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Entry Level Programmer Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA (NOW HIRING)

Muon Space

Software Engineer, Entry-Level

San Jose, CA

$142K - $169K/yr

They make it possible to build, test, launch, and run constellations of satellites for a wide variety of missions. Entry-level software engineers are expected to bring significant skills and training ...

New

Muon Space

Software Engineer, Entry-Level

San Jose, CA · On-site

$142K - $169K/yr

They make it possible to build, test, launch, and run constellations of satellites for a wide variety of missions. Entry-level software engineers are expected to bring significant skills and training ...

New

Rosendin

Engineer I

San Jose, CA

The Engineer I is an entry-level engineering position and is expected to learn and develop competency in the Essential Duties and Responsibilities. Part of the responsibility will be to provide ...

Rosendin Electric, Inc.

Engineer I

San Jose, CA · On-site

The Engineer I is an entry-level engineering position and is expected to learn and develop competency in the Essential Duties and Responsibilities. Part of the responsibility will be to provide ...

Etched

Technical Recruiter (Entry Level)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is ... Job Summary Technical Recruiter - Entry Level This role is for someone early in their career who is ...

Etched

Technical Recruiter (Entry Level)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is ... Job Summary Technical Recruiter - Entry Level This role is for someone early in their career who is ...

1440 Multiversity

Commis Chef (Entry-Level)

Scotts Valley, CA · On-site

$20.75 - $26.25/hr

Commis Chef (Entry-Level) | Kitchen Table 1440 Multiversity | Santa Cruz Mountains, CA Join Our ... We offer programing that inspire people to Live, Lead, Love, Work, and Wonder more fully. At 1440 ...

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Entry Level Programmer information

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How much do entry level programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level programmer in Santa Cruz, CA is $30.86, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $26.63 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 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 Santa Cruz, CA? The most popular types of Programmer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Programmer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA? For Entry Level Programmer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Programmer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Programmer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA are:
What cities near Santa Cruz, CA are hiring for Entry Level Programmer jobs? Cities near Santa Cruz, CA with the most Entry Level Programmer job openings:
Entry Level Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Programmer job openings in Santa Cruz, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $64,193 per year, or $30.9 per hour.

Software Engineer, Entry-Level

Muon Space

San Jose, CA

$142K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

About the role

Software Engineers at Muon work on embedded software on satellites and test equipment, physics simulations, customer-facing APIs and services, user interfaces, scheduling algorithms, data pipelines, computer vision, signal processing, cloud systems and more. They make it possible to build, test, launch, and run constellations of satellites for a wide variety of missions.

Entry-level software engineers are expected to bring significant skills and training, and then to quickly develop into experts in their domains to accelerate Muon's Mission with high quality software and systems. They must be a high performer ready to work in an exciting, fast-paced environment that values continuous improvement, embraces taking risks, and crafts the right solutions to delight our customers.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities
  • Take ownership of the code for a new software capability on ground or in space
  • Propose and iterate on the design for software components
  • Write tests and monitoring to validate correctness of one's own code
  • Conduct analysis to support both development and testing
  • Quickly learn new skills, technology and techniques
  • Communicate clearly and accurately
  • Complete work in a timely manner
Required Qualifications
  • A bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, computational mathematics or a related field
  • Proficient in C++, Python, TypeScript or a similar high-level language
  • Coursework or relevant experience in operating systems, algorithms, data structures, physics and statistics
Desirable Qualifications
  • Expertise in embedded software, network protocols, hardware and software testing, FPGA programming, GPU programming or other relevant disciplines
  • Experience with satellites, robots, or other autonomous systems
  • Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. programming, robotics or rocket club, etc.)
  • Understanding of orbital mechanics
  • Experience with mathematical optimization, machine learning, signal processing or advanced algorithms
  • Experience with cloud environments and distributed systems
  • Advanced coursework or experience in physics, statistics, distributed systems, or embedded software
Salary

The salary range for this role is $142,000 - $169,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process. 

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