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Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As a Distributed Systems Engineer, you will work across the stack to solve problems, build capabilities in a storage service, and design interactions in distributed systems. Responsibilities : • Be ...

Role As a distributed systems engineer, you'll work across the stack to solve problems as they come up and help build Archil volumes. You'll have significant influence over the technical and product ...

Distributed systems and data pipeline engineering. Time-series observability stacks (Prometheus, Thanos, VictoriaMetrics). API design and versioning at scale. Workflow and orchestration engines ...

Sr. Distributed Systems Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$123K - $168K/yr

As a distributed systems engineer, you'll work across the stack to solve problems and help build Archil volumes, with significant influence over the technical and product direction. Responsibilities ...

Sr. Distributed Systems Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$123K - $168K/yr

Role As a distributed systems engineer, you'll work across the stack to solve problems as they come up and help build Archil volumes. You'll have significant influence over the technical and product ...

We are looking for a deeply hands-on Senior Distributed Systems Engineer to join the team building IonQ's Network and Security Platform. You will own the backend services - ingestion pipelines ...

Senior Distributed Systems Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$122K - $167K/yr

We are looking for a deeply hands-on Senior Distributed Systems Engineer to join the team building IonQ's Network and Security Platform. You will own the backend services - ingestion pipelines ...

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Distributed Systems Engineer information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$125.5K

$164.8K

How much do distributed systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for distributed 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 are the typical daily responsibilities of a Distributed Systems Engineer?

A Distributed Systems Engineer typically spends their days designing, implementing, and testing scalable systems that handle large volumes of data and user requests. You'll collaborate closely with software developers, DevOps engineers, and product managers to architect solutions that ensure reliability, performance, and fault-tolerance. Regular tasks may include reviewing system performance metrics, debugging distributed applications, writing detailed documentation, and participating in code reviews. Engaging in team meetings and cross-functional discussions is also common, as seamless cooperation is vital in this complex and fast-evolving field.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior distributed systems engineers, software engineers with expertise in scalable architectures, and those working in high-demand industries such as cloud computing or finance can earn $300,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in distributed computing, and often working in senior or specialized roles at large technology companies.

What engineers make 200,000 a year?

Distributed Systems Engineers can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud computing, distributed architecture, and proficiency in programming languages like Java or Go. Salaries vary based on location, company size, and expertise, with senior roles often reaching or exceeding this level.

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

To thrive as a Distributed Systems Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, experience with large-scale system design, and proficiency in languages such as Java, Go, or Python. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS, GCP, or Azure), container orchestration tools (such as Kubernetes), and distributed databases is commonly required, and certifications in cloud computing can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and excellent communication skills help you navigate complex issues and work effectively across technical teams. These skills are fundamental for designing, implementing, and maintaining robust distributed systems that perform reliably at scale.

What does a distributed systems engineer do?

A distributed systems engineer designs, develops, and maintains systems that run across multiple computers or servers to ensure scalability, reliability, and performance. They work with technologies such as cloud platforms, networking, and programming languages like Java or Python, often focusing on fault tolerance and data consistency. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of system architecture are essential for this role.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in high-demand fields such as software engineering, especially those specializing in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, or machine learning, can earn $500,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often includes bonuses, stock options, or other compensation components.

What does a Distributed Systems Engineer do?

A Distributed Systems Engineer designs, builds, and maintains large-scale systems that run across multiple machines or data centers. They ensure reliability, scalability, and fault tolerance by using technologies like cloud computing, containerization, and distributed databases. Their work often involves solving complex problems related to data consistency, network latency, and system coordination.

What are the most commonly searched types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California? For Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Distributed Systems Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Distributed Systems Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Distributed Systems Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 68% In-person, and 32% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,549 per year, or $60.4 per hour.

Distributed Systems Engineer

Archil

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Archil is on a mission to change how developers build applications in the cloud by creating the next-generation storage platform. As a Distributed Systems Engineer, you will work across the stack to solve problems, build capabilities in a storage service, and design interactions in distributed systems.
Responsibilities:
• Be oncall for a production system to help our customers if anything goes wrong.
• Build out never-before-seen capabilities in a storage service
• Design distributed systems interactions for atomicity and idempotency
• Deploy infrastructure and generalize infrastructure across different clouds
• Operate through changing customer requirements with lots of ambiguity
Qualifications:
Required:
• 3+ years of experience building and operating distributed systems (flexible)
• Experience working at a startup
• Ability to resolve disagreements at work with a focus on helping customers
• Comfortable debugging problems from failures in multiple systems using metrics and logs
• Experience being paged at 3am to solve complex production issues
• Knowledgeable about distributed systems, including consensus, scaling, and API design pitfalls
• Familiarity with optimizing system performance and understanding latency and throughput bottlenecks
• Deep understanding of how computers work from the silicon up
Company:
Archil is a software company that develops cloud storage software that enables organizations to access and manage large datasets. Founded in 2024, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.