Systems Architect Jobs in California
Systems Architect jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise software, defense and aerospace, cloud infrastructure, and financial services, with openings at every level from associate systems architect through principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring markets are San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Lockheed Martin, Salesforce, and Northrop Grumman maintain major California operations. Cloud platform architecture, distributed systems design, and enterprise integration are the most consistently sought specialties across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Career-defining. Life-changing.
At iRhythm, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your skills and your career while impacting the lives of people around the world. iRhythm is shaping a future where everyone, everywhere can access the best possible cardiac health solutions. Every day, we collaborate, create, and constantly reimagine what’s possible. We think big and move fast, driven by our commitment to put patients first and improve lives. We need builders like you. Curious and innovative problem solvers looking for the chance to meaningfully shape the future of cardiac health, our company, and your career.
About This Role:
The Principal Architect is a senior individual-contributor who defines, leads, and governs the software architecture vision across our device and digital ecosystem. This includes our on-device firmware, cloud services, analytics platforms, data pipelines, clinician and patient-facing applications, AI/ML enablement platforms, and operational software systems.
This leader drives architectural excellence, technology strategy, and systems coherence across R&D, product, clinical, data science, and the intersection of our products with IT. The role ensures that the on-device and off-device software ecosystem is secure, scalable, resilient, compliant, and aligned with product strategy and long-term business goals. Operating at an enterprise level, this role influences senior stakeholders across engineering, product, quality, regulatory, and security while maintaining deep technical credibility.
Key Responsibilities
Technology & Architecture Strategy
- Define the multiyear architecture strategy for all product software systems, spanning cloud, application, data, integration, and ML/AI infrastructure.
- Establish architectural principles, reference architectures, and guardrails that support reliability, performance, interoperability, maintainability, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure holistic systems thinking across software platforms, clinical workflows, device interactions, and data flows.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic recommendations for adoption, modernization, and platform evolution.
Architectural Leadership & Governance
- Lead cross-functional architecture forums and governance processes, ensuring consistent patterns, shared services, and disciplined decision-making across teams.
- Drive architectural clarity early in product development by guiding systems decomposition, API strategies, data models, and cloud architectures.
- Review key technical proposals, high-impact design decisions, and fundamental platform changes across R&D teams.
- Champion engineering quality standards for architecture, coding, testing, observability, and documentation.
Cross Functional Influence & Collaboration
- Partner with product management to translate business needs into scalable technical strategies and architectural roadmaps.
- Collaborate with security, privacy, regulatory, quality, and clinical teams to ensure designs meet medical device standards and software compliance requirements.
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior leadership, articulating architectural options, trade-offs, risks, and business impacts.
- Bridge off-device and on-device systems to ensure seamless end-to-end workflows, data flows, and system integrity.
Execution Support & Technical Leadership
- Provide architectural oversight throughout the SDLC, guiding teams during concepting, detailed design, implementation, and release.
- Drive standardization, reducing duplication and accelerating development velocity through clear architectural patterns.
- Mentor engineering leads and architects across the organization through thought leadership, coaching, and technical review.
- Lead technical investigation and resolution of complex systemic issues, spanning data, scalability, reliability, or workflow interactions.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive experience in software engineering or architecture, with deep expertise in large-scale distributed systems, cloud architectures, and modern application platforms.
- Proven experience architecting regulated or high reliability systems (preferably within medical, health tech, or similar domains).
- Mastery of architectural domains such as microservices, event driven systems, data pipelines, observability, DevOps/SRE practices, and cloud native technologies.
- Ability to operate as a senior level individual contributor influencing executive teams without direct authority.
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts in clear, concise, and business relevant terms.
- Demonstrated success partnering with cross functional leaders across product, security, quality, regulatory, data science, and infrastructure.
Preferred
- Experience with FDA, EU MDR, IEC 62304, HIPAA, and related regulatory frameworks for software as part of medical systems.
- Background supporting AI/ML platform architecture, model deployment, and clinical decision support software.
- Experience designing architectures that integrate with medical devices, clinical systems, EHRs, or healthcare data standards (FHIR, HL7).
- Prior leadership in organizations scaling complex multiproduct software ecosystems.
Location:
Remote - US
Actual compensation may vary depending on job-related factors including knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
Estimated Pay Range
$198,000.00 - $258,000.00
As a part of our core values, we ensure an inclusive workforce. We welcome and celebrate people of all backgrounds, experiences, skills, and perspectives. iRhythm Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws.
iRhythm provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, including those who may have any difficulty using our online system. If you need such an accommodation, you may contact us at taops@irhythmtech.com.
