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Application Software Developer Jobs in California

K2 Space

Application Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $160K/yr

Working experience with all aspects of software engineering best practices. * Working experience ... If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews ...

K2 Space

Application Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $160K/yr

Working experience with all aspects of software engineering best practices. * Working experience ... If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews ...

SpaceX

Sr. Application Software Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$165K - $230K/yr

SR. APPLICATION SOFTWARE ENGINEER The application software team is the central nervous system of SpaceX - we create mission critical applications that are used throughout SpaceX to accelerate launch ...

Sift

Application Software Engineer

Marina Del Rey, CA · On-site

Required : • 2+ years of experience in software engineering or data engineering. • Proficiency in Python and familiarity with REST APIs. • Basic understanding of data analysis and visualization ...

SpaceX

Sr. Application Software Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$165K - $230K/yr

Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. SR. APPLICATION SOFTWARE ENGINEER The application software team is ...

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Application Software Developer information

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How much do application software developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for application software developer in California is $51.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.73 and $59.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Application Software Developers face when working on cross-functional teams?

Application Software Developers often collaborate closely with designers, testers, product managers, and sometimes clients. One common challenge is aligning technical feasibility with business goals and user expectations, which can require strong communication and negotiation skills. Developers may also need to adapt quickly to changing project requirements and integrate feedback from multiple stakeholders. Working effectively in this environment involves balancing technical excellence with collaborative teamwork, ensuring timely delivery without compromising quality.

What are Application Software Developers?

Application Software Developers are professionals who design, build, test, and maintain software applications for computers or mobile devices. They work to understand user needs, create software solutions, and ensure applications run smoothly and efficiently. Their work often involves programming, debugging, updating applications, and collaborating with other IT professionals. Application Software Developers may specialize in specific types of software or platforms, such as web, desktop, or mobile applications.

Is software developer still in demand?

Software developers are in high demand due to ongoing digital transformation across industries, with strong growth projected for the coming years. Skills in programming languages, cloud computing, and agile development increase employability, making it a stable career choice.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

Application Software Developers with extensive experience, specialized skills in high-demand technologies, or working in senior or executive roles can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and stock options. Such compensation is typically found in large tech companies, financial firms, or through entrepreneurial ventures, often requiring advanced certifications and a strong track record of performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Application Software Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Application Software Developer, you need strong proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#, along with a solid understanding of software development principles and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with development frameworks, version control systems like Git, and familiarity with integrated development environments (IDEs) are typically required. Problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help developers collaborate and deliver high-quality software. These skills and qualities are crucial for building reliable applications that meet user needs and business goals in a dynamic tech environment.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced software engineers, especially those in specialized fields like machine learning, AI, or senior roles at major tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, and typically requires advanced skills, extensive experience, and a strong track record in the industry.

What is the difference between Application Software Developer vs Web Developer?

AspectApplication Software DeveloperWeb Developer
Primary FocusDesigning and building software applications for desktops, mobile devices, or enterprise systemsCreating websites and web applications for online use
Required SkillsProgramming languages like Java, C++, Python; software architectureHTML, CSS, JavaScript; front-end and back-end web technologies
Work EnvironmentSoftware companies, enterprise IT departments, app development firmsWeb development agencies, tech startups, freelance work
Common CertificationsMicrosoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate, Oracle Java CertificationsCertified Web Developer, Adobe Certified Expert

Application Software Developers focus on creating standalone software applications for various platforms, while Web Developers specialize in building websites and web-based applications. Both roles require programming skills and often overlap, but their primary environments and target outputs differ.

What does a software application developer do?

A software application developer designs, codes, tests, and maintains software applications for various platforms. They use programming languages such as Java, C++, or Python and often collaborate with teams to meet project requirements and deadlines. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of development tools are essential for this role.
What cities in California are hiring for Application Software Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Application Software Developer job openings:
Application Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Application Software Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,056 per year, or $52 per hour.
Application Software Engineer

Application Software Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$123K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.

Our enterprise software team builds the digital backbone that powers K2 Space's satellite design, manufacturing, and mission operations. We develop tools that connect engineering, production, and mission control into a seamless ecosystem — enabling our hardware to get from concept to orbit faster than ever before.

We're looking for engineers who are curious, collaborative, and driven to deliver mission-critical software that helps turn ambitious space projects into reality.

Responsibilities

  • Develop highly reliable software solutions used across K2 Space — from factory floors to mission control.
  • Create and evolve applications that improve how we design, build, and operate our spacecraft.
  • Partner closely with engineers, business partners and leaders across disciplines to understand their challenges and design efficient solutions.
  • Build prototypes to test concepts and validate technical constraints.
  • Develop prototypes into working product features.
  • Own full-lifecycle feature development from inception to happy customers.
  • Actively contribute to software features and bug fixes.
  • Understand tradeoffs in competing engineering options and be able to articulate these tradeoffs to senior engineers and contribute to implementation progress.
  • Work with customers to drive adoption and make progress on product usability.
  • Understand priorities communicated by senior staff and work to develop solution with minimal oversight.
  • Ability to balance being strongly opinionated on tech stack while remaining open-mind and willingness to reevaluate with new data point.
  • Actively contribute to building a culture of transparency, empathy, integrity and engineering excellence.
  • Actively mentoring other staff members and help team members build good culture and engineering practices.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, mathematics or a STEM discipline or 1-3+ years of professional experience in software engineering.
  • 1+ years of experience in full stack development, platform engineering or API development.
  • 1+ years of experience with AWS.
  • 1+ years of in-depth working experience with CI/CD such as GH Actions, Jenkins, Gitlab CI/CD.
  • 1+ years of in-depth working experience with Git.
  • 1+ years of in-depth working experience with Docker.
  • 1+ years of in-depth working experience with Kubernetes (prefer AWS EKS).
  • Working experience with one or more of the following static typed programming languages such as C#.NET, Go, Java.
  • 1+ years of experience with structured database such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Snowflake or similar technologies
  • 1+ years of experience with unstructured database such as NoSQL, Amazon DynamoDB, MongoDB or similar.
  • Working experience with all aspects of software engineering best practices.
  • Working experience with REST API or gRPC.
  • Working experience with binary management platforms such as JFrog Artifactory, AWS CodeArtifact or similar technologies.
  • Experience with infrastructure orchestration and management tools (Terraform, Ansible, Puppet).
  • Working experience with OAuth 2.0 and OIDC.

Nice to Have

  • Experience with Next.js, React, Angular, or similar frameworks.
  • Working experience with TypeScript.
  • Working experience with testing tool such as Cucumber and Cypress.
  • Foundational knowledge of scalable, high-performance software systems.
  • Knowledge of build systems and package management tools (e.g., Make, Gradle, npm, pip).

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $123,000 $160,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022

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