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Distinguished Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NVIDIA

Distinguished Engineer - Dynamo

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

NVIDIA is a leading technology company focused on AI and deep learning, currently seeking a distinguished-level Engineer to join the Dynamo engineering team. In this role, you will provide technical ...

GEICO

Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$120K - $158K/yr

Distinguished Engineer GEICO is seeking a Distinguished Engineer (AI Platforms) to join our AI organization. This individual will serve as one of the most senior technical authorities driving the ...

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$30.6K

$94.5K

$125.8K

How much do distinguished engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for distinguished engineer in California is $94,542.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,900.00 and $114,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make 200,000 a year?

Senior and lead engineers, such as software engineers, systems engineers, and engineering managers, can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand industries like technology, aerospace, or finance. Achieving this salary often requires advanced certifications, expertise in key tools, and leadership responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Distinguished Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Distinguished Engineer, you need extensive expertise in software architecture, system design, and deep technical problem-solving, often supported by an advanced degree and a robust track record in engineering leadership roles. Mastery of programming languages, architectural frameworks, cloud platforms, and experience with industry-standard tools such as CI/CD pipelines is typical, along with relevant certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Engineer. Exceptional communication, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills set candidates apart by fostering innovation and guiding teams towards effective solutions. These skills and qualities are crucial for driving large-scale technical initiatives, shaping company-wide technology strategies, and mentoring engineering talent.

What is a Distinguished Engineer job?

A Distinguished Engineer is a senior-level technical expert recognized for their deep expertise, leadership, and impact on engineering and innovation. They drive complex technical strategies, mentor engineers, and influence the company's technology direction. Unlike managerial roles, they focus on solving high-impact technical challenges and setting industry standards.

What are typical career advancement opportunities for a Distinguished Engineer?

As a Distinguished Engineer, you have the opportunity to influence major technical decisions and take on leadership roles in shaping company technology strategy. While this position is already among the highest technical tracks, you may advance further to roles like Chief Architect or Principal Technical Fellow, or choose to expand your impact by moving into organizational leadership or executive positions. Distinguished Engineers often lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor other engineers, and represent the company in industry forums or technical communities. This role offers a blend of deep technical contribution and broad organizational influence, enabling career growth along both technical and leadership paths.

What does a Distinguished Engineer do?

A Distinguished Engineer is a senior technical role responsible for leading complex projects, setting technical strategy, and driving innovation within an organization. They often mentor other engineers, influence product development, and contribute to industry standards, requiring deep expertise and strong problem-solving skills.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data engineering, and systems architecture can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-demand industries like technology or finance. Roles like Distinguished Engineer or Principal Engineer often reach or exceed this compensation level, particularly in large tech companies that offer stock options and bonuses.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Senior-level engineers such as Distinguished Engineers, Staff Engineers, or Principal Engineers in technology companies often earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, and other compensation. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities in fields like software development, cloud computing, or systems architecture.
What are the most commonly searched types of Distinguished Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Distinguished Engineer jobs in California are:
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What cities in California are hiring for Distinguished Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Distinguished Engineer job openings:
Distinguished Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Distinguished Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,542 per year, or $45.5 per hour.
Distinguished Engineer, Apache Spark

Distinguished Engineer, Apache Spark

NVIDIA

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
NVIDIA is seeking a Distinguished Engineer for the Apache Spark Acceleration group. In this role, you will lead the architecture, design, and implementation of accelerated Apache Spark and engage with open source communities to enhance GPU-enabled data analytics solutions.
Responsibilities:
• Lead the architecture, design and implementation of accelerated Apache Spark and related big-data frameworks
• Engage open source communities (including Apache Spark, RAPIDS, Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake and UCX) for technical discussion and contribution, and engage new communities where we may not have a strong presence yet
• Work with NVIDIA partners to deploy GPU enabled data analytics solutions in public cloud or on-premises clusters
• Present technical solutions at industry conferences and meetups
• Collaborate with distributed systems teams to define solutions to distributed processing problems challenges at large scale
• Provide recommendations and feedback to teams regarding decisions surrounding topics such as infrastructure, continuous integration and testing strategy
• Build, test and optimize CUDA/C++ libraries across different platforms
• Build automation and tools that will increase the productivity of teams developing distributed systems
• Mentor members of the engineering team
Qualifications:
Required:
• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or closely related field (or equivalent experience)
• 17+ years of work or research experience in software development
• Prior experience in delivering complex software projects as a lead architect
• Outstanding technical skills in designing and implementing high-quality distributed systems
• Excellent programming skills in C++, Java, and/or Scala
• Highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills and communication skills
• 5+ years working experience with key open source big-data projects as a contributor or committer to Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Apache Flink, Apache Kafka, Apache Hive, Apache Arrow, Delta Lake
• Excellent knowledge about distributed system schedulers: Kubernetes, Hadoop YARN, Apache Spark
• Able to delve into a new area and quickly come up to speed
• Able to work with teams across boundaries and geographies
Preferred:
• Working experience in designing and developing columnar query engines would be a huge plus
• Committership at major open source projects (such as Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Apache Flink) is a big plus
• Working experience with acceleration libraries (CUDA, RAPIDS, UCX) is helpful
Company:
NVIDIA is a computing platform company operating at the intersection of graphics, HPC, and AI. Founded in 1993, the company is headquartered in Santa Clara, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993

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