ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Distributed Systems Software Engineer Jobs in California

Apple

Systems Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$120.30K - $210.10K/yr

... debugging distributed applications Experience debugging at all levels of an operating system ... of software engineer career experience Expertise in at least one of C++/Objective-C/Swift ...

Picarro, Inc

Systems Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$120K - $130K/yr

Systems Software Engineer Company: Picarro Location: Santa Clara, CA Education: Bachelor's Degree Required Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and ...

Picarro

Systems Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$203.10K - $240.70K/yr

Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain robust software systems that support scientific instrumentation and data-driven applications. This role requires strong ...

Zoo

Senior Systems Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

About The Role We're looking for a Senior Systems Software Engineer who can take ownership of the ... Architect and maintain infrastructure components (e.g., distributed services, data pipelines ...

Picarro

Systems Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$120K - $130K/yr

Systems Software Engineer Company: Picarro Location: Santa Clara, CA Education: Bachelor's Degree Required Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and ...

Picarro, Inc

Systems Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Systems Software Engineer Company: Picarro Location: Santa Clara, CA Education: Bachelor's Degree Required Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and ...

Leica Biosystems

Systems Software Engineer

Vista, CA · On-site

$178.80K - $211.80K/yr

The Systems Software Engineer will be responsible for system-level software integration, requirements, interfaces, and cybersecurity considerations, ensuring traceability and configuration management ...

Leica Biosystems

Systems Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$177.80K - $210.70K/yr

The Systems Software Engineer will be responsible for system-level software integration, requirements, interfaces, and cybersecurity considerations, ensuring traceability and configuration management ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsDistributed Systems Software Engineer JobsDistributed Systems Software Engineer Jobs in California

Distributed Systems Software Engineer information

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 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.

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 popular job titles related to Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs in California? For Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs in California are:
Distributed Systems Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Distributed Systems Software Engineer job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution.
Software Engineer, Distributed Systems - Infra

Software Engineer, Distributed Systems - Infra

Gamma

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$203.80K - $241.50K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

About the role
You'll build and scale the application and data infrastructure that supports 70M+ users creating millions of gammas every day. This means working on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines while helping define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business. You'll ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience, balancing long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity.
As Software Engineer on the Platform team, you'll collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams in a fast-paced, product-led environment. You'll bring a product-minded approach, understanding how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics while thriving in an environment where shipping quality directly impacts growth.
Our team has a strong in-office culture and works in person 4-5 days per week in San Francisco. We love working together to stay creative and connected, with flexibility to work from home when focus matters most.
What you'll do
  • Design and implement scalable APIs, distributed systems, and data infrastructure that serve millions of users
  • Help define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business
  • Ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience
  • Work on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines
  • Balance long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity
  • Collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams to deliver high-quality solutions under tight timelines

What you'll bring
  • 3-5+ years of backend engineering experience building scalable systems
  • Strong proficiency in backend technologies (Node.js, Python, or similar) and databases (PostgreSQL, Redis)
  • Experience with high-traffic production systems and performance optimization
  • Track record shipping high-quality, complex applications under tight timelines
  • Product-minded approach with understanding of how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics
  • Thrives in fast-paced, product-led environments where shipping quality directly impacts growth
  • Experience with real-time collaboration systems, event pipelines, or AI-powered applications (Nice to have)

Compensation range:
The base salary for this full-time position, which spans multiple internal levels depending on qualifications, ranges between $180K - $310K plus benefits & equity.
Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to experience and expertise in the requirements listed above.
If you're interested in this role but you don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway! We're always excited about meeting great people.

Apply