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Backend Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Clerkie

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$90/hr

About the role We're looking for a Backend Engineer who wants to build and own critical systems in a fast-moving environment. This role is ideal for someone with strong backend fundamentals who is ...

Pump.co

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes (nice to have), LLM/AI (bonus) As a Backend Engineer , you'll contribute directly to the core of our product and infrastructure. This role is ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client - a well-funded AI platform company used by ML teams globally. In this role you will own features end to end across APIs ...

Clerkie

Backend Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

$90/hr

About the role We're looking for a Backend Engineer who wants to build and own critical systems in a fast-moving environment. This role is ideal for someone with strong backend fundamentals who is ...

HeyGen

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Summary As a Backend Engineer at HeyGen, you'll be at the forefront of building the core systems and infrastructure that power our products and services. Your expertise will drive the ...

Wealthfront

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $189K/yr

We are looking for backend engineers to join our core product development teams. You'll work with other engineers to design and build new features or enhance existing features. This work will add ...

Wealthfront

Backend Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $189K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

We are looking for backend engineers to join our core product development teams. You'll work with other engineers to design and build new features or enhance existing features. This work will add ...

Jobsbridge

Backend Engineer

San Ramon, CA · On-site

Company Description Intelliswift Software, Inc The Backend stack engineer will be responsible for building industrial Industrial Internet (IOT) applications utilizing Client's Industrial Cloud ...

Lunar Labs

Backend Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

As a Backend Engineer, you will enhance the data infrastructure and ensure reliable, real-time information for conversational interfaces while leading the transition to a high-performance platform.

GFiber

Backend Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

... backend services and RESTful APIs using Spring Boot and JVM languages (Kotlin and Java). Write clean, efficient, and testable code adhering to modern software engineering standards. * Design systems ...

Wealthfront

Backend Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $189K/yr

We are looking for backend engineers to join our core product development teams. You'll work with other engineers to design and build new features or enhance existing features. This work will add ...

ATOMS Careers page

Backend Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$137K - $173K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

What You'll Do As a Backend Engineer, you'll design, implement, and optimize systems that power mission-critical applications. Your role will adapt to your strengths and interests, with opportunities ...

Pump.co

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes (nice to have), LLM/AI (bonus) As a Backend Engineer , you'll contribute directly to the core of our product and infrastructure. This role is ...

Luminary Cloud

Backend Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Proven experience as a backend developer or software engineer, with a strong focus on designing and implementing scalable saas systems. * Demonstrated experience in leading and mentoring a team of ...

Addison Group

Sr. Backend Engineer

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Title : Sr. Backend Engineer Location : San Ramon, CA Pay : $65-75/hr Job Type : 6 Month Contract Schedule : 4 days onsite Benefits : Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k A popular clothing brand is looking ...

Addison Group

Sr. Backend Engineer

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Title : Sr. Backend Engineer Location : San Ramon, CA Pay : $65-75/hr Job Type : 6 Month Contract Schedule : 4 days onsite Benefits : Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k A popular clothing brand is looking ...

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All JobsBackend Engineer JobsBackend Engineer Jobs in California

Backend Engineer information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$145.7K

$196.4K

How much do backend engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for backend engineer in California is $145,728.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,400.00 and $169,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges backend engineers face when integrating new technologies into existing systems?

Backend Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating new technologies, such as ensuring compatibility with legacy systems, maintaining data consistency, and minimizing service disruptions during deployment. They must carefully plan migrations, coordinate with frontend and DevOps teams, and implement thorough testing to avoid introducing bugs or security vulnerabilities. Effective communication and documentation are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a smooth transition.

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

To thrive as a Backend Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like Java, Python, or Node.js, a solid understanding of algorithms, and experience with databases, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools such as RESTful APIs, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), version control systems (like Git), and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is common. Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are essential for building robust, scalable systems and collaborating efficiently within development teams.

