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Entry Level Software Qa Engineer Jobs in California

HME

Software QA Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

We are seeking a Software QA Engineer to join our IoT device team. This role focuses on ensuring high-quality product delivery through comprehensive testing, automation, and collaboration. At our ...

Apple

Health Software QA Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$149K - $249K/yr

We are looking for a Software QA Engineer to help ensure our Health experience is rock-solid and customer-focused. We're looking for critical thinkers who would like to play a key role qualifying ...

TabaPay, Inc.

Software QA Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$85K - $95K/yr

What We're Looking For TabaPay is looking for a Software QA and Testing engineer to help test new instant payment solutions and effectively manage testing requirements. This position requires a solid ...

McCain Inc,

Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Vista, CA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description We are seeking a Software QA Engineer who will be responsible for building and executing automated testing applications to ensure the quality and reliability of our ...

Apple

QA Engineer, Watch Software

Cupertino, CA · On-site

... Engineering and QA. As a member of our passionate watchOS QA team, you'll have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape and improve the software that allows our products to delight and inspire ...

Fortinet, Inc.

Staff Software QA Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

As a Staff Software QA Engineer, you will: * Design, develop, and execute test plans from functional specifications * Execution of test cases in all areas of the system including functional, system ...

Fortinet

Staff Software QA Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

As a Staff Software QA Engineer, you will: * Design, develop, and execute test plans from functional specifications * Execution of test cases in all areas of the system including functional, system ...

Apple

QA Engineer, Watch Software

Cupertino, CA

$114K - $236K/yr

... Engineering and QA. As a member of our passionate group in WatchOS QA, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape and improve the software that allows our products to delight and ...

Apple

QA Engineer, Watch Software

Cupertino, CA

$114K - $236K/yr

... Engineering and QA. As a member of our passionate watchOS QA team, you'll have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape and improve the software that allows our products to delight and inspire ...

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

Entry Level Software Qa Engineer information

See California salary details

$23.7K

$103.5K

$186.5K

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

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level software qa 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Software QA Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Software QA Engineer, you need a solid understanding of software development fundamentals, testing methodologies, and a relevant degree or coursework in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with bug tracking tools, test case management systems, and basic scripting languages such as Python or Java is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills help you effectively identify issues and collaborate with development teams. These skills ensure software quality, enhance team productivity, and contribute to reliable product releases.

What does an Entry Level Software QA Engineer do?

An Entry Level Software QA (Quality Assurance) Engineer is responsible for testing software applications to identify bugs, errors, or issues before the product is released to users. They write and execute test cases, report defects, and work closely with developers to ensure software quality. This role often involves both manual and automated testing, and it's a great way to learn about the software development lifecycle while building technical skills.

What is the difference between Entry Level Software Qa Engineer vs Software Tester?

AspectEntry Level Software Qa EngineerSoftware Tester
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field; basic knowledge of testing toolsOften a high school diploma or associate degree; focus on testing techniques
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with development teams in software development lifecyclePrimarily executes test cases, often in dedicated testing teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, and software firmsCommon in software companies, QA firms, and IT departments

Both roles focus on software quality assurance, but Entry Level Software Qa Engineers typically have broader responsibilities including test planning and process improvement, while Software Testers mainly execute test cases. The roles often overlap, especially at entry levels, but QA Engineers tend to have more involvement in the overall quality strategy.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry-level Software QA Engineers, and how can they effectively overcome them?

Entry-level Software QA Engineers often encounter challenges such as understanding complex software requirements, learning new testing tools, and managing communication across development teams. To overcome these, it's important to ask clarifying questions during requirement reviews, take advantage of onboarding resources and mentorship, and proactively seek feedback from more experienced testers. Building a habit of documenting test cases and results thoroughly also helps minimize errors and improves collaboration with developers and product managers.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Qa Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Qa Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Software Qa Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Software Qa Engineer job openings:
Entry Level Software Qa Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Software Qa Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,490 per year, or $49.8 per hour.
Software QA Engineer

