... CEO's primary technical lead on customer engagements, frequently traveling on-site to champion ... programming languages, and software development practices. • Proficiency across a broad tech ...
... CEO's primary technical lead on customer engagements, frequently traveling on-site to champion ... programming languages, and software development practices. • Proficiency across a broad tech ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$200 - $230/hr
Graphite builds consumer-quality tools for modern software engineering teams, so they can ship ... Planetscale CEO & ex-GitHub CTO), Sebastian Markbåge (creator of React), and many more. Our ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$200 - $230/hr
Graphite builds consumer-quality tools for modern software engineering teams, so they can ship ... Planetscale CEO & ex-GitHub CTO), Sebastian Markbåge (creator of React), and many more. Our ...
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 ...
Quick apply
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
What You'll Own As a Software Engineer at Betterworks, you'll join a high-performing engineering ... Leadership: CEO Doug Dennerline is truly a mission-driven leader. He has been a sales leader for ...
What You'll Own As a Software Engineer at Betterworks, you'll join a high-performing engineering ... Leadership: CEO Doug Dennerline is truly a mission-driven leader. He has been a sales leader for ...
Senior Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
$144K - $189K/yr
... users ● Work with the CTO to ensure we are building a scalable product by meeting our ... a software engineer Required Software Competencies: ● Java ● MySQL Preferred Qualifications ...
Senior Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
$144K - $189K/yr
... users ● Work with the CTO to ensure we are building a scalable product by meeting our ... a software engineer Required Software Competencies: ● Java ● MySQL Preferred Qualifications ...
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$150K - $250K/yr
Insurtech / AI The Role The client is hiring a Software Engineer to own and build the core ... Has been a CTO, founding engineer, or early engineer at a startup * An exceptional new grad with a ...
Quick apply
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$150K - $250K/yr
Insurtech / AI The Role The client is hiring a Software Engineer to own and build the core ... Has been a CTO, founding engineer, or early engineer at a startup * An exceptional new grad with a ...
Sr. Software Engineer
Monterey Park, CA · On-site
$180K - $210K/yr
Sr. Software Engineer Department: Software Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: 1600 ... You have executive backing and speed AI is a core priority with direct CEO sponsorship, enabling ...
Sr. Software Engineer
Monterey Park, CA · On-site
$180K - $210K/yr
Sr. Software Engineer Department: Software Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: 1600 ... You have executive backing and speed AI is a core priority with direct CEO sponsorship, enabling ...
Founding Software Engineer - Vimes
San Francisco, CA · On-site +1
Founding Software Engineer - Vimes ABOUT US Vimes is building the universal operating system for ... Working with the CTO, you will have the ability to build leadership and managerial skills working ...
Founding Software Engineer - Vimes
San Francisco, CA · On-site +1
Founding Software Engineer - Vimes ABOUT US Vimes is building the universal operating system for ... Working with the CTO, you will have the ability to build leadership and managerial skills working ...
Senior Software Engineer
Oakland, CA · On-site
$140K - $185K/yr
What you'll do: We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer to lead the next evolution of VuMedi ... You'll be both architect and builder , working directly with the CTO and engineering leaders across ...
Quick apply
Senior Software Engineer
Oakland, CA · On-site
$140K - $185K/yr
What you'll do: We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer to lead the next evolution of VuMedi ... You'll be both architect and builder , working directly with the CTO and engineering leaders across ...
Chief Engineer
El Segundo, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Chief Engineer
El Segundo, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Chief Engineer
Seal Beach, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Chief Engineer
Seal Beach, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $250K/yr
Hannah, Nathan • Founders & Chief of Staff: Alfredo, Kyle, Kenny, Jordan Hiring process Our ... Engineer • Round 4: Cultural - Aidan • Round 5: Final/ 1-Day Paid Onsite Project • Offer ...
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $250K/yr
Hannah, Nathan • Founders & Chief of Staff: Alfredo, Kyle, Kenny, Jordan Hiring process Our ... Engineer • Round 4: Cultural - Aidan • Round 5: Final/ 1-Day Paid Onsite Project • Offer ...
Chief Engineer
El Segundo, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Chief Engineer
El Segundo, CA · On-site
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Software Engineer (Generalist)
El Segundo, CA · On-site
$120K - $220K/yr
You will work side by side with the CEO and a small team of world-class builders. You will own your ... Just raw engineering, real hardware, and real flight * You must thrive under pressure, learn fast ...
Software Engineer (Generalist)
El Segundo, CA · On-site
$120K - $220K/yr
You will work side by side with the CEO and a small team of world-class builders. You will own your ... Just raw engineering, real hardware, and real flight * You must thrive under pressure, learn fast ...
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
ABOUT SPHINX Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded ... As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government ...
Software Engineer
$180K - $250K/yr
Hannah, Nathan • Founders & Chief of Staff: Alfredo, Kyle, Kenny, Jordan Hiring process Our ... Engineer • Round 4: Cultural - Aidan • Round 5: Final/ 1-Day Paid Onsite Project • Offer ...
Software Engineer
$180K - $250K/yr
Hannah, Nathan • Founders & Chief of Staff: Alfredo, Kyle, Kenny, Jordan Hiring process Our ... Engineer • Round 4: Cultural - Aidan • Round 5: Final/ 1-Day Paid Onsite Project • Offer ...
Software Engineer (Generalist)
$120K - $220K/yr
You will work side by side with the CEO and a small team of world-class builders. You will own your ... Just raw engineering, real hardware, and real flight * You must thrive under pressure, learn fast ...
Quick apply
Software Engineer (Generalist)
$120K - $220K/yr
You will work side by side with the CEO and a small team of world-class builders. You will own your ... Just raw engineering, real hardware, and real flight * You must thrive under pressure, learn fast ...