What is the difference between Backend Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectBackend EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusDesigning, building, and maintaining server-side applications and databasesDeveloping software across various layers, including frontend and backend
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in server-side languages (e.g., Java, Python), databases, APIsProficiency in multiple programming languages, software design, and sometimes frontend skills
Work EnvironmentTypically in backend teams, working on server infrastructure and APIsCan work on full-stack or specific areas; broader scope
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, and enterprises focusing on backend systemsWidespread across all software development sectors

While both roles involve coding and software development, Backend Engineers specialize in server-side logic, databases, and APIs, whereas Software Developers may work on both frontend and backend components. The roles often overlap, but Backend Engineers focus more on the infrastructure that powers applications.

What's a typical backend engineer salary?

A backend engineer's salary varies based on experience, location, and company size, but typically ranges from $70,000 to $130,000 annually in many regions. Senior roles or those with expertise in cloud services, databases, and programming languages like Java or Python tend to earn higher salaries. Entry-level positions usually start around $60,000 to $80,000.

What is a backend engineer?

Backend Engineers are software developers who focus on building and maintaining the server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power web and mobile applications. They ensure that the data requested by the frontend systems is delivered efficiently and securely. Their work involves writing code in languages like Python, Java, or Node.js, integrating with databases, and optimizing the overall performance of applications. Backend Engineers also play a crucial role in ensuring data integrity and implementing security best practices.
More about Backend Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Backend Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Backend Engineer jobs in California? For Backend Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Backend Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Backend Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Backend Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Backend Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Backend Engineer jobs in CA? For Backend Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Backend Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Backend Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,728 per year, or $70.1 per hour.

AI Backend Engineer, Work From Home

Parallel Partners

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Job Description
AI Backend Engineer, Work From Home
We are looking for talented AI Backend Engineers to build systems that power AI-driven decisioning, automation, and orchestration across our platform. This role sits at the core of our AI stack, between models, backend systems, and real users, where latency, correctness, reliability, and cost directly impact production experience. This is a fully remote position where you will be part of a global engineering team working across multiple countries to build reliable, scalable AI systems. We have multiple openings for this position. This position is 100% Remote.
AI Backend Engineer Responsibilities:
- Build and operate backend systems that serve AI-powered insurance workflows in production.
- Design and implement AI orchestration layers that connect models, APIs, workflows, and business logic.
- Build inference pipelines for LLM-based and AI-assisted automation systems.
- Optimize latency, throughput, and cost across AI services (caching, batching, streaming, routing).
- Design stable service boundaries between backend systems, ML components, and product APIs.
- Implement observability: logging, metrics, tracing, alerting, and incident response workflows.
- Debug production issues across distributed AI systems and resolve root causes.
- Collaborate closely with frontend, product, operations, and ML teams to ship end-to-end features.
- Continuously improve system reliability, scalability, and performance.
AI Backend Engineer Outcomes:
- AI backend systems run reliably at scale with low latency and high availability.
- AI workflows are stable, observable, and production-ready across multiple products.
- System performance improves continuously through real-world feedback and optimization.
- Production incidents are quickly detected, diagnosed, and resolved.
- AI capabilities are seamlessly integrated into global customer and internal workflows.
Qualifications
AI Backend Engineer Qualifications:
- Strong backend engineering experience in production systems.
- Experience building or operating high-throughput, low-latency services.
- Familiarity with AI Systems (LLMs, Embeddings, or AI Workflows).
- Experience with distributed systems and production debugging.
- Strong understanding of APIs, data flows, and system design principles.
- Experience with observability tools (logging, monitoring, tracing).
- Strong ownership mindset and bias toward shipping.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, globally distributed teams.
- Tech Stack: Anthropic, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Distributed Systems Tooling, Docker, Kubernetes, LLM APIs, Node.js, NoSQL, Observability Tools, OpenAI, Open-Source Models, Python, SQL.
Benefits include medical insurance, Dental, Vision, Savings Plan Options, PTO, etc.
Keywords: San Francisco CA Jobs, AI Backend Engineer, AI, Anthropic, Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Systems Tooling, Docker, Kubernetes, LLM APIs, Low Latency, Node.js, NoSQL, Observability Tools, OpenAI, Open-Source Models, Python, SQL, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Programming, Programmer Analyst, Work From Home, Remote, California Recruiters, IT Jobs, California Recruiting
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