ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Distributed Systems Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

4pconsultinginc

Software Engineer IV

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$114K - $151K/yr

This role requires strong experience in large-scale distributed systems, object-oriented ... Software Engineering & Architecture * Design, develop, test, and modify sophisticated software ...

hireVouch

Software Engineer - Distributed Systems

About the Role We are looking for a distributed systems engineer to work on the systems that power the syncing engine our customers and other engineering teams rely on. This presents an exciting ...

Apple

Systems Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$120K - $210K/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 ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsDistributed Systems Software Engineer Jobs

Distributed Systems Software Engineer information

See salary details

$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.
Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Systems

Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Systems

Apple

Cupertino, CA

$147K - $272K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 8 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

Our team is on a mission to build innovative infrastructure and tools to help other engineers be more productive and make software easier to create, build and distribute. We believe that streamlining software engineering is an important part of unlocking developer creativity and innovation, and we love it when Apple customers see that in the products we ship.
Description
We are looking for technically hands-on engineers who want to ship high-performance distributed systems that solve real-world problems at Apple scale. You would join a team of engineers who build innovative storage and backend service while tackling interesting challenges in a supportive, balanced environment.
We spend most of our time building software and automation, but equally important is the work we do collaborating with teams across Apple, understanding their operational challenges, and iterating on scalable, long-term solutions together.
In your role as an engineer on our team you will:
- Engineer distributed services, tooling, and operational standards
- Collaborate with teams to refine requirements and implement lasting solutions
- Drive service scalability, resiliency, and performance
- Take ownership over components critical to Apple's success
- Optimize system performance through algorithm design and testing
- Scale services to ever-increasing problem sizes
- Improve service operability using metrics and log data
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with application and service monitoring tools and techniques.
Experience with incident management and response.
Education & Experience: BS in Computer Science or equivalent, related experience.
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years of professional software engineering experience
Experience with high-performance, strongly typed languages such as Go, Rust, Scala, or others.
Experience with building and operating distributed systems.
Familiarity with some large infrastructure systems like Kubernetes.
Strong interest in distributed storage, observability, reliability, and cloud services.
Interest in working across different levels of the stack, including debugging OS-level issues such as memory and concurrency problems.
Ability to efficiently develop, debug, and support new technologies in a changing environment.
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 $147,400 and $272,100, 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

View All Apple Jobs

Apply