulated-software QA.
Are there remote software quality assurance jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Software quality assurance is largely desk-based and tooling-driven, which makes it well suited to remote work. About 17% of software quality assurance openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how widely distributed QA teams have become since the shift to distributed engineering. Test automation and API testing roles tend to be the most consistently remote, while hardware validation and on-device testing roles are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a software quality assurance in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting junior QA analyst or QA engineer associate roles at mid-size California software companies, where structured onboarding is more common than at startups. Large California employers like Salesforce and Adobe run new-grad rotational programs that include QA tracks. Moving laterally from a technical support, business analyst, or developer role within a company is another proven route. Earning the ISTQB Foundation certificate and publishing test automation projects on a public code repository gives candidates a concrete edge over other applicants without professional QA experience.
Where can I find and apply to software quality assurance jobs in California?
You can find and apply to software quality assurance jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
See All 51 Software Quality Assurance Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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