Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California

Software Quality Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise software, semiconductor manufacturing, cloud infrastructure, and aerospace, with openings at every level from junior QA analyst through principal and staff engineer. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Apple, Qualcomm, and Northrop Grumman maintain large quality engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties are test automation, embedded systems quality, and AI/ML validation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles52
Top employerApple
Top citySan Jose, CA
Cities hiring24
Work type63% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 52+ Software Quality Engineer jobs

M
Senior Software Quality Engineer
We won't show you this job again
M
Added 3d ago
Senior Software Quality Engineer
MiniMed
Northridge, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$97k - $165k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in engineering

Have you applied for this role?

AMD
Staff Software Development Engineer: GPU, AI/ML Ops & Quality Engineering
We won't show you this job again
AMD
Added 4d ago
Staff Software Development Engineer: GPU, AI/ML Ops & Quality Engineering
AMD
Santa Clara, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
Technical Program Management
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Apple
Sr. Software Development Engineer In Test - Siri AI Quality
We won't show you this job again
Apple
Added 1w ago
Sr. Software Development Engineer In Test - Siri AI Quality
Apple
Cupertino, California
Data Science
Data Science & Analytics
ML (Machine Learning)
$185k - $325k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Systems Ally
Senior Software Design Quality Engineer (Medical Devices SaMD)
We won't show you this job again
Systems Ally
Added 1w ago
Senior Software Design Quality Engineer (Medical Devices SaMD)
Systems Ally
Carlsbad, California
Embedded Systems Engineering
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$40 - $60/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in systems engineering

Have you applied for this role?

Northrop Grumman
Engineer Software Quality
We won't show you this job again
Northrop Grumman
Added 1w ago
Engineer Software Quality
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$81k - $122k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 52 Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Jobs

Software Quality Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Jose
8 jobs
San Francisco
6 jobs
Mountain View
5 jobs
Cupertino
4 jobs
San Diego
4 jobs
Santa Clara
4 jobs
Sunnyvale
3 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
Newark
1 job

Software Quality Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Apple
Apple6 open roles
TikTok
TikTok5 open roles
Adobe
Adobe4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software10
  • Electronics & Hardware3
  • Science & Research2
  • Education1
  • Telecommunications1

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • Hands-on experience writing and maintaining automated test frameworks and scripts
  • Proficiency in at least one scripting language such as Python, Java, or JavaScript
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, version control systems, and agile development workflows
  • Experience with API testing tools and performance or load testing methodologies
  • Strong written communication skills for documenting test plans, cases, and defect reports

Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software quality engineer in California?

A bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field is the standard starting point for software quality engineer roles in California. The state does not require a government-issued license for this role. Most California employers expect hands-on proficiency with test automation frameworks and at least one industry certification such as ISTQB, which strengthens applications at mid-level and senior positions. Building a portfolio of automated test projects accelerates hiring at all levels.

How much do software quality engineers make in California?

Software quality 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 quality engineers in California?

Employers hiring software quality engineers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and Adobe, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor, cloud, and defense technology firms means quality engineering roles appear across both consumer-facing product companies and deep-tech manufacturers throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most software quality engineer jobs?

San Jose, San Francisco, and Mountain View have the most software quality engineer openings in California. The Bay Area dominates because of its dense cluster of enterprise software, cloud, and hardware companies, while San Diego's strong semiconductor and defense contracting base drives steady demand, and Los Angeles reflects growth in entertainment technology, aerospace, and a broadening commercial software sector.

Are there remote software quality engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 37% of software quality engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on writing and running automated tests in cloud-based environments. Roles involving embedded systems, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or semiconductor validation are more likely to require on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is an associate QA or junior test engineer role, which California's large software and cloud employers post regularly for candidates without full professional experience. Companies like Apple, Google, and Intuit run structured new-graduate and university-hire programs in California that include QA tracks. Building a public portfolio of automated test scripts in Python or Java and earning an ISTQB Foundation certification gives candidates a concrete edge when competing against other early-career applicants.

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

You can find and apply to software quality engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your experience and location and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 52 Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Jobs