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Chief Architect Software Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview As the Chief Architect, you will serve as the primary technical authority and ... Experience with Electronic Warfare systems utilizing Software Defined Radios * Experience with ...

Chief Architect, EW

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166 - $220/hr

Position Overview As the Chief Architect, you will serve as the primary technical authority and ... Experience with Electronic Warfare systems utilizing Software Defined Radios. * Experience with ...

Chief Architect, EW

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

Position Overview As the Chief Architect, you will serve as the primary technical authority and ... Experience with Electronic Warfare systems utilizing Software Defined Radios * Experience with ...

Chief Architect - AI Systems

San Ramon, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

As the Chief Architect - AI Systems at CXAPP you will play a pivotal role in driving our AI ... Software Architecture: Define and evolve the software architecture of our AI systems, ensuring ...

Chief Architect - AI Systems

San Ramon, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

As the Chief Architect - AI Systems at CXAPP you will play a pivotal role in driving our AI ... Software Architecture: Define and evolve the software architecture of our AI systems, ensuring ...

Chief Architect - AI Systems

San Ramon, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

As the Chief Architect - AI Systems at CXAPP you will play a pivotal role in driving our AI ... Software Architecture: Define and evolve the software architecture of our AI systems, ensuring ...

Distinguished Engineer - Chief Architect

San Diego, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. * 17+ years of experience in software engineering, technical architecture ...

Distinguished Engineer - Chief Architect

Irvine, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. * 17+ years of experience in software engineering, technical architecture ...

Distinguished Engineer - Chief Architect

San Jose, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. * 17+ years of experience in software engineering, technical architecture ...

Distinguished Engineer - Chief Architect

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. * 17+ years of experience in software engineering, technical architecture ...

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Showing results 1-20

Chief Architect Software information

See California salary details

$117.4K

$123.4K

$127.8K

How much do chief architect software jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief architect software in California is $123,363.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,900.00 and $125,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief architect software?

To thrive as a Chief Architect Software, you need deep expertise in system architecture, software engineering principles, and enterprise-level solution design, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field and extensive industry experience. Familiarity with modern development frameworks, cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), architectural modeling tools, and certifications like TOGAF or AWS Certified Solutions Architect is highly valued. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are essential for aligning technology strategy with business goals, driving innovation, and ensuring successful delivery of complex software systems.

What are the typical challenges faced by a chief architect software in a large organization?

Chief Architect Software professionals in large organizations often face the challenge of balancing short-term project demands with long-term architectural vision and scalability. They must navigate complex legacy systems, ensure interoperability across multiple platforms, and manage stakeholder expectations from both technical and business perspectives. Strong collaboration is required as they frequently work with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and executive leadership. Additionally, keeping up-to-date with evolving technologies and industry standards is crucial for making informed design decisions that future-proof the company's software landscape.

What is a chief architect software?

A Chief Architect Software is a senior technical leader responsible for defining and overseeing the overall software architecture within an organization. They ensure that systems are scalable, secure, and aligned with business goals while guiding engineering teams in best practices and technology choices. This role involves collaborating with stakeholders, setting technical standards, and making high-level design decisions to drive innovation and efficiency.

What are popular job titles related to Chief Architect Software jobs in California? For Chief Architect Software jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Chief Architect Software jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Architect Software jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Chief Architect Software 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 $123,363 per year, or $59.3 per hour.

Chief Architect, EW

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,298 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Position Overview

As the Chief Architect, you will serve as the primary technical authority and engineering leader for Anduril's advanced EW Airborne Survivability program. You will bridge the gap between high-level program management and deep-dive technical execution, guiding a multidisciplinary engineering team to design, test, and deploy next-generation capabilities. In this role, you will define the technical vision, manage engineering risks, and ensure our systems seamlessly integrate with multiple platform variants to deliver unparalleled capabilities to the warfighter in record time.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Technical Leadership: Serve as the chief engineer and technical authority, direct the design and implementation of system, sub-system, advanced algorithms and techniques for Electronic Warfare systems within the program scope.
  • Coordinate across engineering disciplines to ensure the system requirements and design are properly and thoroughly defined, captured. and executed.
  • Coordinate across production, maintenance, sustainment, and field operations to continually improve system usability, reliability, and performance, as well as integrate onto new platforms.
  • Collaborate closely with the Portfolio Chief Engineer/Architect to align product architecture, program deliverables with the broader technology roadmap, drive engineering standardization, and optimize shared technical resources.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience with Electronic Warfare systems utilizing Software Defined Radios
  • Experience with designing, developing, and testing hardware with FPGA, ARM, x86, and GPU compute architectures
  • Deep understanding of Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) architecture-Digital Signal Processing, Model & Simulation, SW/FW-techniques, RF/EE/Antenna design.
  • Deep experience with Integration & Test (I&T) of RF based hardware systems in a lab or field environments
  • Experience with leading and coordinating cross-functional engineering teams.
  • Experience executing technical millstones internally and externally (Concept Review, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.).
  • Excellent at balancing multiple projects at any given time and/or managing a larger team for a larger program.
  • Enthusiastic about working with a team and mentoring engineers
  • Some travel required.
  • Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Masters or PhD degree in Electrical, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or related fields.
  • Experience integrating hardware onto airborne platforms
  • Expertise in Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum (FHSS) and Direct Sequence Speard Spectrum (DSSS) signal processing
  • Expertise in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) signal processing

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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