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Distributed Systems Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Figma

Software Engineer, Distributed Systems

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$203K - $241K/yr

We'd Love to Hear From You If You Have: * 5+ years of Software Engineering experience, specifically in backend or infrastructure engineering.. * Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts ...

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Distributed Systems Software Engineer information

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$83K

$177.7K

$206K

How much do distributed systems software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for distributed systems software engineer in the United States is $177,719.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Distributed Systems Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (often in languages like Java, Go, or C++), a deep understanding of algorithms, networking, and distributed computing concepts, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools and frameworks such as Kubernetes, Apache Kafka, Docker, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is highly valued, as are certifications in cloud or devops technologies. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you design scalable solutions and collaborate across teams. These skills are crucial for building reliable, efficient, and scalable distributed systems that power modern applications and services.

What is the difference between Distributed Systems Software Engineer vs Cloud Software Engineer?

AspectDistributed Systems Software EngineerCloud Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, experience with distributed architecturesBachelor's in CS, experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)
Work EnvironmentDevelops scalable distributed applications, often in data centers or on-premisesBuilds and maintains cloud-based solutions, deploying on cloud platforms
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, data centers, distributed computing firmsCloud service providers, SaaS companies, enterprises adopting cloud
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in distributed architectureComparing cloud-focused development roles

While both roles involve building scalable software, a Distributed Systems Software Engineer focuses on designing and implementing distributed architectures, whereas a Cloud Software Engineer specializes in deploying and managing applications on cloud platforms. The roles often overlap but differ mainly in their environment and specific technical focus.

What are the typical challenges faced by Distributed Systems Software Engineers when ensuring system reliability?

Distributed Systems Software Engineers often encounter challenges like handling network partitioning, ensuring data consistency across nodes, and effectively managing system failures. They need to design resilient architectures that can recover gracefully when components fail, and implement robust monitoring to detect issues early. Collaborating closely with DevOps, QA, and other engineering teams is crucial to address these challenges and maintain high availability and performance in complex, distributed environments.

What are Distributed Systems Software Engineers?

Distributed Systems Software Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain software that runs across multiple computers or servers, working together to achieve a common goal. They build systems that are reliable, scalable, and efficient, often handling large volumes of data and user requests. Their work involves solving challenges related to network communication, data consistency, fault tolerance, and system coordination. These engineers frequently use technologies like cloud computing platforms, message queues, and databases to ensure smooth operation across distributed environments.
More about Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Distributed Systems Software Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs are:
Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Distributed Systems Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $177,719 per year, or $85.4 per hour.
Distributed Systems Software Engineer (Golang)

Distributed Systems Software Engineer (Golang)

Apple

Austin, TX • On-site

$171K - $203K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 666 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

At Apple, we strive every single day to craft products that enrich people's lives. Our successes are the result of skilled domain experts working in an environment which encourages creativity, collaboration, and re-thinking of old problems in new ways! As a member of the Satellite Connectivity Group, you will work on the satellite network that enables connectivity to iPhone and Watch Ultra when off the grid without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Every day, Apple customers use Emergency SOS, Roadside assistance, and Messages via satellite to stay connected when they have no other means to communicate. You will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape this and other critical services, to the benefit and safety of millions of Apple device users.
You will build and run an Apple service enabling platform that millions of customers may rely on every day. You'll also build and run the infrastructure that powers those services with emphasis on build, not just operate or implement. We're looking for people who like to solve problems using software rather than shell prompts as we scale Apple's services for customers around the world. Help us build the Apple experience on a global scale!
Description
Apple is looking for a Senior Software Engineer with distributed systems and orchestration experience to join the Satellite Communications Group.
Our team builds, monitors, and maintains large scale, highly resilient systems that enable our customers to access communications services via satellite.
You'll be contributing to distributed systems, architecture design, and cloud infrastructure (as code!) for critical and unique customer-facing Apple services.
This is a rare opportunity to build and control the entire end to end infrastructure, along with all supporting components such as provisioning, monitoring, deployment, and software platforms, from the beginning within a team with a no-ops culture
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years Software engineering or DevOps experience
Proficient in at least one of these languages: Python, Go, Rust, C++
Strong experience with large-scale distributed systems (replication, high availability, data processing/streaming)
Strong experience with Linux/UNIX administration, configuration, and monitoring
Have written or contributed to a batch or realtime processing system
Experience with cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure): identity & credential management, pub/sub, message queuing.
Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, Puppet, Flux, Ansible, etc)
Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Experience with zero-downtime deployments, job scheduling systems, event-based messaging systems
Able to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies
Strong operational and troubleshooting skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Deep understanding of distributed systems principles, including consistency, fault tolerance, and scalability.
Strong familiarity with consensus algorithms (e.g., Raft, Paxos, Zab, etc)
Experience building and operating multi-clustered and highly-available services
Experience with Temporal/Cadence/Windmill or other durable execution platforms
Understanding of zero-trust application architecture
Proven experience building and optimizing real-time and batch data processing pipelines using technologies such as Kafka, Spark, Flink, Beam, etc.
Kubernetes experience, including cluster management as well as application deployment and configuration
Experience with IoT/Edge device compute and infrastructure
Experience or interest in RF, Cellular, Satellite communications (Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, LTE/5G)
Experience with modern web-scale services including servers, vips, load balancers, proxies
Experience working with monitoring and metrics platforms like Splunk and Prometheus
Education: Engineering or technical BS is a positive 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

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