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Compiler Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Swift Compiler Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$63.75 - $88/hr

The Swift Compiler Team at Apple is a unique opportunity to evolve the Swift programming language ... We are looking for a software engineer passionate about programming languages and developer ...

They are seeking a Software Engineer to join their small team, working on a complex codebase that includes compiler design and backend services, with the opportunity to impact the product and company ...

NVIDIA's HPC Compiler team is looking to hire a Compiler Engineering Manager to join the team ... A software engineer with 10+ overall years of experience with at least 4+ years of hands-on ...

D. or Masters preferred) A software engineer with 10+ overall years of experience with at least 4+ ... of compiler internals from front end to run-time environment With competitive salaries and a ...

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, test, and optimize our hardware and software ... Provide technical leadership across the compiler team, mentoring engineers in advanced compiler ...

Senior Compiler Engineer - AI

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

What we need to see: * BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience), with a focus on machine learning and compiler/developer tools. * 8+ years of software engineering ...

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, test, and optimize our hardware and software ... Provide technical leadership across the compiler team, mentoring engineers in advanced compiler ...

Senior Compiler Engineer - AI

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

What we need to see: BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience), with a focus on machine learning and compiler/developer tools. 8+ years of software engineering and ...

Swift Compiler Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$184K - $277K/yr

The Swift Compiler Team at Apple is a unique opportunity to evolve the Swift programming language ... We are looking for a software engineer passionate about programming languages and developer ...

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, test, and optimize our hardware and software ... Provide technical leadership across the compiler team, mentoring engineers in advanced compiler ...

... years of software engineering experience OR Master's degree in the same fields and 6+ years of ... Proficiency with C/C++ and modern compiler engineering practices. * Experience with runtime systems ...

... software engineering experience ORMaster's degree in the same fields and 6+ years of experience ... Proficiency with C/C++ and modern compiler engineering practices. * Experience with runtime systems ...

We are redefining how developers write high-performance GPU software by bringing the safety ... Develop Rust-to-GPU Compiler Pipelines: Design, implement, and maintain custom compiler backends ...

Senior Compiler Engineer - Rust GPU

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

We are redefining how developers write high-performance GPU software by bringing the safety ... Develop Rust-to-GPU Compiler Pipelines: Design, implement, and maintain custom compiler backends ...

Showing results 41-60

Compiler Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do compiler software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for compiler 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 is a compiler software engineer?

A Compiler Software Engineer is a specialized software developer who designs, implements, and maintains compilers. Compilers are programs that translate source code written in one programming language into another, typically from high-level languages like C++ or Python into machine code that a computer can execute. Compiler engineers work on optimizing code performance, ensuring correctness, and supporting new programming language features. They often have strong backgrounds in computer science, algorithms, and systems programming.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a compiler software engineer?

To thrive as a Compiler Software Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, programming languages (such as C/C++), and compiler theory, usually supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with tools like LLVM, GCC, and debuggers, as well as experience with code optimization and static analysis, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication set outstanding engineers apart. These skills ensure robust, efficient compiler development and seamless collaboration with development teams.

What are some common challenges faced by compiler software engineers when optimizing code for different hardware architectures?

Compiler Software Engineers often encounter challenges when adapting and optimizing code for various hardware architectures, such as balancing performance improvements with maintaining code portability and correctness. Each architecture may have unique instruction sets, memory hierarchies, and parallelization capabilities, requiring careful tuning of compiler optimizations. Additionally, collaboration with hardware engineers and staying updated on evolving processor technologies are essential to ensure efficient code generation. This aspect of the role provides continuous learning opportunities and keeps the work both dynamic and technically rewarding.

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

AspectCompiler Software EngineerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, specialized knowledge in compilersBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, compiler development teamsVaried environments including startups, corporations, freelance projects
Industry UsagePrimarily in compiler design, programming language development, systems softwareWeb, mobile, enterprise applications, software solutions

Compiler Software Engineers focus on designing and optimizing compilers and language tools, often working in specialized teams. Software Developers create a wide range of applications across industries. While both roles require programming skills, Compiler Software Engineers have a niche expertise in language translation and optimization, making their work more specialized.

What are the most commonly searched types of Compiler Software Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Compiler Software Engineer jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Compiler Software Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Compiler Software Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Compiler 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 $145,592 per year, or $70 per hour.

Swift Compiler Engineer

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

$63.75 - $88/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

The Swift Compiler Team at Apple is a unique opportunity to evolve the Swift programming language and related developer tools that shape the experience of writing Swift code. We are looking for a software engineer passionate about programming languages and developer experience. We are a fast paced and collaborative group working to improve and expand the Swift language and the compiler technology that provides Swift language support to IDEs and editors.
You will have experience with some of the skills below. Nobody is expected to have experience with all of these, but we are looking for someone with a strong desire to learn what you don't know.
Description
The Swift Compiler Team is looking for an engineer to collaboratively design and implement new language features, improve type checking performance, and enhance the Swift developer experience through diagnostics and other compiler-driven tools. Drawing from your own experience writing code, internalizing a programming model, and working with developer tools, you will bring diverse perspectives and a desire to help solve the problems you've encountered in your own development work.
This position requires a highly creative and self-motivated individual, capable of communicating with and giving feedback to others in a range of roles across software engineering at Apple, the open source Swift community, and beyond. You will have the opportunity to affect design decisions not only on the Swift programming language and its developer-facing tools, but also general programming patterns, applications of Swift, and community building/outreach across the Swift ecosystem. Iteration and innovation are key to this role. You should relish change, and be prepared to question commonly established practices, with the desire to create the best possible experience to enrich the lives of programmers, both current and future.
As a Swift compiler engineer, you will:
* Collaborate with teammates through in-person conversations, pull requests, and other online discussions.
* Collaborate with open source contributors through pull requests and the Swift Forums.
* Design and implement new language features and tooling improvements, documenting and iterating on your design decisions through the Swift evolution process.
* Welcome constructive feedback on your changes from Swift programmers, and iteratively improve the experience of writing Swift.
* Drive the testing, integration, and adoption of your changes into the development ecosystem.
Minimum Qualifications
Demonstrated ability to communicate through technical writing.
Curiosity for understanding a programming mental model and how code works "under the hood".
Experience with software design and programming in a statically-typed language such as (but not limited to) C++ or Swift.
Familiarity with algorithms and data structures.
Ability and motivation to investigate and learn what you don't know.
Receptiveness to constructive feedback and mentorship.
Preferred Qualifications
Swift development experience is a plus, but not required.
Prior experience working on compilers or developer tools is a plus, but not required.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976