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Associate Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Cornerstone

Associate Software Engineer

Dublin, CA · On-site

Associate Software Engineer Hybrid - Dublin, CA or Santa Monica, CA Cornerstone is looking for high-potential engineers who are excited to build modern enterprise SaaS solutions and leverage AI to ...

MatrixCare

Associate Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

The primaryobjectiveof Software (App) Engineering specialization withinEngineering (PD) Job Family is to build best-in-class, cloud-native applications that are reliable, scalable,secureand simple to ...

ResMed

Associate Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

The primaryobjectiveof Software (App) Engineering specialization withinEngineering (PD) Job Family is to build best-in-class, cloud-native applications that are reliable, scalable,secureand simple to ...

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All JobsAssociate Software Engineer JobsAssociate Software Engineer Jobs in California

Associate Software Engineer information

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$19

$41

$97

How much do associate software engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate software engineer in California is $41.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.14 and $44.13 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by associate software engineers when transitioning from academic projects to real-world development teams?

Associate Software Engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting to larger, more complex codebases and learning to work within established development workflows. Unlike academic projects, real-world development involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, adhering to coding standards, and following agile processes. Additionally, balancing learning new technologies with delivering features on tight deadlines can be demanding. However, support from mentors and structured onboarding programs usually helps smooth this transition.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Software Engineer, you need a solid understanding of programming fundamentals, algorithms, and data structures, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with programming languages like Java, Python, or C++, as well as experience using version control systems like Git, are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering reliable software solutions, collaborating within development teams, and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies.

Is 25 too late to become a software engineer?

The associate software engineer role is open to individuals of various ages, and starting a career at 25 is common. Many successful software engineers begin in their mid-20s or later, often after gaining skills through coding bootcamps, online courses, or degree programs. Age is generally not a barrier if you develop relevant skills and gain practical experience.

What is an associate software engineer?

An associate software engineer works with a team of engineering professionals and developers to improve existing software or design new applications. As an associate software engineer, your job duties include coding software, coordinating with hardware engineers to ensure that different types of technology can run the software, and helping the QA team to test software before release. Typical qualifications for the career include a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field and relevant technical experience with software applications. You also need excellent communication, coding, and analytical problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to work as part of a team.

More about Associate Software Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Software Engineer jobs in California? For Associate Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Associate Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Associate Software Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Software Engineer jobs in CA? For Associate Software Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Associate Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,687 per year, or $41.7 per hour.

Associate Software Engineer

Cornerstone OnDemand

Dublin, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Associate Software Engineer  

Hybrid - Dublin, CA or Santa Monica, CA 

Cornerstone is looking for high-potential engineers who are excited to build modern enterprise SaaS solutions and leverage AI to accelerate development, improve quality, and deliver meaningful customer outcomes. You will work on high-scale systems used by enterprise customers globally, with a focus on performance, reliability, and continuous innovation. 

Through our Rotational Development Program, you'll rotate across two teams, gain hands-on experience working on impactful projects, and build strong technical foundations while helping advance our platform and capabilities. 

As an Associate Software Engineer, you will contribute to core product development while helping shape our next generation of AI-powered capabilities. 

In this role, you will... 

  • Build and integrate AI-powered capabilities, including intelligent features, assistants, and modern integration patterns (e.g., MCP, agent-to-agent workflows).   
  • Design and develop core features that improve customer experience, scalability, and platform reliability.   
  • Leverage AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, and Amazon Q Developer to improve productivity, code quality, and testing.   
  • Write high-quality, scalable, and secure code that meets performance, reliability, and security standards.   
  • Diagnose and resolve customer-reported issues, contributing to defect reduction and customer trust.   
  • Collaborate across engineering, product, and design to build APIs, user experiences, and data models.   
  • Participate in agile development as part of a Scrum team, delivering incremental value in a fast-paced environment.   
  • Collaborate with senior engineers to build and integrate AI-powered features using modern frameworks and APIs.   
  • Explore and evaluate new AI tools, libraries, and approaches that can enhance product capabilities.   
  • Grow your skills through mentorship, code reviews, and hands-on collaboration with experienced engineers.   
  • Ensure delivered solutions improve product quality, performance, and customer experience.   

You've got what it takes if you... 

  • Have 0-2 years of software development experience.   
  • Have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience).   
  • Have foundational knowledge of backend development using modern programming languages and frameworks.   
  • Are familiar with frontend development using JavaScript and modern frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or similar).   
  • Understand relational databases (e.g., SQL Server) and have exposure to NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).   
  • Have familiarity with cloud development on AWS, including services such as AWS Lambda, Amazon ECS, Amazon S3, and exposure to building AI-powered applications using services such as Amazon Bedrock.   
  • Have exposure to event-driven systems (e.g., Kafka) as a plus.   
  • Demonstrate strong fundamentals in object-oriented design, debugging, and problem-solving.   
  • Have interest in building AI-powered applications, assistants, or integrations.   
  • Have a basic understanding of AI/ML concepts (e.g., LLMs, generative AI, or recommendation systems) as a plus.   
  • Have exposure to Python or common AI/ML libraries as a plus, but not required.   
  • Are committed to code quality, testing, and continuous improvement.   
  • Communicate effectively and collaborate well in a distributed team environment.   
  • Are eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.   

 An extra dose of awesome if... 

  • You view AI as a force multiplier for both product innovation and engineering productivity.   
  • You have interest or familiarity with emerging AI patterns such as MCP, agent-to-agent workflows, or agent development kits.   
  • You take ownership, move with urgency, and follow through on outcomes.   
  • You are curious, resourceful, and continuously learning, especially in emerging AI technologies.  
Cornerstone onDemand logo

About Cornerstone onDemand

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) is at a critically important juncture in the company's lifecycle. CSOD is the world's largest and most successful stand-alone unified Talent Management company and one of the world's largest SaaS companies. The company is entering a phase of achieving scale and global expansion through continued relentless execution.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Monica, CA, US

Year founded

1999

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