1

Data Systems Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$70K - $118K/yr

Conduct laboratory and field testing of RF equipment, analyzing data and generating detailed ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Systems Engineering (e.g., Telecommunications ...

Conduct laboratory and field testing of RF equipment, analyzing data and generating detailed ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Systems Engineering (e.g., Telecommunications ...

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Conduct laboratory and field testing of RF equipment, analyzing data and generating detailed ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Systems Engineering (e.g., Telecommunications ...

Conduct laboratory and field testing of RF equipment, analyzing data and generating detailed ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Systems Engineering (e.g., Telecommunications ...

Collaborates with the systems engineering, test team responsible engineers, and program leadership ... Architects and optimizes data review methodology, as well as data review and data analysis tools

Systems Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$115K - $165K/yr

Systems Engineer Element: Systems Engineering Manager: Lead Systems Engineer Type: Full-Time ... Previous experience of Product Data Management systems to manage documentation and maintain ...

Data Platform Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Data lakes Data warehouses Snowflake, Redshift Data Engineering & Quality Understanding of: Data ... Manufacturing & Operations Data Systems Knowledge of: Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Test ...

Systems Engineer 2

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$71.05 - $74.99/hr

Systems Engineer 2 Job Location: Santa Clara, CA Job Type: Contract Job Overview ... Pay Range: $71.05hr - $74.99hr Requirement/Must Have: * 1+ years of experience in Data Center ...

New

Systems Engineer Location: San Diego, CA Clearance : Secret ISPA Technology is seeking a Systems ... Extract, analyze, and report technical, programmatic, and financial data to support enterprise ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Los Angeles CA Jobs, Senior Systems Engineer, vSAN, NetApp, VAST Data, Microsoft Server, VMware, TCP/IP, DNS, Active Directory, ESXi, vCenter, Infrastructure, Networking, Storage, Cloud, Storage Area ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Data Systems Engineer information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$125.5K

$164.8K

How much do data systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for data systems engineer in California is $125,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,700.00 and $154,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Senior data systems engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in database management, cloud computing, and system architecture can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or within large technology companies. Achieving this level often requires specialized certifications, leadership roles, and a strong track record of managing complex projects.

What are some common challenges Data Systems Engineers face when integrating new data sources?

Data Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring data compatibility across diverse formats, maintaining data integrity during migration, and managing system performance while integrating new sources. Collaborating closely with data analysts, software developers, and database administrators is key to anticipating and addressing these issues. Successful integration frequently requires thorough testing, robust error handling, and establishing clear data governance protocols to prevent inconsistencies or data loss.

What are Data Systems Engineers?

Data Systems Engineers are professionals who design, build, and maintain the infrastructure and systems that manage and process large volumes of data within an organization. They ensure data flows efficiently between databases, applications, and users, often working with technologies such as databases, data warehouses, and cloud platforms. Their responsibilities include optimizing data pipelines, ensuring data security, and supporting analytics and business intelligence initiatives. Data Systems Engineers collaborate closely with data scientists, software engineers, and IT teams to create reliable, scalable, and secure data environments.

What does a data systems engineer do?

A data systems engineer designs, develops, and maintains the infrastructure for storing, processing, and analyzing large data sets. They work with database systems, data pipelines, and cloud platforms, often using tools like SQL, Python, and Hadoop to ensure data availability, security, and performance. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of data architecture are essential for this role.

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

To excel as a Data Systems Engineer, you need strong skills in data architecture, database management, and programming, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, Hadoop, and cloud platforms, as well as certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics or Google Professional Data Engineer, is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, collaboration, and analytical thinking help you design robust, scalable data solutions and communicate effectively with stakeholders. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring data integrity, optimizing system performance, and supporting organizational decision-making.

What is the difference between Data Systems Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectData Systems EngineerData Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in CS, certifications like AWS, AzureBachelor's in CS, certifications like AWS, Azure
Work EnvironmentDesigning and maintaining data infrastructure, systems integrationBuilding data pipelines, ETL processes, data storage solutions
Industry UsageIT, tech companies, large enterprisesTech, finance, healthcare, any data-driven industry

Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, often working in data infrastructure environments. Data Systems Engineers focus on designing and maintaining data systems, while Data Engineers primarily build and optimize data pipelines. The roles are complementary and often overlap in organizations managing complex data architectures.

Can I make 200K as a data engineer?

Data Systems Engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud platforms, big data tools, and certifications can potentially earn salaries of $200,000 or more, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or senior roles. Salary levels depend on factors such as location, industry, company size, and individual expertise.

