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3D Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Civil Design Engineer

Stockton, CA · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Utilize AutoCAD and Civil 3D software for design and documentation * Collaborate with clients ... Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certification preferred * Proficiency in AutoCAD and Civil 3D software

Civil 3D Designer

Oceanside, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Your expertise in Civil 3D software will be crucial for creating detailed engineering designs and ensuring they meet the highest industry standards. As a Civil 3D Designer, you will be responsible ...

Civil 3D Designer

Oceanside, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Your expertise in Civil 3D software will be crucial for creating detailed engineering designs and ensuring they meet the highest industry standards. As a Civil 3D Designer, you will be responsible ...

Civil 3D Designer

Oceanside, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Your expertise in Civil 3D software will be crucial for creating detailed engineering designs and ensuring they meet the highest industry standards. As a Civil 3D Designer, you will be responsible ...

Civil Design Engineer II

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$41.96 - $54.56/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Utilize AutoCAD and Civil 3D software for design and documentation * Prepare civil engineering designs, plans, and specifications for projects such as grading, drainage, utilities, roadways, and site ...

Civil Design Engineer II

Truckee, CA · On-site

$41.96 - $54.56/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Utilize AutoCAD and Civil 3D software for design and documentation * Prepare civil engineering designs, plans, and specifications for projects such as grading, drainage, utilities, roadways, and site ...

Software Engineer (Embedded)

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$115K - $145K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (EMBEDDED) Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Design and develop the machine instruction interface to the metal 3D printing system hardware

GPU Software Engineer Location: San Jose, CA Duration: 6+ months contract (Long Term) Roles and ... Experience implementing 3D graphics features such as lighting, effects, shaders and other low-level ...

Senior Factory Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

As a Senior Factory Software Engineer, you will be responsible for architecting and implementing critical software systems for autonomous 3D printing factories, collaborating with a multi ...

Software Engineer (Embedded)

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$115K - $145K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (EMBEDDED) Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Design and develop the machine instruction interface to the metal 3D printing system hardware

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (EMBEDDED) Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Design and develop the machine instruction interface to the metal 3D printing system hardware

Showing results 41-60

3D Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do 3d software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for 3d software engineer in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3D software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (often in C++ or Python), a solid understanding of computer graphics principles, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with 3D graphics APIs like OpenGL, DirectX, or Vulkan, as well as experience with game engines or modeling tools, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and tackling complex visual challenges. These competencies are essential for building efficient, visually compelling 3D applications and ensuring seamless integration within project teams.

What is the difference between 3D Software Engineer vs 3D Artist?

Aspect3D Software Engineer3D Artist
Primary FocusDevelops software tools, algorithms, and applications for 3D graphics and modelingCreates visual 3D models, textures, and animations for projects
Required SkillsProgramming, software development, understanding of 3D graphics pipelinesArtistic skills, 3D modeling, texturing, and animation
Work EnvironmentTech companies, software firms, gaming studios, often involving coding and software developmentCreative studios, game development, film, and animation industries, focusing on visual content creation

The main difference between a 3D Software Engineer and a 3D Artist lies in their focus: the engineer develops the tools and software for 3D applications, while the artist creates the visual content. Both roles often collaborate in industries like gaming and film but require distinct skill sets and responsibilities.

What types of projects does a 3D software engineer typically work on, and how do they collaborate with other teams?

3D Software Engineers often work on developing graphics engines, simulation tools, or interactive applications that rely on complex 3D visualizations. These projects may involve tasks such as optimizing rendering pipelines, implementing new graphical features, or integrating physics engines. Collaboration is a key aspect, as 3D Software Engineers frequently work with artists, designers, and product managers to ensure visual fidelity and performance align with project goals. Regular code reviews, cross-functional meetings, and iterative prototyping are common practices to maintain alignment and foster innovation.

What are popular job titles related to 3D Software Engineer jobs in California?

For 3D Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching 3D Software Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for 3D Software Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for 3D Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most 3D Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various 3D Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,592 per year, or $70 per hour.

