ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cleared Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCleared Software Engineer JobsCleared Software Engineer Jobs in California

Cleared Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do cleared software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for cleared software engineer in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Cleared Software Engineers face when working on classified projects?

Cleared Software Engineers often encounter challenges related to strict security protocols and limited access to information when working on classified projects. These restrictions can impact collaboration and require careful adherence to documentation and communication guidelines. Additionally, the need for government clearances can lengthen onboarding times, and engineers may work in secure facilities with restricted internet or device use. However, these challenges are balanced by the unique opportunity to contribute to national security and work on cutting-edge technology alongside highly skilled teams.

What is the difference between Cleared Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectCleared Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsSecurity clearance (e.g., Top Secret, TS/SCI)Typically no security clearance required
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, defense contractors, secure facilitiesPrivate sector, tech companies, startups
Industry UsageDefense, aerospace, intelligenceTechnology, finance, healthcare
Search & ComparisonOften compared for security clearance requirements and government projectsMore general software development roles

The main difference is that a Cleared Software Engineer requires security clearance and works primarily on government or defense projects, whereas a Software Developer typically does not need clearance and works across various industries. The cleared role involves additional security protocols but shares core programming skills with standard software development roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cleared Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cleared Software Engineer, you need strong programming abilities, software development experience, and an active security clearance such as Secret or Top Secret. Familiarity with secure coding practices, version control systems (like Git), and specialized tools for government or defense projects is often required. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively and navigate complex, high-stakes environments. These skills and qualifications are crucial to ensure the development of secure, reliable software that meets strict regulatory and security standards.

What is a Cleared Software Engineer?

A Cleared Software Engineer is a software developer who has obtained a security clearance, typically to work on projects involving sensitive or classified information for government agencies or contractors. These professionals design, develop, test, and maintain software systems while adhering to strict security protocols. Security clearances can vary in level, such as Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret, and are granted after thorough background checks. Cleared Software Engineers are essential for organizations that handle national security or defense projects, ensuring that only trusted individuals have access to protected information.
What are popular job titles related to Cleared Software Engineer jobs in California? For Cleared Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Cleared Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cleared Software Engineer jobs in California are:
Cleared Software Engineer jobs near you
Senior Staff, Software Engineer

Senior Staff, Software Engineer

DELFI Diagnostics, Inc.

Palo Alto, CA

$144K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

DELFI Diagnostics, Inc. (DELFI Diagnostics) is developing next-generation, blood-based tests that are reliable, accessible and deliver a new way to help detect cancer. Employing advanced machine-learning methods to whole-genome sequencing data, the DELFI ("DNA EvaLuation of Fragments for early Interception") platform is built to address the highest-burden health challenges. DELFI Diagnostics prioritizes solutions that have the potential to save lives on a global scale, including for historically underserved populations. DELFI Diagnostics' platform relies on fragmentomics - the discovery that cancer cells are more chaotic than normal cells and, when they die, leave behind tell-tale patterns and characteristics of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments. FirstLook Lung, for individuals eligible for lung cancer screening, is DELFI Diagnostics' first laboratory-developed screening test and can be part of routine blood work. FirstLook Lung uses millions of data points to reliably identify individuals who may have cancer detected through low-dose CT, including early stage disease with a negative predictive value of 99.8 percent. This test has not been cleared or approved by the FDA.

In our passionate pursuit to radically improve health outcomes, we serve humanity when we:

  • Lead with Science, Anchor in Pragmatism: We pioneer life-changing science by ensuring quality, transparency, and rigor at all times. We explore thoughtfully, experiment smartly, and deliver impact with conviction.
  • Build With & For All: We embrace diverse backgrounds to innovate and achieve together. We are not just building a product - we aim to disrupt the path of cancer for all - no matter geography or socioeconomic class
  • Put We over I: We are a home for high-performing people. Through teamwork, we build collective intelligence. Each of us wins when those we serve and those who serve with us--win. We show up with empathy, humility, and integrity at every step of the journey.
About the role
In this role, you'll be a senior technical leader on our bioinformatics pipeline team, contributing to long-term technical direction and architectural decisions for major systems with a focus on software and cloud architecture. You'll partner across Engineering, Data Science, R&D, Regulatory, and Project Management to translate strategy into executable technical plans.
 
This role sits at the intersection of deep technical expertise, design control rigor, and cross-functional leadership. We seek a leader who can hold the long view while still going deep on the hardest technical problems, and who elevates the team through the standards and systems they build.
What you'll do

Strategy & Architecture

  • Set long-term technical strategy and architectural vision for our bioinformatics pipeline systems, ensuring today's decisions support tomorrow's product roadmap.

  • Lead system architecture and high-stakes design reviews end-to-end, guiding the team through the most complex technical tradeoffs.

  • Design and own data hand-off and integration architecture between software systems.

Engineering Standards & Process

  • Serve as a leader in engineering best practices-establishing standards, driving software-development lifecycle (SDLC) rigor, and setting the bar for code quality, testing, and design across the team.

  • Drive requirements engineering, risk analysis, and verification strategies for regulated software components.

  • Partner with staff engineers on test design and execution, driving excellence in SDLC process implementation.

Operations & Delivery

  • Architect and own the DevOps strategy for the pipeline team, including cybersecurity, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, deployment automation, observability, and environment management, ensuring reliability and compliance in a regulated context.

  • Work with data scientists, lab staff, and other stakeholders to implement production software for diagnostic applications.

Leadership

  • Partner with our Program Management team and engineering leadership on roadmap planning, milestone definition, resourcing, dependency management, and risk tracking across multi-quarter initiatives.

  • Mentor and develop staff and senior engineers, raising the team's technical ceiling and cultivating the next generation of technical leaders.

  • Serve as a recognized technical authority across the organization, influencing product and platform direction without direct authority over teams or roadmaps.

What you'll bring

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, or related field

  • Relevant professional experience dependent on level of education:

    • BS: 10+ years, MS: 8+ years, Ph.D: 5+ years

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proficiency in public speaking and technical presentation

  • Exposure to the life sciences industry, including DNA sequencing, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, or data science

  • Demonstrated experience setting long-term technical strategy and architectural standards across multi-team or multi-system scope

  • Advanced knowledge of cloud computing infrastructure design and implementation for scalable high-performance computing applications (AWS preferred)

  • Expertise in Python and strong proficiency in at least one compiled language (Rust, Java, C++, or C#)

  • Strong software design skills

  • Experience designing data integration patterns and contracts between software systems

  • Strong command of agile development practices, Jira, Git, and modern CI/CD pipelines

Preferred

  • Working knowledge of regulated software development standards (IEC 62304, ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and ISO 14971)

  • Experience working at an early-stage or high-growth company where the environment moves fast

$185,000 - $260,000 a year
Actual base pay will consider experience, skillset, education, and geography. This role may be eligible for other forms of compensation, including an annual bonus and a new hire equity grant, subject to the terms of the applicable plans and Company discretion. All employees are also eligible for DELFI's comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including but not limited to: a flexible time-off policy; a 401(k) retirement plan; an extremely competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage; onsite lunch 3 days a week; and other wellness related offerings.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
apply for this job

Apply