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$150K - $250K/yr
We're backed by Accel, Sheryl Sandberg (former Meta COO)'s venture fund SBVP, and Neo. The vision ... Generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in pipeline revenue The role As a Software Engineer at ...
Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$150K - $250K/yr
We're backed by Accel, Sheryl Sandberg (former Meta COO)'s venture fund SBVP, and Neo. The vision ... Generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in pipeline revenue The role As a Software Engineer at ...
As a Senior Software Engineer, Backend, you will be pivotal in building foundational components of ... Responsibilities : • Work closely with our CTO to build new product capabilities from the ground ...
As a Senior Software Engineer, Backend, you will be pivotal in building foundational components of ... Responsibilities : • Work closely with our CTO to build new product capabilities from the ground ...
Chief Software Engineer information
See California salary details
$32.1K - $45.4K
9% of jobs
$58.3K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$45.4K - $58.7K
17% of jobs
$58.7K - $72K
15% of jobs
The median wage is $80K / yr.
$72K - $85.4K
16% of jobs
$85.4K - $98.7K
11% of jobs
$111.2K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$98.7K - $112K
9% of jobs
$112K - $125.3K
10% of jobs
$125.3K - $138.7K
7% of jobs
$138.7K - $152K
3% of jobs
$152K - $165.3K
2% of jobs
$165.3K - $178.6K
2% of jobs
$32.1K
$91.7K
$178.6K
How much do chief software engineer jobs pay per year?
As of Aug 10, 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 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 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 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:
Job description
Job Summary:
Factory is on the cutting edge of software development, creating AI solutions to enhance engineering workflows for innovative companies. They are seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to lead customer implementations, optimize integrations, and ensure seamless experiences with their technology.
Responsibilities:
• Lead end-to-end implementation and integration of Factory’s platform into customer engineering environments, directly partnering with customer teams to design robust, optimized workflows and build successful, long-term partnerships
• Act as the CEO's primary technical lead on customer engagements, frequently traveling on-site to champion rapid product adoption, solve complex engineering challenges, and reduce customer time-to-value
• Lead special engineering projects that expand Factory’s product capabilities, directly influencing the product roadmap and ensuring alignment with customer needs
• Respond rapidly to customer needs, which may include integrating with new systems, troubleshooting and fixing critical issues in diverse codebases, or innovating on the fly to leverage Factory in novel ways that solve customers' specific problems.
• Deeply understand our customers’ use cases and develop the tooling and documentation necessary to support their growth at scale
• Work closely with Product, Engineering, Sales and Operations, acting as a bridge between our customers and our internal teams, translating customer feedback into actionable product improvements and collaborating closely with internal teams to implement these enhancements swiftly and efficiently
• Continuously learn and stay updated on the latest in software development practices, tools, and technologies to ensure Factory remains at the forefront of automation and AI in engineering.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Demonstrable capability to quickly grasp new technologies, programming languages, and software development practices.
• Proficiency across a broad tech stack is highly valued, as is the ability to make code changes across various parts of the Factory codebase.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, including quickly diagnosing, debugging, and resolving technical challenges in customer-facing roles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven experience building positive relationships and effectively collaborating with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A hunger for learning and a drive to continuously improve, both in terms of personal skills and the product's value to customers.
• Must be motivated, proactive, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment.
Preferred:
• 2-3 years of experience, preferably with a background in companies known for their innovation in AI and software engineering, such as Palantir, OpenAI, Hugging Face, Applied Intuition, and Glean
Company:
Factory is an AI research lab provides software development agents that integrate into existing engineering workflows and tools. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.
Factory is on the cutting edge of software development, creating AI solutions to enhance engineering workflows for innovative companies. They are seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to lead customer implementations, optimize integrations, and ensure seamless experiences with their technology.
Responsibilities:
• Lead end-to-end implementation and integration of Factory’s platform into customer engineering environments, directly partnering with customer teams to design robust, optimized workflows and build successful, long-term partnerships
• Act as the CEO's primary technical lead on customer engagements, frequently traveling on-site to champion rapid product adoption, solve complex engineering challenges, and reduce customer time-to-value
• Lead special engineering projects that expand Factory’s product capabilities, directly influencing the product roadmap and ensuring alignment with customer needs
• Respond rapidly to customer needs, which may include integrating with new systems, troubleshooting and fixing critical issues in diverse codebases, or innovating on the fly to leverage Factory in novel ways that solve customers' specific problems.
• Deeply understand our customers’ use cases and develop the tooling and documentation necessary to support their growth at scale
• Work closely with Product, Engineering, Sales and Operations, acting as a bridge between our customers and our internal teams, translating customer feedback into actionable product improvements and collaborating closely with internal teams to implement these enhancements swiftly and efficiently
• Continuously learn and stay updated on the latest in software development practices, tools, and technologies to ensure Factory remains at the forefront of automation and AI in engineering.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Demonstrable capability to quickly grasp new technologies, programming languages, and software development practices.
• Proficiency across a broad tech stack is highly valued, as is the ability to make code changes across various parts of the Factory codebase.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, including quickly diagnosing, debugging, and resolving technical challenges in customer-facing roles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven experience building positive relationships and effectively collaborating with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A hunger for learning and a drive to continuously improve, both in terms of personal skills and the product's value to customers.
• Must be motivated, proactive, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment.
Preferred:
• 2-3 years of experience, preferably with a background in companies known for their innovation in AI and software engineering, such as Palantir, OpenAI, Hugging Face, Applied Intuition, and Glean
Company:
Factory is an AI research lab provides software development agents that integrate into existing engineering workflows and tools. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.