Sr. Software Development Engineer - Indoors GIS AI and Reality

Esri

Redlands, CA

$123K - $162K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago


Esri rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 244 rated software companies


Job description

Overview

Join our Indoor GIS team as a Senior Software Developer and help shape the future of how people understand, navigate, and interact with the built environment. You will lead the development of advanced Indoor GIS capabilities that combine AI, computer vision, 3D reality capture, and spatial data to automate indoor mapping workflows and create innovative geospatial products from floor plans, 3D scans, and 360 imagery. 

As a senior engineer, you will own complex features end-to-end, drive technical direction, mentor developers, and work across teams to turn emerging AI technologies into production-ready solutions. If you enjoy solving challenging problems and working with technologies like Large Language Models, computer vision, 3D graphics, and geospatial systems, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of Indoor GIS. 

Indoor GIS supports mission-critical operations for public safety agencies, helping police, fire, and emergency responders quickly understand complex buildings during emergency incidents. It also enables organizations such as airports, hospitals, campuses, and enterprises to optimize space utilization, manage occupants and visitors, and improve indoor navigation and wayfinding experiences. 

Esri has a Relocation Assistance Program and can provide support with relocating to the Redlands, CA area for this position.

Responsibilities

  • Prototype, architect, and implement production-quality components for AI-assisted indoor mapping, feature extraction, indoor reality visualization, and geospatial data creation workflows
  • Lead technical exploration of Gaussian splats, 3D mesh-derived level generation, visual positioning, semantic search, and reality capture integration patterns for Indoor GIS
  • Partner with product engineers and managers, UX designers, and development teams to define feasible milestones when the boundary between research, product development, and platform integration is still uncertain
  • Design and develop robust C++, C# and Python components that handle spatial data, imagery, video frames, geometry processing, model evaluation, and quality-review workflows
  • Evaluate and integrate LLMs, multimodal models, embedding/vector search, and computer vision models where they can improve automation, validation, and user experience
  • Create technical specifications, test strategies, benchmark plans, and implementation guidance suitable for AI-assisted coding and spec-driven development workflows
  • Mentor engineers, review designs and code, and help establish engineering standards for maintainable AI/ML, computer vision, and 3D software within Indoor GIS products
  • Communicate technical findings and tradeoffs clearly to engineering leadership and stakeholders, including risks, dependencies, data requirements, performance implications, and integration options
  • Champion spec-driven and AI-assisted development practices across the team
  • Lead code reviews and uphold software quality standards
  • Communicate technical findings, tradeoffs, and progress to both engineering and product audiences

Requirements

  • 5+ years of professional software development experience, with a track record of owning and shipping complex software features
  • Proficiency in two or more of: C++, C#/.NET, Python-with depth in at least one
  • Demonstrated experience integrating or building with AI/ML technologies in production or near-production contexts
  • Strong command of software architecture, algorithms, and data structures
  • Experience with image analysis, computer vision, or 3D/graphics programming
  • Ability to work independently across ambiguous problem spaces and make sound technical judgments
  • Strong communication skills. Able to explain technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders
  • Experience mentoring or technically guiding other engineers
  • Experience in AI-driven software development, with AI generating code using Microsoft Copilot, Claude Code, or a similar LLM framework
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related STEM field

Recommended Qualifications

  • Experience with ArcGIS, floor-aware maps, indoor positioning, CAD/BIM/Revit, LiDAR, 360 imagery, or reality capture workflows
  • Experience with Gaussian splats, mesh processing, scene layers, WebGL/DirectX/OpenGL, game engines, or 3D visualization pipelines
  • Experience building RAG systems, semantic search, vector databases, MCP/tool integrations, or agentic workflows for developer or analyst productivity
  • Experience shipping AI-assisted workflows that include user review, confidence scoring, bulk validation, human-in-the-loop correction, and repeatable QA metrics
  • Experience with OpenCV, ONNX, CUDA/GPU acceleration, model benchmarking, or productionizing research code
  • Master's degree or higher in Computer Science with specialization in Computer Vision, AI/ML, Graphics, Robotics, or a related STEM field

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About ESRI

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our passion for improving quality of life through geography is at the heart of everything we do. Esri's geographic information system (GIS) technology inspires and enables governments, universities, and businesses worldwide to save money, lives, and our environment through a deeper understanding of the changing world around them.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Redlands, CA, US

Year founded

1969