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Entry Level Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SAIC

PNT SE&I Entry Level Engineer

El Segundo, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

ORA_HYBRID Description SAIC is seeking an entry level systems or digital engineer to join our team of diverse Positioning Navigation (PNT) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) team. Participant ...

GCX

Mechanical Engineer - Entry Level

Petaluma, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

... Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team. This role is well suited for early-career engineers who are excited to contribute to product development efforts while building hands-on ...

SAIC

PNT SE&I Entry Level Engineer

El Segundo, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

ORA_HYBRID Description SAIC is seeking an entry level systems or digital engineer to join our team of diverse Positioning Navigation (PNT) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) team. Participant ...

Kindling LLC

Back-End Engineer

San Francisco, CA

About the role We're looking for an entry-level back-end engineer to join our engineering team. He/she would work closely with our existing team to help build our various projects as well as our ...

BRM.ai

Entry Level Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... Entry Level Software Engineer Why we need you We're at a pivotal moment with a roadmap brimming with opportunity. We're looking for ambitious junior engineers and new graduates who are eager to ...

BRM LLC

Entry Level Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

... Entry Level Software Engineer Why we need you We're at a pivotal moment with a roadmap brimming with opportunity. We're looking for ambitious junior engineers and new graduates who are eager to ...

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Entry Level Programmer information

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How much do entry level programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level programmer in California is $26.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $22.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Programmer, you need a solid understanding of programming fundamentals, algorithms, and at least one programming language, often demonstrated by a relevant degree or coding bootcamp experience. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, basic database management, and development environments is typically expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with team members and learn quickly. These skills are crucial for successfully building, testing, and maintaining software while adapting to evolving project requirements.

What are entry level programmers?

Entry level programmers are individuals who are just starting their careers in software development. They typically have a basic understanding of programming languages and software development practices, often gained through education or internships. Entry level programmers are usually responsible for writing simple code, fixing bugs, and assisting more experienced developers on projects. Their role is to learn on the job, gain experience, and gradually take on more complex tasks. Employers often look for candidates with problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn.

What types of projects and tasks can an entry level programmer typically expect to work on during their first year?

As an entry level programmer, you will often be assigned to support tasks such as debugging code, writing simple scripts, developing small features, and assisting with software testing. You may also update documentation and collaborate with more experienced developers on larger projects. This hands-on experience helps you become familiar with company coding standards, version control systems, and agile development processes while building a foundation for more complex assignments in the future. Teamwork and communication are important, as you’ll regularly interact with other programmers, QA testers, and sometimes project managers.

What is the difference between Entry Level Programmer vs Software Developer?

AspectEntry Level ProgrammerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsAssociate's degree or coding bootcamp certificationBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field often preferred
Work EnvironmentEntry-level coding tasks, supervised projectsDesign, develop, and maintain software applications
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, IT departmentsSoftware firms, tech companies, enterprise IT teams

While both roles involve coding and software development, an Entry Level Programmer typically focuses on basic coding tasks under supervision, whereas a Software Developer often handles full project cycles, including design and testing. The roles overlap in skills and industry usage, but the Software Developer position generally requires more experience and responsibility.

What Is an Entry-Level Programmer?

As an entry-level programmer, you use software programming languages to create and maintain applications for in-house, proprietary use or clients. You go through an onboarding process to learn your company’s code base and their processes for software development. You work on a team with other programmers and developers, and your job duties include writing code to develop software according to required specifications, testing and debugging code, creating and rolling out fixes, and publishing finished code to the production server. As you gain experience and your skillset expands, you can take on jobs with more autonomy and responsibility.

More about Entry Level Programmer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Programmer jobs in California? The most popular types of Programmer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Programmer jobs in California? For Entry Level Programmer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Programmer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Programmer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Programmer jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Programmer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Programmer jobs in CA? For Entry Level Programmer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Entry Level Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Programmer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Internship, 67% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $54,866 per year, or $26.4 per hour.
PNT SE&I Entry Level Engineer

PNT SE&I Entry Level Engineer

SAIC

El Segundo, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

SAIC rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 78 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

70th of 203 rated it services

Job description

Job ID: 2613318

Location: El Segundo, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-06-04

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: No

Minimum Clearance Required: None

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_HYBRID


Description

SAIC is seeking an entry level systems or digital engineer to join our team of diverse Positioning Navigation (PNT) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) team. Participant will engage in a 1-year Engineering Rotational Program (ERP), spending ~3 months on each team, gaining experience, learning from senior engineers, and developing skills related to PNT SE&I.

The PNT SE&I Team provides Space Systems Command (SSC) specialized engineering, analysis, planning and execution expertise in support of Global Positioning System (GPS) Programs of Record (PoRs) and the PNT Enterprise. This includes:

  • Ensuring effective requirements integration across space, ground, and user; hardware and software; and all other aspects of systems and organizations within the Enterprise.
  • Maintaining the technical baseline, including identifying and documenting system specification and interface requirement traceability to sell-off verification and test events.
  • Modeling and simulating technical requirements and functionality across space, ground, and user equipment to help the government make system decisions.
  • Interacting with the prime contractor and government leads to ensure that all system requirements and interfaces are consistent and valid across the Enterprise.
  • Managing multiple system requirements baselines, and an integrated Enterprise baseline.
  • Supporting customer in defining, capturing, and maintaining the technical, schedule, and cost risk data throughout the system lifecycle as well as developing risk mitigation courses of action and assessing impacts of risks and proposed changes.
  • Supporting the customer with verification tracking to ensure the developer and source requirements are adequately verified.
  • Developing acquisition-related briefings, plans, papers, and other documentation.
  • Collaborating with prime contractors, other support contractors, government civilians, and members of the U.S. Space Force.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or similar.
  • Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance.
  • Extremely motivated individual who is a self-starter and works well in a team environment.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills as well as organizational skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to enable working, interfacing, and interrelating with diverse personnel and dynamic teams.
  • 0-2 years of professional experience required; however, relevant academic projects or internships are beneficial.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 2+ years’ experience as a systems engineer.
  • Active Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security Clearance.
  • Demonstrated experience working with Air Force/DoD customers in an acquisition environment, with Space systems.
  • Experience with requirements and interface management, risk management, and change board environments.
  • Experience writing and delivering technical documents and briefings.

Target salary range: $80,001 - $120,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

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