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Backend Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Backend Software Engineer

Irvine, CA

$131K - $173K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer to co-own our backend architecture and ensure the system is scalable, reliable, and production-ready. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys ...

Senior Backend Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer to co-own our backend architecture and ensure the system is scalable, reliable, and production-ready. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys ...

This role As a backend software engineer working on our radiology platform, you'll be responsible for building and maintaining a reliable, high performance server application that enables our product ...

This role As a backend software engineer working on our radiology platform, you'll be responsible for building and maintaining a reliable, high performance server application that enables our product ...

At Philz, we're all about Bettering Days; and as a Backend Software Engineer , you'll play a key role in making that happen as part of a collaborative engineering team focused on building thoughtful ...

The ideal candidate will have: * 3+ years of software engineering experience building production-grade backend systems. * Strong proficiency with Python and Django, including experience building ...

Backend Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$145K - $155K/yr

At Philz, we're all about Bettering Days; and as a Backend Software Engineer , you'll play a key role in making that happen as part of a collaborative engineering team focused on building thoughtful ...

As a Senior Backend Software Engineer, you will design and scale core infrastructure for real-time edge computing products, working on complex problems and collaborating with various engineering ...

... backend setting using major web frameworks (Flask, Django, FastAPI, etc.) * Experience with large dataset processing using numpy * Strong software engineering fundamentals including git, unit testing ...

At Philz, we're all about Bettering Days; and as a Backend Software Engineer , you'll play a key role in making that happen as part of a collaborative engineering team focused on building thoughtful ...

Showing results 21-40

Backend Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$145.7K

$196.4K

How much do backend software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for backend software 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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a backend software engineer?

To thrive as a Backend Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like Java, Python, or Node.js, a solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and experience with database management, usually supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with tools such as Git, RESTful APIs, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and frameworks like Spring or Django is highly valued, and relevant certifications can be advantageous. Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this position. These skills and qualities are essential to build, maintain, and optimize robust, scalable server-side applications that meet user and business needs.

What are some typical challenges a backend software engineer faces when integrating new services into an existing system?

Backend Software Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between new services and legacy systems, maintaining data integrity during migrations, and managing increased system complexity. Effective integration also requires thorough testing to prevent disruptions to existing functionalities and close collaboration with frontend engineers, DevOps, and QA teams. Proactively communicating across teams and adhering to clear documentation standards can help mitigate integration risks and ensure a smoother deployment process.

What is the difference between Backend Software Engineer vs Frontend Software Engineer?

AspectBackend Software EngineerFrontend Software Engineer
Primary FocusServer-side development, databases, APIsClient-side development, UI/UX, visual elements
Required SkillsProgramming languages like Java, Python, SQL; server managementHTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks like React or Angular
Work EnvironmentBackend teams, server infrastructure, cloud servicesDesign teams, user interface, web browsers
Common UsageBuilding and maintaining server logic and databasesCreating interactive and visually appealing web pages

While both roles involve web development, Backend Software Engineers focus on server-side logic and data management, whereas Frontend Software Engineers specialize in creating the visual and interactive aspects of websites. Both roles are essential in full-stack development and often collaborate closely.

Are backend software engineers still in demand?

Backend software engineers are currently in high demand due to the ongoing growth of web applications, cloud services, and digital infrastructure. Skills in programming languages like Java, Python, and experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure increase employability in this field.

What is a backend software engineer?

A backend software engineer designs, develops, and maintains the server-side components of applications, focusing on databases, server logic, and APIs. They often work with programming languages like Java, Python, or Node.js and use tools such as databases and version control systems to ensure the functionality and performance of web services.

What's a typical backend software engineer salary?

The average salary for a backend software engineer varies by experience and location but generally ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually in many regions. Senior roles with specialized skills in languages like Java, Python, or cloud platforms can earn over $150,000. Factors such as company size, industry, and certifications also influence compensation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Software Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Backend Software Engineer jobs in California are:

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Backend Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Backend Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Backend Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,728 per year, or $70.1 per hour.

