ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Chief Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Voltai

Software Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

... ex-CTO of Synopsys, and our business leadership has scaled revenue in their previous companies to ... engineering tasks * Integrate AI capabilities into cross-platform software products for Windows ...

Rockstar

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

... the CEO and CTO to define the team culture What you bring - Strong programming skills and ... software engineer Compensation & benefits - Compensation: $150,000 - $250,000 base salary and ...

interface.ai

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

As an early-career Software Engineer, you ship production features from your first weeks -- real ... You'll work directly with Bruce Kim (CTO / Co-Founder), who sets the technical bar and goes deep on ...

Rockstar

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$150K - $250K/yr

... the CEO and CTO to define the team culture What you bring - Strong programming skills and ... software engineer Compensation & benefits - Compensation: $150,000 - $250,000 base salary and ...

interface.ai

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

As an early-career Software Engineer, you ship production features from your first weeks - real ... You'll work directly with Bruce Kim (CTO / Co-Founder), who sets the technical bar and goes deep on ...

VuMedi Inc.

Senior Software Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

You'll be both architect and builder , working directly with the CTO and engineering leaders across ... Proven success as a senior software engineer leading major system designs end-to-end. * Strong ...

Robert Half

Software Engineer III

San Ramon, CA

$64.25 - $86.25/hr

We're seeking a Full Stack Software Engineer III to play a key role in this transformation. In this ... The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) our people receive varies based on their years of service and ...

Robert Half

Software Engineer III

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$64.25 - $86.25/hr

We're seeking a Full Stack Software Engineer III to play a key role in this transformation. In this ... The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) our people receive varies based on their years of service and ...

join-cascade.com

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120/hr

Cascade is an AI native healthcare platform founded by Katharina Juenger, the former CEO & Founder ... Position Overview We are seeking an experienced engineer to become part of building the most ...

TicketManager

Software Engineer

Calabasas, CA · On-site

$80K/yr

As a Software Engineer, you'll be a key member of our Technology team, contributing cross ... Reports to: CTO * Work Expectations : Role is In-Office, Monday-Friday * Retirement: 401(k) Company ...

AEG

Software Engineer

Calabasas, CA · On-site

$80K - $115K/yr

As a Software Engineer, you'll be a key member of our Technology team, contributing cross ... Reports to: CTO * Work Expectations: Role is In-Office, Monday-Friday * Retirement: 401(k) Company ...

TicketManager

Software Engineer

Calabasas, CA · On-site

$80K - $1M/yr

As a Software Engineer, you'll be a key member of our Technology team, contributing cross ... Reports to: CTO * Work Expectations : Role is In-Office, Monday-Friday * Retirement: 401(k) Company ...

Intellisense Systems, Inc.

Chief Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

As Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for guiding development of new and existing efforts ... Assess the quality of electronic, mechanical, and software engineering work from other engineers to ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

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 Sep 13, 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 is a chief software engineer?

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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief software engineer?

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 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 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
Infographic showing various Chief Software Engineer job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,728 per year, or $44.1 per hour.

Software Engineer

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

Voltai
See more jobs at Voltaiexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago

Job description

About VoltaiVoltai is the leading AI company building agentic systems and frontier foundation models for semiconductor and electronics design. Backed by Sequoia Capital, we’re putting AI in the hands of hardware engineers in over 70% of the world’s largest semiconductor and electronics companies to have effortless control over their next-generation chip and board designs, powering the future of automotive, industrial automation, consumer electronics, IoT, and semiconductor manufacturing. 
About the TeamOur founding team consists of IOI/IPhO olympiad medalists, Stanford professors, ex-CTO of Synopsys, and our business leadership has scaled revenue in their previous companies to over $1.5bn. At Voltai, we are combining the world’s best talent in the intersection of software and hardware.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Build and maintain scalable backend systems that power AI-driven tools for semiconductor and electronics design
  • Construct and manage large-scale data pipelines for parsing, transforming, and storing diverse datasets (e.g., images, signals, circuit diagrams, text)
  • Assist with data extraction, cleaning, validation, and quality assurance across structured and unstructured formats
  • Develop and deploy agentic AI applications using LLM APIs to automate workflows and accelerate engineering tasks
  • Integrate AI capabilities into cross-platform software products for Windows, macOS, and web-based environments
  • Collaborate with ML engineers to serve models efficiently and embed intelligence into backend and frontend systems
  • Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of backend services, APIs, and data infrastructure

Required Skillsets:

  • Proven experience in building scalable and maintainable backend and data systems
  • Strong programming skills in Python, with additional proficiency in C++, C, Go, or Rust
  • Strong understanding of Unix-based systems, including proficiency in Bash scripting, managing daemons, and optimizing storage and filesystem performance
  • Familiarity with modern web frameworks (e.g., FastAPI, Django) and cloud infrastructure (especially AWS: ECS, Lambda, S3, EC2)
  • Solid understanding of databases (SQL/NoSQL), schema design, and data pipeline frameworks (e.g., Airflow, Prefect)
  • Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD tools (GitHub Actions, Argo CD) for infrastructure automation and deployment
  • Demonstrated success working on production-grade AI/ML applications or data-intensive products
  • Strong system design and debugging abilities, with a focus on performance, concurrency, and cost-efficiency
  • Awareness of security best practices across data, APIs, and cloud systems

Bonus Points:

  • Background in Electrical Engineering.
  • Experience as an early engineer at a hyper-growth startup.

Our Benefits

  • Unlimited PTO: Recharge when you need it, no questions asked.
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents. 
  • Free Meals and Snacks: Daily lunches, dinners, and snacks in the office.
  • Professional Growth: We invest in your continuous learning and offer opportunities to expand your skills.
  • Visa Sponsorship: We welcome global talent and provide visa sponsorship to support qualified candidates.

Apply