Staff Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Staff Software Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in defense technology, biotech, and enterprise software, with clusters in Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines, and Downtown's East Village. Employers actively hiring include Shield AI, Qualcomm, and Intuit. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Staff Software Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 766+ Staff Software Engineer jobs
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Modem Technologies SoftwareGeneral Summary:
This individual leads, plans, synthesizes ambiguous or conflicting requirements and performs the complex responsibility of the engagement in the product development lifecycle from inception and design to bring-up, optimization, verification, and commercialization. Constructs a software abstraction layer to seamlessly support a variety of radio hardware configurations on a common protocol stack. Designs and implements test mode interfaces to enable hardware characterization and tuning procedures to optimize RF receive and transmit performance. Works on advanced radio frequency systems, applying broad expertise in antenna concepts, signal characterization, and control of standard RF components. Experienced with industry common hardware elements such as amplifiers, oscillators, frequency synthesizers, mixers, switches, sensors, and digital interfaces used in modern multi chip wireless transceiver platforms. Optimizes device control transactions to meet strict timing requirements for inter-RAT, multi SIM, and concurrent radio operations. Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams within the overall modem organization: ASIC design, modem/RF systems, systems test, hardware, protocol, firmware, common software, power management. Acts as a strong contributor and provides technical leadership at design reviews and project meetings and communicates and implements a development plan.
Will accept a Bachelor's Degree (or foreign academic equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related degree field and five (5) years of progressive experience in a related occupation.
Pay Range: $155,000.00 - $232,600.00/year
Applicants : Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Modem Technologies SoftwareGeneral Summary:
This individual leads, plans, synthesizes ambiguous or conflicting requirements and performs the complex responsibility of the engagement in the product development lifecycle from inception and design to bring-up, optimization, verification, and commercialization. Constructs a software abstraction layer to seamlessly support a variety of radio hardware configurations on a common protocol stack. Designs and implements test mode interfaces to enable hardware characterization and tuning procedures to optimize RF receive and transmit performance. Works on advanced radio frequency systems, applying broad expertise in antenna concepts, signal characterization, and control of standard RF components. Experienced with industry common hardware elements such as amplifiers, oscillators, frequency synthesizers, mixers, switches, sensors, and digital interfaces used in modern multi chip wireless transceiver platforms. Optimizes device control transactions to meet strict timing requirements for inter-RAT, multi SIM, and concurrent radio operations. Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams within the overall modem organization: ASIC design, modem/RF systems, systems test, hardware, protocol, firmware, common software, power management. Acts as a strong contributor and provides technical leadership at design reviews and project meetings and communicates and implements a development plan.
Will accept a Bachelor's Degree (or foreign academic equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related degree field and five (5) years of progressive experience in a related occupation.
Pay Range: $155,000.00 - $232,600.00/year
Applicants : Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
See All 766+ Staff Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Staff Software Engineer JobsStaff Software Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Shield AI250
- Qualcomm183
- Intuit83
- Northrop Grumman67
- Brain50
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software133
- Telecommunications83
- Aerospace & Defense83
- Electronics & Hardware83
- Fintech17
Staff Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a staff software engineer job in San Diego?
Target San Diego's dominant hiring sectors: defense and government contracting firms clustered in Kearny Mesa, biotech and life sciences companies along the Torrey Pines corridor, and enterprise software companies in Sorrento Valley. Familiarity with embedded systems or cloud infrastructure gives candidates a clear edge here. Networking through San Diego's active tech meetup scene and local university connections also opens doors faster than cold applications.
Which companies hire staff software engineers in San Diego?
Companies currently hiring staff software engineers in San Diego include Shield AI, Qualcomm, and Intuit, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's employer mix leans toward defense contractors, mid-size biotech firms, and venture-backed software companies rather than large consumer-tech headquarters.
Are there remote staff software engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, and staff software engineering is well-suited to remote and hybrid arrangements given its desk-based, collaborative nature. About 15% of staff software engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting broader industry norms for this seniority level. Backend, platform, and data-infrastructure roles tend to be the most remote-friendly among San Diego postings.
How can I get a staff software engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through associate or mid-level software engineer roles at defense contractors and biotech firms, which routinely promote from within. Companies in Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley often hire junior engineers who hold clearances or clearance eligibility. Building experience with embedded systems or bioinformatics pipelines, areas of consistent local demand, makes the step up to a staff-level role more achievable.
Which industries hire the most staff software engineers in San Diego?
Most staff software engineer openings in San Diego sit in Technology & Software, Telecommunications, and Aerospace & Defense, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense primes, life sciences companies, and telecom-rooted tech firms drives sustained demand across those sectors year-round.
Related Jobs in California
See All 766+ Staff Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Staff Software Engineer Jobs