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Entry Level Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

Zoomcar

Software Development Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Fortinet is looking for a Software Development Engineer to assist our R&D Team. Responsibilities * Develop and maintain cloud-based software solutions, ensuring scalability, reliability, and ...

Zoomcar

Software Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$123 - $151/hr

Fortinet is looking for a Software Development Engineer for our R&D Team. Job Responsibilities * Develop and maintain software components on current and future networking related products. * Design ...

Esri

Software Development Engineer

Redlands, CA · On-site

... the full development lifecycle and cutting-edge GIS solutions. Responsibilities * Work with a team of software engineers, product engineers, and designers dedicated to help users expose their ...

Fastly

Software Development Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$155K - $186K/yr

Software Development Engineer - API Services The API Services team owns critical services to ensure the performance and reliability of Fastly's Control Plane. As a Software Development Engineer, you ...

Webhosting

Software Development Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$155 - $186/hr

Software Development Engineer - API Services The API Services team owns critical services to ensure the performance and reliability of Fastly's Control Plane. As a Software Development Engineer, you ...

New

Esri

Software Development Engineer

Redlands, CA

Diagnose and fix software issues * Collaborate with other programmers and developers across teams throughout the development process Requirements * One (1) year of experience in the job offered, or ...

Fastly

Software Development Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$155K - $186K/yr

Software Development Engineer - API Services The API Services team owns critical services to ensure the performance and reliability of Fastly's Control Plane. As a Software Development Engineer, you ...

Esri

Software Development Engineer

Redlands, CA · On-site

As a developer on our team, you will build software leveraging Esri's products and APIs for ... you'll be exposed to the full development lifecycle and cutting-edge GIS solutions.

Esri

Software Development Engineer

Redlands, CA · On-site

$137K - $140K/yr

Diagnose and fix software issues * Collaborate with other programmers and developers across teams throughout the development process Requirements * One (1) year of experience in the job offered, or ...

Fortinet

Software Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$123K - $151K/yr

Rich experience in cloud based product related software development and cross-platform development Strong knowledge and experiences and hands-on programming skills in Python, and debugging skills;

Esri

Software Development Engineer

Redlands, CA · On-site

$150K - $153K/yr

... the full development lifecycle and cutting-edge GIS solutions. Responsibilities * Work with a team of software engineers, product engineers, and designers dedicated to help users expose their ...

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All JobsSoftware Development Engineer JobsEntry Level Software Development Engineer JobsEntry Level Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

Entry Level Software Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$23.7K

$103.5K

$186.5K

How much do entry level software development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level software development engineer in California is $103,490.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,100.00 and $118,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level software development engineer?

Entry Level Software Development Engineers are individuals who are new to the software development field and typically have less than two years of professional experience. Their main responsibilities include writing, testing, and debugging code under the supervision of senior developers. They often work on small projects or parts of larger projects while learning industry best practices and development tools. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those transitioning into software engineering from another field, providing foundational experience and growth opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level software development engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Software Development Engineer, you need a solid understanding of programming languages like Java, Python, or C++, along with a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems such as Git, basic debugging tools, and common development environments is expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective teamwork, and a willingness to learn quickly set outstanding candidates apart. These skills and qualities enable new engineers to contribute to projects efficiently, adapt to evolving technologies, and collaborate in dynamic development teams.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level software development engineers during their first year on the job?

Entry Level Software Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting to new codebases, learning company-specific tools and workflows, and effectively collaborating within cross-functional teams. They may also need to balance writing clean, maintainable code with meeting project deadlines. Regular feedback from more experienced team members and participation in code reviews can help address these challenges and accelerate the learning curve.

What is the difference between Entry Level Software Development Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectEntry Level Software Development EngineerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field; internships preferredBachelor's in CS or related field; experience varies
Work EnvironmentTech companies, startups, corporate IT teamsTech firms, startups, freelance projects
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech industry, large corporationsWidespread across industries, including tech and non-tech
Search & Comparison IntentOften searched by new graduates or entry-level job seekersBroader, includes experienced roles and freelance work

Entry Level Software Development Engineers typically have a formal education background and internships, working in structured tech environments. Software Developers may have similar credentials but often include more experienced professionals or freelancers. Both roles focus on coding and software creation, but the Engineer role emphasizes learning and growth in a corporate setting, while the Developer role can be more flexible and diverse in work environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Software Development Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Software Development Engineer jobs in California?

For Entry Level Software Development Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Software Development Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Software Development Engineer jobs in California are:

Entry Level Software Development Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Software Development Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,490 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

Software Development Engineer

Zoomcar

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Fortinet is looking for a Software Development Engineer to assist our R&D Team.

Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain cloud-based software solutions, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
  • Build high-performance and scalable security data analytics platforms.
  • Participate in system design discussions and contribute to technical decision-making.
  • Collaborate closely with developers, QA engineers, and DevOps teams.
  • Continuously improve system performance, reliability, and scalability.
  • Research emerging technologies and propose innovative solutions.
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (preferred).
  • Solid software development experience with Golang, Java, or Python.
  • Proven experience in developing and deploying applications in cloud environments (e.g., GCP, AWS, or Azure).
  • Strong understanding of distributed systems and microservices architecture.
  • Experience with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Familiarity with database technologies such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or NoSQL databases.
  • Positive team attitude, strong communication skills, and professionalism.
  • High degree of self-motivation and ability to learn independently.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $100,000-$120,000. Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program; bonus eligibility is reviewed at time of hire and annually at the Company’s discretion.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@fortinet.com.

Fortinet is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in our company, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, military/veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.

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