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Chief Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

BTAS

Chief Software Architect

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$187K - $300K/yr

Chief Software Architect LOCATION: El Segundo, CA REQUIRED SECURITY CLEARANCE: Active TS with SCI ... Provide space acquisitions, engineering, operations, and technical advice and assistance across all ...

BTAS, Inc.

Chief Software Architect

El Segundo, CA

Chief Software Architect Location: El Segundo, CA Required Security Clearance: Active TS with SCI ... Provide space acquisitions, engineering, operations, and technical advice and assistance across all ...

CompassRx

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

Initially you will be working directly with our CTO both to onboard onto the product and to help ... Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco Bay Area . San Francisco, CA $130,000.00-$238,000.00 2 ...

Rundoo

Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA

$186K/yr

Andrew (CTO): studied computer science & humanities at Stanford; worked as a software engineer and head of engineering at Apple & Anova; danced with the SF ballet (where he met his wife)! * Nick ...

Conduit

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA

Software Engineer We're hiring our third software engineer. This is one of the most important hires ... You'll work directly with the CEO, CTO, Head of Product, and founding engineer. What You'll Own ...

Rundoo

Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$186K/yr

Andrew (CTO): studied computer science & humanities at Stanford; worked as a software engineer and head of engineering at Apple & Anova; danced with the SF ballet (where he met his wife)! * Nick ...

Corridor Security Inc

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

About Us * CEO Jack Cable is a top-ranked bug bounty hunter who previously led Secure by Design at ... an engineer who has built large-scale systems at Skiff, Caldera, and Nooks, and has published ...

MERU

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA

You will work directly with Venkat (the CTO) to build deployment configurations and platform ... You will be expected to help with engineering across the stack, including model architecture ...

Technacity Group

Senior Software Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

You'll work closely with the CTO to design, build, and scale our core platform. This is a high ... Required Skills & Experience * 5+ years of software engineering experience, with strong backend ...

Technacity Group

Senior Software Engineer

Concord, CA

$134K - $177K/yr

You'll work closely with the CTO to design, build, and scale our core platform. This is a high ... Required Skills & Experience * 5+ years of software engineering experience, with strong backend ...

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All JobsChief Software Engineer JobsChief Software Engineer Jobs in California

Chief Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$32.1K

$91.7K

$178.6K

How much do chief software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief software engineer in California is $91,728.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,200.00 and $118,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning, cloud computing, or working at major tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often leadership responsibilities or specialized expertise.

What is a chief software engineer?

A chief software engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for overseeing software development projects, setting technical standards, and guiding engineering teams. They often have expertise in programming, system architecture, and project management, and may coordinate with other departments to ensure successful product delivery.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Chief Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Software Engineer, you need an extensive background in software architecture, programming languages, system design, and often an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with project management tools, cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and relevant certifications (like PMP or Certified ScrumMaster) are commonly expected. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills help you guide teams and align technical goals with business objectives. These competencies ensure the delivery of complex software projects, foster innovation, and drive the success of engineering teams.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills, or leadership roles, can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation is often associated with working at large tech companies, in high-demand fields like AI or cloud computing, or holding executive or principal engineering positions.

What types of teams and departments does a Chief Software Engineer typically collaborate with?

Chief Software Engineers regularly work alongside product management, quality assurance, UI/UX design, and IT operations to ensure smooth product development and delivery. They also engage with executive leadership to align software strategies with broader business goals, and may coordinate with customer support or sales teams to address client needs and feedback. These cross-functional collaborations help ensure the finished product not only meets technical specifications but also aligns with user requirements and market demands. Effective communication and partnership with various departments are essential parts of this leadership role.

What is the highest paid job in software engineering?

The highest paid roles in software engineering are often senior positions such as Staff Software Engineer, Principal Engineer, or Engineering Manager, especially in large tech companies. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership abilities, with salaries often exceeding $200,000 annually, plus bonuses and stock options.

What is a Chief Software Engineer job?

A Chief Software Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for overseeing software development, architecture, and innovation within an organization. They provide strategic direction, ensure best practices, and guide engineering teams in building scalable and high-quality software solutions. This role often involves collaboration with stakeholders to align technical goals with business objectives. Additionally, they mentor developers, optimize development processes, and stay updated on emerging technologies to drive continuous improvement.