About iRhythm Technologies
iRhythm is a leading digital healthcare company that creates trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease. Combining wearable biosensors and cloud-based data analytics with powerful proprietary algorithms, iRhythm distills data from millions of heartbeats into clinically actionable information. Through a relentless focus on patient care, iRhythm’s vision is to deliver better data, better insights, and better health for all.
Make iRhythm your path forward. Zio, the heart monitor that changed the game.
There have been instances where individuals not associated with iRhythm have impersonated iRhythm employees pretending to be involved in the iRhythm recruiting process, or created postings for positions that do not exist. Please note that all open positions will always be shown here on the iRhythm Careers page, and all communications regarding the application, interview and hiring process will come from a @irhythmtech.com email address. Please check any communications to be sure they come directly from @irhythmtech.com email address. If you believe you have been the victim of an imposter or want to confirm that the person you are communicating with is legitimate, please contact taops@irhythmtech.com. Written offers of employment will be extended in a formal offer letter from an @irhythmtech.com email address ONLY.
For more information, see https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/01/taking-ploy-out-employment-scams and https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2020/PSA200121.
Career-defining. Life-changing.
At iRhythm, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your skills and your career while impacting the lives of people around the world. iRhythm is shaping a future where everyone, everywhere can access the best possible cardiac health solutions. Every day, we collaborate, create, and constantly reimagine what’s possible. We think big and move fast, driven by our commitment to put patients first and improve lives. We need builders like you. Curious and innovative problem solvers looking for the chance to meaningfully shape the future of cardiac health, our company, and your career.
About This Role:
The Principal Architect is a senior individual-contributor who defines, leads, and governs the software architecture vision across our device and digital ecosystem. This includes our on-device firmware, cloud services, analytics platforms, data pipelines, clinician and patient-facing applications, AI/ML enablement platforms, and operational software systems.
This leader drives architectural excellence, technology strategy, and systems coherence across R&D, product, clinical, data science, and the intersection of our products with IT. The role ensures that the on-device and off-device software ecosystem is secure, scalable, resilient, compliant, and aligned with product strategy and long-term business goals. Operating at an enterprise level, this role influences senior stakeholders across engineering, product, quality, regulatory, and security while maintaining deep technical credibility.
Key Responsibilities
Technology & Architecture Strategy
- Define the multiyear architecture strategy for all product software systems, spanning cloud, application, data, integration, and ML/AI infrastructure.
- Establish architectural principles, reference architectures, and guardrails that support reliability, performance, interoperability, maintainability, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure holistic systems thinking across software platforms, clinical workflows, device interactions, and data flows.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic recommendations for adoption, modernization, and platform evolution.
Architectural Leadership & Governance
- Lead cross-functional architecture forums and governance processes, ensuring consistent patterns, shared services, and disciplined decision-making across teams.
- Drive architectural clarity early in product development by guiding systems decomposition, API strategies, data models, and cloud architectures.
- Review key technical proposals, high-impact design decisions, and fundamental platform changes across R&D teams.
- Champion engineering quality standards for architecture, coding, testing, observability, and documentation.
Cross Functional Influence & Collaboration
- Partner with product management to translate business needs into scalable technical strategies and architectural roadmaps.
- Collaborate with security, privacy, regulatory, quality, and clinical teams to ensure designs meet medical device standards and software compliance requirements.
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior leadership, articulating architectural options, trade-offs, risks, and business impacts.
- Bridge off-device and on-device systems to ensure seamless end-to-end workflows, data flows, and system integrity.
Execution Support & Technical Leadership
- Provide architectural oversight throughout the SDLC, guiding teams during concepting, detailed design, implementation, and release.
- Drive standardization, reducing duplication and accelerating development velocity through clear architectural patterns.
- Mentor engineering leads and architects across the organization through thought leadership, coaching, and technical review.
- Lead technical investigation and resolution of complex systemic issues, spanning data, scalability, reliability, or workflow interactions.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive experience in software engineering or architecture, with deep expertise in large-scale distributed systems, cloud architectures, and modern application platforms.
- Proven experience architecting regulated or high reliability systems (preferably within medical, health tech, or similar domains).
- Mastery of architectural domains such as microservices, event driven systems, data pipelines, observability, DevOps/SRE practices, and cloud native technologies.
- Ability to operate as a senior level individual contributor influencing executive teams without direct authority.
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts in clear, concise, and business relevant terms.
- Demonstrated success partnering with cross functional leaders across product, security, quality, regulatory, data science, and infrastructure.
