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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Showing 5 of 24+ Systems Development Engineer jobs
About Us
Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is a leading provider of thermal management solutions for aerospace, defense, data centers, energy, and industrial applications. For more than 20 years, ACT has engineered and manufactured innovative technologies that solve complex thermal challenges in demanding environments. Our team is driven by continuous innovation, teamwork, and collaboration, delivering reliable solutions that support critical missions and next-generation technologies worldwide.
Position summary:
The Lead PD Engineer supervises and develops engineering staff while ensuring high performance and process consistency across all PD programs. Focus areas include staffing, development, compliance, standardization, conflict resolution, and customer relationship management.
Responsibilities Include:
- Supervise, mentor, and develop PD Engineers and Technicians.
- Manage program schedules and budgets
- Conduct performance reviews and manage staffing allocation.
- Ensure compliance with SOPs, NPI workflow, ECNs, and documentation standards.
- Lead departmental improvements and standardization efforts.
- Represent PD in cross-department initiatives.
- Resolve escalated customer or technical issues.
- Support proposals and evaluate new opportunities.
- Maintain frequent communication with customers and team members to resolve issues and provide exceptional products, solutions, and service.
Our work environment demands a candidate with the ability to take on multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for team players who enjoy working with customers, vendors, and co-workers to provide the best service and solutions. The best candidates will be those who embrace new challenges, using critical thinking skills, and developing innovative solutions.
- Minimum B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
- 3+ years of relevant experience required
- Supervisory/leadership experience desired
- Proficiency in using commercial CAD (Solidworks), FEA (Solidworks) and CFD software (Autodesk Simulation, Fluent, Comsol)
- Hands-on experience with design for manufacturability (DFM) and prototype hardware fabrication and testing is a plus!
- Good verbal and written skills.
- Must be a US Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15? (U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee) due to ITAR restrictions.
ACT offers competitive pay, excellent benefits (medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holidays, company-paid life & disability insurance, 401(k) match, and profit-sharing), and a supportive team environment.
ACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
ACT participates in E-Verify.
California Applicants: ACT collects personal information for hiring purposes. California residents may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA. Contact HR at barbara.rockwell@1-act.com.
About Us
Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is a leading provider of thermal management solutions for aerospace, defense, data centers, energy, and industrial applications. For more than 20 years, ACT has engineered and manufactured innovative technologies that solve complex thermal challenges in demanding environments. Our team is driven by continuous innovation, teamwork, and collaboration, delivering reliable solutions that support critical missions and next-generation technologies worldwide.
Position summary:
The Lead PD Engineer supervises and develops engineering staff while ensuring high performance and process consistency across all PD programs. Focus areas include staffing, development, compliance, standardization, conflict resolution, and customer relationship management.
Responsibilities Include:
- Supervise, mentor, and develop PD Engineers and Technicians.
- Manage program schedules and budgets
- Conduct performance reviews and manage staffing allocation.
- Ensure compliance with SOPs, NPI workflow, ECNs, and documentation standards.
- Lead departmental improvements and standardization efforts.
- Represent PD in cross-department initiatives.
- Resolve escalated customer or technical issues.
- Support proposals and evaluate new opportunities.
- Maintain frequent communication with customers and team members to resolve issues and provide exceptional products, solutions, and service.
Our work environment demands a candidate with the ability to take on multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for team players who enjoy working with customers, vendors, and co-workers to provide the best service and solutions. The best candidates will be those who embrace new challenges, using critical thinking skills, and developing innovative solutions.
- Minimum B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
- 3+ years of relevant experience required
- Supervisory/leadership experience desired
- Proficiency in using commercial CAD (Solidworks), FEA (Solidworks) and CFD software (Autodesk Simulation, Fluent, Comsol)
- Hands-on experience with design for manufacturability (DFM) and prototype hardware fabrication and testing is a plus!
- Good verbal and written skills.
- Must be a US Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15? (U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee) due to ITAR restrictions.
ACT offers competitive pay, excellent benefits (medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holidays, company-paid life & disability insurance, 401(k) match, and profit-sharing), and a supportive team environment.
ACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
ACT participates in E-Verify.
California Applicants: ACT collects personal information for hiring purposes. California residents may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA. Contact HR at barbara.rockwell@1-act.com.
See All 24 Systems Development Engineer Jobs in California
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Find JobsSystems Development Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Development Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- Aerospace & Defense
- Media & Entertainment
- Electronics & Hardware
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 Apple, Amazon Web Services, and Anduril, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara 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 57% of systems development engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 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 24 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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