Software QA Engineer

HME

Carlsbad, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

HME has been creating innovative products for the drive-thru and pro-audio industries since 1971. From the very beginning, we've known these solutions would never have happened without the customer-focused people who make up our company. HME has a team environment with a culture of collaboration, learning, and growth. With subsidiaries located in California, Missouri, Canada, UK, India, and China, companies around the world depend on HME for clear, reliable communication solutions. From setting the standard for drive-thru headsets and timer systems in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry to developing professional audio equipment used in the Olympic Games, HME strives to create the newest, most innovative products on the market while providing quality care and attention to its customers. At HME you will have the opportunity to learn and grow while developing our future products. Come join our team!
We are currently recruiting for a Software QA Engineer - IoT Devices.
We are seeking a Software QA Engineer to join our IoT device team. This role focuses on ensuring high-quality product delivery through comprehensive testing, automation, and collaboration.
At our core, we believe quality is never an accident - it is the result of intentional and intelligent effort.
What you will do in the position:
  • Test Design & Execution
    • Design, develop, maintain, and execute test cases and test plans at both functional and system levels
    • Perform black-box and gray-box testing on released products and products under development
    • Identify design and implementation defects
  • Testing Focus Areas
    • Functional, integration, and regression testing at both feature and system levels
    • End-to-end testing of IoT devices and systems
    • Distributed system validation (device-edge-cloud)
    • Real-world deployment validation (field testing)
  • IoT System-Level & Edge Testing
    • Testing across: Device → Edge → Cloud pipeline
    • Protocols: MQTT, WebSockets
    • Offline/low-connectivity scenarios
    • Firmware + OTA update validation
    • Hardware-software interaction testing
  • Automation
    • Identify automation opportunities and develop/maintain automated test suites
    • Experience with modern frameworks: Playwright / Postman / Cucumber / Behave
    • CI/CD integration: GitHub Actions / Azure DevOps pipelines
    • Containerized test execution: Docker-based test environments
    • API + contract testing: Pact, schema validation
    • Develop automated tests using scripting languages (e.g., Python)
  • AI-Driven Quality Engineering
    • Leverage AI/ML tools to:
      • Generate test cases from requirements/specifications
      • Identify test gaps and improve coverage
      • Perform intelligent defect clustering and prioritization
    • Use GenAI tools (e.g., Copilot, LLMs) to:
      • Auto-generate test scripts (Playwright/Python)
      • Assist in debugging and root cause analysis
    • Apply prompt engineering best practices for test generation and validation workflows
  • Defect Management & Analysis
    • Track and manage defects using bug tracking systems
    • Analyze test results and perform:
      • Troubleshooting
      • Issue triage
      • Root cause analysis
    • Collaborate cross-functionally to drive resolution
  • Process and Collaboration
    • Contribute to and improve quality engineering processes and initiatives
    • Work closely with:
      • Developers
      • Product Managers
      • QA Engineers
    • Advocate for testing best practices and influence system architecture

What It Takes to Succeed
To be successful in this role, you should:
  • Approach problems with critical and analytical thinking
  • Ability to leverage AI tools to improve productivity
  • Bias for automation first + shift-left testing
  • Strong system-level thinking
  • Demonstrate rigor, persistence, and ownership in completing assignments
  • Effectively communicate your ideas both verbally and in writing
  • Actively participate in team discussions and meetings

Required Qualifications
  • BA/BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
  • 0-3 years of experience in:
    • Quality engineering
    • Test automation
    • Software and/or hardware testing

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with AI-assisted development or QA tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, LLM-based workflows)
  • Experience testing AI/ML systems or data-driven applications
  • Knowledge of IoT protocols (MQTT)
  • Familiarity with edge computing platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, ARM-based systems)
  • Experience with containerized test environments and CI/CD pipelines
  • Exposure to observability platforms and production monitoring

Technical Experience
  • Testing IoT devices
  • Services and protocol testing (HTTP, JSON, REST APIs)
  • Applications running on Linux platforms
  • Automation scripting (e.g., Python)
  • Test frameworks such as Playwright and Postman

Tools & Methodologies
  • Agile software development environment experience
  • Familiarity with tools such as:
    • Jira
    • Xray
    • Confluence

Core Skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent planning and organizational abilities
  • Clear and effective written and verbal communication

The posted pay range, $75,200 - $100,300, is what we reasonably expect to pay for the role. This may vary depending on experience and other factors. Our benefits package includes tuition reimbursement; 3 weeks paid vacation your first year, paid holidays, medical, vision, and dental coverage, pet insurance, life insurance, and 401K contributions.
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee will occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds with assistance.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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