Preferred
- Experience with FDA, EU MDR, IEC 62304, HIPAA, and related regulatory frameworks for software as part of medical systems.
- Background supporting AI/ML platform architecture, model deployment, and clinical decision support software.
- Experience designing architectures that integrate with medical devices, clinical systems, EHRs, or healthcare data standards (FHIR, HL7).
- Prior leadership in organizations scaling complex multiproduct software ecosystems.
Location:
Remote - US
Actual compensation may vary depending on job-related factors including knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
Estimated Pay Range
$198,000.00 - $258,000.00
As a part of our core values, we ensure an inclusive workforce. We welcome and celebrate people of all backgrounds, experiences, skills, and perspectives. iRhythm Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws.
iRhythm provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, including those who may have any difficulty using our online system. If you need such an accommodation, you may contact us at taops@irhythmtech.com.
About iRhythm Technologies
iRhythm is a leading digital healthcare company that creates trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease. Combining wearable biosensors and cloud-based data analytics with powerful proprietary algorithms, iRhythm distills data from millions of heartbeats into clinically actionable information. Through a relentless focus on patient care, iRhythm’s vision is to deliver better data, better insights, and better health for all.
Make iRhythm your path forward. Zio, the heart monitor that changed the game.
There have been instances where individuals not associated with iRhythm have impersonated iRhythm employees pretending to be involved in the iRhythm recruiting process, or created postings for positions that do not exist. Please note that all open positions will always be shown here on the iRhythm Careers page, and all communications regarding the application, interview and hiring process will come from a @irhythmtech.com email address. Please check any communications to be sure they come directly from @irhythmtech.com email address. If you believe you have been the victim of an imposter or want to confirm that the person you are communicating with is legitimate, please contact taops@irhythmtech.com. Written offers of employment will be extended in a formal offer letter from an @irhythmtech.com email address ONLY.
For more information, see https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/01/taking-ploy-out-employment-scams and https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2020/PSA200121.
See All 185+ Systems Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Architect JobsSystems Architect Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Architect Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple22
- NVIDIA20
- Qualcomm10
- Cadence Design Systems6
- Google5
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software77
- Electronics & Hardware69
- Manufacturing15
- Law & Legal Services8
- Telecommunications7
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems architect jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, systems engineering, or a directly related field
- Five or more years of experience designing large-scale enterprise or distributed systems
- Demonstrated proficiency with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Experience producing architecture documentation including diagrams, RFCs, and ADRs
- Familiarity with microservices, API design patterns, and infrastructure-as-code tooling
- Strong cross-functional communication skills for presenting designs to engineering and executive stakeholders
Systems Architect Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems architect in California?
The standard path in California starts with a computer science, software engineering, or systems engineering degree, followed by several years as a software or infrastructure engineer before moving into architecture. California does not require a state-issued license for systems architects, so the clearest credential advantage comes from recognized certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Professional Cloud Architect, or TOGAF, all of which California employers consistently list as preferred qualifications.
How much do systems architects make in California?
Systems architects in California earn a median of about $134,440 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,340 for the lowest 10% to over $222,690 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire systems architects in California?
Employers hiring systems architects in California right now include Apple, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of tech headquarters, defense contractors, and large financial institutions means demand is unusually broad, covering both product companies and large enterprises running complex internal systems.
Which California cities have the most systems architect jobs?
Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco account for the most systems architect openings in California. The San Jose and broader Bay Area concentration is driven by the density of cloud, SaaS, and semiconductor companies headquartered there, while Los Angeles draws demand from media technology, aerospace primes, and a growing enterprise software sector, and San Diego's openings are anchored by defense contractors and life sciences firms requiring complex systems integration.
Are there remote systems architect jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 11% of systems architect openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the role involves design, documentation, and collaborative review rather than on-site hardware work. Fully remote roles are most common for cloud and enterprise integration architects, while positions involving on-premise infrastructure, data centers, or classified defense systems typically require an in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a systems architect in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving laterally from a software engineer, DevOps engineer, or systems administrator role into an associate or junior architect title, which several large California tech employers including Salesforce, Cisco, and defense primes like Northrop Grumman offer as structured progression tracks. Building a portfolio of architecture decision records and open-source design contributions strengthens a candidacy substantially. Completing a recognized cloud certification such as AWS Solutions Architect Associate before applying gives hiring managers a concrete signal of readiness.
Where can I find and apply to systems architect jobs in California?
You can find and apply to systems architect jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across enterprise technology, defense, cloud, and financial services. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to each one.
See All 185+ Systems Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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