Systems Development Engineer Jobs in California

Systems Development Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and automation tooling across the technology, defense, and enterprise software sectors, with openings at every level from early-career to principal engineer. The Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles account for the largest share of hiring, with employers like Google, Amazon, and Northrop Grumman maintaining deep and ongoing demand for systems development engineers in the state. The most in-demand specialties are cloud platform engineering, CI/CD pipeline development, and large-scale infrastructure automation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles107+
Top employerAmazon
Top cityCupertino, CA
Cities hiring20
Work type91% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 107+ Systems Development Engineer jobs

Amazon.com
System Development Engineer II
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Amazon.com
Added 2d ago
System Development Engineer II
Amazon.com
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
IT Support & Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
Systems Administration
IT Support
$188k - $201k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Amazon.com
Sr. System Development Engineer
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Amazon.com
Added 1w ago
Sr. System Development Engineer
Amazon.com
Cupertino, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$151k - $205k/yr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Google
Systems Development Engineer
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Google
Added 1w ago
Systems Development Engineer
Google
Sunnyvale, California
IT Support & Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
Systems Administration
IT Support
$138k - $198k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Amazon.com
System Development Engineer
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Amazon.com
Added 2w ago
System Development Engineer
Amazon.com
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Data Engineering
$129k - $201k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Google
System Development Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Google
Added 2w ago
System Development Engineer
Google
Sunnyvale, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
DevOps
Cloud Engineering
$138k - $198k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 107+ Systems Development Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Systems Development Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cupertino
21 jobs
San Jose
18 jobs
Sunnyvale
17 jobs
Santa Clara
15 jobs
Redlands
6 jobs
Irvine
4 jobs
Los Angeles
4 jobs
Culver City
3 jobs
San Diego
3 jobs

Systems Development Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Amazon
    Amazon30
  • Monolithic Power Systems
    Monolithic Power Systems11
  • Amazon Web Services
    Amazon Web Services6
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA5
  • Environmental Systems Research Institute
    Environmental Systems Research Institute4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software43
  • Electronics & Hardware20
  • Manufacturing12
  • E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces8
  • Retail8

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in systems development engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field
  • Proficiency in at least one systems-level language such as Python, Java, or C++
  • Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and automated build systems
  • Hands-on knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
  • Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools including Docker and Kubernetes
  • Strong understanding of Linux or Unix operating environments and scripting

Systems Development Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a systems development engineer in California?

The standard path into systems development engineering in California starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related discipline. California does not require a state-issued license or registration for this role. Most employers expect hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure, automation frameworks, and scripting languages, which candidates typically build through internships, university project work, or open-source contributions before their first full-time hire.

How much do systems development engineers make in California?

Systems development engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire systems development engineers in California?

Employers hiring systems development engineers in California right now include Amazon, Monolithic Power Systems, and Amazon Web Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense concentration of technology headquarters, defense contractors, and enterprise software firms means that hiring for this role is distributed across multiple industries rather than a single dominant sector.

Which California cities have the most systems development engineer jobs?

Cupertino, San Jose, and Sunnyvale have the most systems development engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its unmatched concentration of cloud and infrastructure-focused technology companies, while San Diego's defense and cybersecurity industry drives demand in the south, and Los Angeles draws hiring through its growing enterprise software and entertainment technology base.

Are there remote systems development engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 9% of systems development engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the fact that infrastructure automation and platform work can often be done entirely from a distance. The most fully remote roles tend to be in CI/CD tooling, cloud operations, and internal developer platform teams where output is measured by deployments and uptime rather than physical presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is a university new-graduate program at a large California technology employer, where structured rotations or associate SDE roles are designed for candidates without professional experience. Companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon run formal university hiring programs in California that accept candidates whose strongest asset is a technical degree and a demonstrable personal or academic project portfolio. Candidates who can show working code, a deployed side project, or contributions to open-source infrastructure tools consistently stand out over those who rely on coursework alone.

Where can I find and apply to systems development engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to systems development engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 107+ Systems Development Engineer Jobs in California

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

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