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Creative Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Anduril Industries

Software Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

As a Full Stack Senior Software Engineer on ArsenalOS you will be architecting and implementing ... This role requires a mix of technical prowess, creative problem-solving, and the vision to see how ...

Metron

Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

For over 40 years, our principled approach to problem-solving has yielded creative solutions at the ... We are seeking a talented software engineer with a strong computer science background to assist in ...

Everpure

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

... software engineers who are passionate about making our customers successful. WHAT YOU'LL DO ... Design and implement creative new algorithms and technologies for high-performance, highly reliable ...

anduril

Software Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA

$166K - $220K/yr

Software Engineer Costa Mesa, California, United States Anduril Industries is a defense technology ... This role requires a mix of technical prowess, creative problem-solving, and the vision to see how ...

Apple

Haptics Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

We are looking for a creative, motivated, and hard-working software engineer to develop drivers, frameworks, and tools for haptics-enabled next-generation Apple products, including iPhone, Watch ...

psudo

... through creative solutions. * Adapts structured coding styles for easy review, testing and ... years of experience as Software Engineer or Software Developer or in a relevant role.

Oklo

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$110K - $155K/yr

You'll leverage your software skills alongside nuclear engineers to model, simulate, design, and ... Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise ...

Descript

Software Engineer, Editor

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$193K - $250K/yr

We are looking for an experienced software engineer to build a best-in-class video editing and ... Experience building creative tools in the past or you're a frequent user of creative media tools

Oklo

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$110K - $155K/yr

You'll leverage your software skills alongside nuclear engineers to model, simulate, design, and ... Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise ...

CPMC LLC

Jr. Software Engineer (SECRET)

San Diego, CA · On-site

CPMC, LLC is seeking creative and skilled Software Engineer to join our team for an government contract proposal with the Department of Navy. We are hiring for both Mid-Level and Senior-Level ...

Procom

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

Software Engineer Will work on new features and applications the client is building as part of the ... Ability to implement creative and simple solutions to complex problems Desirable : * Knowledge of ...

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All JobsCreative Software Engineer JobsCreative Software Engineer Jobs in California

Creative Software Engineer information

How do Creative Software Engineers typically collaborate with designers and other team members during a project?

Creative Software Engineers often work closely with designers, product managers, and other developers to bring innovative digital experiences to life. Collaboration usually involves participating in brainstorming sessions, translating design concepts into functional code, and providing technical feedback to ensure feasibility. Regular communication through stand-ups, design reviews, and prototyping helps align everyone’s vision and ensures a seamless workflow. This cross-disciplinary approach not only enhances project outcomes but also allows engineers to expand their skill set and gain insights from other fields.

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

To thrive as a Creative Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, a solid understanding of software development principles, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like version control systems (e.g., Git), creative coding frameworks (e.g., Processing, OpenFrameworks), and design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) is typically required. Outstanding creative thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities help set top candidates apart. These skills are crucial for developing innovative solutions that merge technical expertise with artistic vision, driving impactful and engaging software projects.

What are Creative Software Engineers?

Creative Software Engineers are professionals who blend technical programming skills with creative problem-solving abilities to design and develop innovative software solutions. They often work on projects that require both technical expertise and artistic vision, such as digital media, interactive applications, games, or user experience design. Their role typically involves collaborating with designers, artists, and other developers to bring ideas to life using code and technology. Creative Software Engineers are valued for their ability to think outside the box and push the boundaries of what software can do.

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

AspectCreative Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field; sometimes additional design or multimedia skillsBachelor's in CS or related field; coding certifications optional
Work EnvironmentDesign-focused teams, multimedia projects, interactive mediaGeneral coding projects, applications, backend or frontend development
Industry UsageMedia, entertainment, advertising, gamingTech, finance, healthcare, various industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles blending creativity and codingGeneral software development roles

The Creative Software Engineer combines programming skills with creative design, often working on multimedia, gaming, or interactive projects. In contrast, a Software Developer focuses on building applications or systems across various industries. While both roles require strong coding skills, Creative Software Engineers emphasize creativity and multimedia integration, making their roles distinct in the tech and entertainment sectors.

What are popular job titles related to Creative Software Engineer jobs in California? For Creative Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Creative Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Creative Software Engineer job openings:
Creative Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Software Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 80% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Senior Software Engineer, Project A-Life

X: The Moonshot Factory

Mountain View, CA

$143K - $189K/yr

Other

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

S e n i o r S o f t w a r e E n g i n e e r , P r o j e c t A - L i f e
Software Engineering Mountain View, CA (HQ)
About the company
X is a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world's most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement. We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup.
About the team
Biological cells are the most sophisticated manufacturing platform on Earth. Many of the world's materials could be made more sustainably through fermentation and renewable feedstocks. However biology is so complex that today, engineering cells to make materials is closer to trial-and-error rather than predictive design. Too many bio-made materials die in the "Valley of Death" gap between a successful experiment in a lab and large-scale commercial fermentation.
At A-Life, we're building the AI toolkit to bridge that gap. We specialize in the "cells that make things," creating the software that allows scientists to engineer biology for real-world performance at scale. We're building for a bioeconomy at scale that's good for people and the planet.
You don't need a biology background to do this, though a science background helps. You just need to be a world-class engineer who is curious and ready to solve insanely hard, physical-world problems. If you want to build the foundational code for the future of manufacturing, we'd love to talk with you. Learn more about Project A-Life here .
About the role
We are looking for a nimble, creative Software Engineer to join our small multidisciplinary team. As an early hire, you won't just be writing tickets. You will be architecting the foundational software that allows AI to interface with complex biological data. You will work directly with our computational biologists and lab scientists to solve hard problems with elegant, scalable software tools.
How you will have 10X impact
  • Architect from scratch: Design and build the core infrastructure of our AI toolkit, ensuring it can handle complex datasets from both lab-scale experiments and industrial bioreactors.
  • Bridge biology and code: Work closely with biologists to understand their workflow and build tools that solve the "Valley of Death" bottleneck.
  • Full-Stack ownership: Take responsibility for everything from data pipelines and backend AI integration to the frontend tools used by cell engineers.
  • Shape the Culture: As an early member of a small team, you will help define our engineering standards, our tech stack, and our company culture.
Who you are
  • A generalist at heart: You are comfortable moving across the stack. You care more about solving the problem than using a specific language or tool.
  • Mission-obsessed: You are energized by the idea of using technology to solve big challenges in climate and biotechnology.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity: You thrive in a "move fast" team environment where the roadmap evolves as we learn.
  • Technically fearless: You aren't intimidated by the prospect of building software for a field as complex and messy as biology.
What you should have
We're looking for scrappy, creative engineers who know best practices but build innovative solutions that are right-sized for an early-stage team.
  • BS/MS in CS or equivalent practical experience
  • Experience with software development for data-heavy scientific applications
  • PhD in CS or a natural science is preferred but not required
  • Startup experience, or equivalent experience on early stage teams
  • 5+ years of experience building software in an enterprise environment
  • Experience with Google Cloud developer tools, including the latest in AI
It'd be great if you also had these
  • People management experience
  • Experience in life-science or bio-tech projects

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $174,000 - $250,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
At X, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at x-accommodation-request@x.team .

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