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.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.We are looking for you to join our team as an Engineer Software Quality based out of Woodland Hills, CA.
What you'll get to do:
Develops, modifies, applies, and maintains standards for software quality operating methods, processes, systems and procedures.
Ensures measures meet acceptable reliability standards.
Develops overall operating criteria to ensure implementation of the software quality program according to project, process and contract requirements and objectives.
Ensures that project and process control documentation are compliant with requirements, objectives and/or contract.
Reviews software design, change specifications, and plans against contractual and/or process requirements.
Reviews include applicable specifications, materials, tools, techniques, and methodologies.
Reviews or directs verification of software requirement allocations, traceability, and testability.
The ideal candidate must be knowledgeable of programming languages (C, C++, Java, Python, Ada), Software Quality Assurance processes, able to prioritize tasks and meeting deadlines, and able to understand and work with multiple enterprise-wide systems and software problem tracking tools (e.g., SAP, DOORs, Jira, Confluence).
Basic Qualifications for the Engineer Software Quality:
Bachelor’s Degree in software engineering/computer science or other STEM-related field with 2 years of software development integration work experience; Master’s Degree in software engineering/computer science or other STEM-related field with 0 years of software development and integration work experience.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
US Citizenship required.
Experience in implementing Software Quality Assurance plans.
Preferred Qualifications:
Agile software development process experience.
Experience in the collection of software data and metrics for reporting.
Experience in evaluation, tracing, and/or analysis of requirements.
Experience in process and product evaluation and quality auditing.
Experience in DO-178, DO-254, and ISO9001/AS9100 standards.
Experience in Peer Reviews and Code Reviews.
Experience in Model Based Development.
Experience reading and understanding Software Code (C, C++, Java, Python, Ada).
Active Secret clearance.
#MPR
Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.See All 48 Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California
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Find JobsSoftware Quality Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Quality Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software14
- Electronics & Hardware5
- Science & Research2
- Energy1
- Medical Devices1
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, Adobe, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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?
Sunnyvale, San Jose, and San Francisco 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 39% of software quality engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 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 48 Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California
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