What tech jobs pay 400,000 a year?

Data Systems Engineers, especially those with advanced skills in cloud computing, cybersecurity, or large-scale data management, can reach or exceed a $400,000 annual salary in senior or specialized roles. High-level positions in technology firms, finance, or consulting that require extensive experience, certifications, and leadership responsibilities may also offer compensation in this range.
What job categories do people searching Data Systems Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Data Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
CI Systems Engineer (AI Failure Analysis), Developer Workflows

CI Systems Engineer (AI Failure Analysis), Developer Workflows

Apple

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 10 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 670 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Apple's Software Developer Workflows team delivers fast, reliable CI systems that make Apple's software easier to develop and ship. We believe that streamlined development unlocks creativity, innovation, and potential for developers.
We're looking for a skilled CI Systems Engineer to join our team and help build intelligent AI-assisted systems that enable Apple's OS engineers to understand, diagnose, and resolve build and test failures at scale.
We value diverse perspectives and unique skills. More than specific experience, we seek an engineer passionate about building great software, applying AI thoughtfully to real problems, continuous learning, and solving complex technical challenges.
Description
In this role, you will design and maintain infrastructure for collecting, processing, and analyzing massive volumes of CI results data - and you will integrate AI capabilities that transform how developers interact with failure information. Your work will turn complex failure signals into actionable insights that accelerate development, using AI to summarize failures, separate genuine issues from distractions, and help engineers focus on what needs attention.
Success requires flexibility, proactivity, and thriving in a supportive environment with challenging problems. You'll need excellent judgment for timely technical decisions, ability to collaborate effectively on design discussions, and strong technical depth to make informed tradeoffs about when and how AI can genuinely improve developer workflows.
In your role as a CI Systems Engineer, you will work at the intersection of AI and developer tools, shaping how thousands of engineers across Apple diagnose failures. You'll have the autonomy to evaluate new AI approaches, influence infrastructure architecture, and see your work directly reduce friction in Apple's software development process.
","responsibilities":"Develop AI-assisted failure analysis systems that transform raw CI data into actionable insights, helping developers quickly diagnose root causes and understand test failure patterns
Design and implement AI-powered triage workflows that intelligently summarize failures, identify patterns across large result sets, and distinguish signal from noise
Build and integrate tools that give AI systems structured access to CI data, enabling intelligent querying and analysis
Optimize data structures and database design for fast storage and deduplication of build and test failures, ensuring AI systems have efficient access to the context they need
Drive performance improvements and optimization initiatives for results storage and query latency to meet developer needs
Collaborate with OS engineering teams across platforms (iOS, macOS, etc.) to understand diagnostic needs and refine AI-assisted analysis capabilities
Implement observability and alerting for the CI results infrastructure itself, ensuring reliability and detecting systemic failure patterns
Evaluate and iterate on AI approaches, measuring their effectiveness at reducing triage time and improving developer experience
Share technical knowledge and best practices with team members on failure analysis, AI integration patterns, data systems design, and infrastructure challenges
Preferred Qualifications
Experience building or integrating with AI agents using the latest-available tools such as Skills, MCP Servers, Plugins, or LLM-powered tooling
Proven experience integrating AI into developer workflows with measurable impact on engineering efficiency; code review, testing, debugging, triage, or productivity tooling
Familiarity with machine learning techniques applied to failure correlation, anomaly detection, or pattern recognition
Deep expertise in data storage, retrieval, and analysis, including experience with relational and NoSQL databases
Experience building data pipelines or working with distributed data processing frameworks
Background working on large-scale data systems, observability platforms, or analytics infrastructure
Experience with CI/CD failure analysis, test result aggregation, or build system diagnostics, including root cause analysis, diagnostic tooling, and observability practices
Knowledge of iOS or macOS internals, development environments, build agents, and testing infrastructure
Minimum Qualifications
BS in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience
8+ years of software engineering experience, preferably 2+ years focused on CI infrastructure, data systems, or failure analysis
Experience applying AI/ML or LLM-based approaches to software development workflows, tooling, or automation
Proficiency in one or more languages suited to systems and data work (Swift, Scala, Python, Go, C/C++, etc.)
Proven ability to work independently on complex problems and collaborate effectively on team initiatives
Strong communication skills to collaborate with diverse teams and translate complex failure data into developer-friendly insights
Demonstrated experience in designing or contributing to systems that handle scale, data integrity, and query performance
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Apple logo

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