Senior Backend Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 6 days ago


Salesforce rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 58 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

114th of 247 rated software companies


Job description

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.
Job Category
Software Engineering
Job Details
About Salesforce
Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn't a buzzword - it's a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.
Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You're in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.
Backend Software Development Engineer
Note: By applying to the Software Backend Development posting, recruiters and hiring managers across the organization hiring for Backend Software Engineers will review your resume. Our goal is for you to apply once and have your resume reviewed by multiple hiring teams. Positions available at all levels: Mid Level, Senior, Lead and Principal.
*IN SCHOOL OR GRADUATED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? PLEASE VISIT FUTURE FORCE FOR OPPORTUNITIES*
Salesforce has opportunities for experienced software developers who want their lines of code to have significant and measurable positive impact for users, the company's bottom line, and the industry. You will be working with a group of world-class engineers to build the breakthrough features our customers will love, adopt, and use while keeping our trusted CRM platform stable and scalable.
The software engineer role at Salesforce encompasses architecture, design, implementation, and testing to ensure we build products right and release them with high quality. Equally important is advanced prompt engineering - the ability to write precise, structured prompts and cultivate the system context that makes AI outputs reliable, secure, and production-ready.
We pride ourselves on writing high quality, maintainable code that strengthens the stability of the product and makes our lives easier. We embrace the hybrid model and celebrate the individual strengths of each team member while cultivating everyone on the team to grow into the best version of themselves. We believe that autonomous teams with the freedom to make decisions will empower the individuals, the product, the company, and the customers they serve to thrive.
Your Impact:
* Backend application development for Marketing/Commerce/Sales/Big Data/Service/Einstein/MuleSoft/Platform/Industries Clouds/Slack and Heroku
* Design, implement, and tune robust APIs and API framework related features that perform and scale in a multi-tenant environment.
* Experience handling large data sets in the cloud (e.g. GCP, AWS, Alibaba and/or Azure platforms)
* Integration with internal/external systems
* Test driven development practices as well as CI/CD tools and its usage
* Build and ship high-quality, production-grade software using modern engineering practices, with AI as a core part of your development workflow by pushing the boundaries of AI development tools (Cursor, Windsurf, Claude, OpenAI API) to deliver secure, optimized, and high-quality code.
* Design and orchestrate complex systems where AI agents integrate seamlessly into human workflows, driving efficiency and innovation at scale.
* Contribute to building and maintaining the shared system context, an explicit repository of system designs, constraints, and standards that enables AI to operate accurately and reliably.
* Critically evaluate code (Human or AI-generated) for correctness, quality, security, and performance
* For Big Data roles: Working with Phoenix, HBase, MapReduce, Yarn, Kafka, Spark, Hive, Presto, or equivalent large-scale distributed systems technologies on a modern containerized deployment stack
Required Skills:
* A related technical degree required
* 5+ years backend software development experience
* Deep knowledge of object oriented programming languages: Java, C++, Go, C#, Ruby, Scala, Python, Node.JS, or JavaScript
* Broad knowledge of web standards relating to APIs such as REST, SOAP, XML, WSDL, HTTP, JSON, etc.
* Experience with Spring, gRPC, REST and the HTTP protocol
* Experience with Agile development methodology
* A demonstrated, genuine AI-first approach to engineering. Using AI to move faster, build fluency across the stack, and contribute well beyond your core specialty.
* Experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex, Cursor, etc.) in development workflows
* Advanced prompt engineering skills and the ability to write precise, structured prompts and cultivate the system context that makes AI outputs reliable, secure, and production-ready.
* Participate in the team's on-call rotation to address complex problems in real-time and keep services operational and highly available
* Office-Flex: work in-person three days per week; or 10 days per quarter for some engineering teams.
Benefits & Perks
Check out our benefits site which explains our various benefits, including wellbeing reimbursement, generous parental leave, adoption assistance, fertility benefits, and more.
Unleash Your Potential
When you join Salesforce, you'll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we'll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future - but to redefine what's possible - for yourself, for AI, and the world.
Accommodations
If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.
Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates' resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.
Posting Statement
Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that's inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications - without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.
In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.salesforcebenefits.com.Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Salesforce will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
At Salesforce, we believe in equitable compensation practices that reflect the dynamic nature of labor markets across various regions.The typical base salary range for this position is $148,500 - $223,900 annually. In select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan area, the base salary range for this role is $178,900 - $246,000 annually.The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits, as applicable.

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