What are popular job titles related to Chief Software Engineer jobs in California? For Chief Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Chief Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Software Engineer jobs in California are:
Chief Software Engineer jobs near you

Chief Software Architect

BTAS

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$187K - $300K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

POSITION: Chief Software Architect
LOCATION: El Segundo, CA
REQUIRED SECURITY CLEARANCE: Active TS with SCI eligibility
POSITION TYPE/STANDARD WORK HOURS: Full time, 40 hours
THE OPPORTUNITY:
Upon award, BTAS will be filling potential openings for the Space Systems Command (SSC). SSC plays a critical role in advancing the United States's space capabilities, delivering cutting-edge solutions to protect and enhance national security. SSC/SZBC specializes in highly classified Space Domain Awareness (SDA) systems, Defensive and Offensive Space Control (DSC/OSC) capabilities, and space test range assets to support the Department of Defense’s (DoD) current and future operational needs.
As a leader in space technology, SSC/SZ-BC is responsible for the development, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment of mission-critical systems spanning the entire acquisition life cycle. These efforts ensure the United States Space Force (USSF) and its mission partners maintain a strategic advantage in space operations. This position will support multiple SSC/SZ-BC programs, as well as other initiatives across the Space Force, Air Force, and allied organizations.
Join us in shaping the future of space operations and contributing to the defense of our nation’s space assets.
WHO WE ARE:
BTAS is a woman-owned small business founded in 1995, located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Beavercreek, OH. We have earned national and regional awards in the Department of Defense for our proven IT, Engineering, and Program Management capabilities.
We are committed to working with exceptional quality and professionalism to deliver excellence to our customers, while providing our employees a stimulating and satisfying work environment as we collaborate with teammates to achieve common goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Provide space acquisitions, engineering, operations, and technical advice and assistance across all project and program stages.
  • Support advanced technology acquisitions, future concept development, and integration.
  • Advise on cost, schedule, and performance.
  • Revise or draft Joint Capabilities Integrated Development System (JCIDS) and other acquisition documents for government program managers.
  • Support presentations of products to internal and external customers.
  • Provide draft SME-level technical and/or programmatic status reports as requested by the government.
  • Identify and recommend improvements in acquisition processes and risk reduction strategies.
  • Assist in building and maintaining a government risk program.
  • Maintain current knowledge of program schedules, monitor acquisition implementation, report shortfalls, and assess programs based on identified risks.
  • Advise on technical engagements such as meetings, design reviews, and conferences.
  • Provide technical and operational insights for mission protection and operations.
  • Recommend solutions for technical anomalies and evaluate impact analyses, audits, and reviews.
  • Advise on software planning and development for spiral/agile acquisition programs.
  • Assist with test and operations, including support for test documents, planning, events, requirements, and data for Developmental and Operational Testing.
  • Provide analytical and operational engineering support to developmental and operational units.
  • Support data and signal collection, processing, storage, archiving, analysis, and lessons learned for tests and operations.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Degree requirement:
    • BA/BS with 18 or more years’ experience; or
    • MA/MS with 16 or more years’ experience; or
    • Ph. D./JD with 15 or more years’ experience.
  • Individual must be an SME Recognized Industry Leader.
  • Minimum 20 years of progressive software engineering and architectural design for largescale enterprise software engineering projects.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in a commercial software development company developing enterprise software at scale/complexity.
  • Minimum 5 years of IC or DoD experience designing and deploying large-scale enterprise software solutions for operational missions.
  • Minimum 2 years of SAP experience working across complex mission partners and classified programs.
  • Expert in Agile methodology and process at scale with an emphasis on Enterprise Software Engineering.
  • Expert in modern commercial industry enterprise software engineering mindsets, best practices and patterns for successful continuous integration, test, delivery and deployment at scale.
  • Expert in DevSecOps, SRE and vertical slice development approaches and best practices.
  • Effective management and leadership experience with large-scale programs encompassing multiple agile development teams with a comprehensive scaled integration and deployment pipeline (more than 100 personnel).
  • Effective communication with leadership, stakeholders, and development/industry communities.
  • Knowledgeable with respect to IC, DoD, Air Force, Space Force or SSC processes and procedures for delivering systems to production environments.
  • Familiarity with highly available, scalable cloud native (IaaS and PaaS) solutions within commercial industry.
  • Familiarity with highly scalable data as a service (DaaS) solutions within commercial industry.
  • Demonstrated expertise through professional publications and/or patents or masters.
  • Highly Desired: Past or present experience with SSC or mission partner space control or space situational awareness mission area programs.
  • Experienced with software engineering languages and tools (Java, Python, C++, or other Object Oriented based languages), Kubernetes, AWS, Azure Cloud.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position may supervise the work of others.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to operate a computer and other standard office equipment. Must be able to remain in a stationary position, 80%.
TRAVEL:
Little if any travel is required.
OTHER DUTIES: 
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and/or activities may change at any time with or without notice.
COMPENSATION / SALARY RANGE:
BTAS adheres to federal, state, and local regulations. This is a Full-Time, Salary, Exempt position. The following salary range is what we reasonably expect to pay but is contingent and subject to a variety of factors, including but not limited to years of experience, education, certification(s), training, specialized skills, responsibilities, etc.
SALARY RANGE: $187,000–$300,000 Annual Salary
BTAS BENEFITS:
A comprehensive benefits program, including paid time off, federal holidays, health coverage, 401K plan with generous company match is offered to all full-time employees.
AAP / EEO STATEMENT:
BTAS is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 
BTAS is an E-Verify program participant.

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