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Entry Level Software Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

We are looking for a self-driven entry level software engineer to join our Fashion Nova applications team! As an engineer on our core consumer applications team the code you write will touch our core ...

Passion for finding problems with software and helping ensure they never happen again. * Easily bored by monotony, would rather write a script to automate it. * BS / MS in Computer Science or related ...

We are looking for a self-driven entry level software engineer to join our Fashion Nova applications team! As an engineer on our core consumer applications team the code you write will touch our core ...

About the Role As a Software Engineer, Business Systems you will have the opportunity to architect and manage the Apex "Operating System" platform from the ground up. Reporting to the Business ...

Junior Web Application Developer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$78K - $101K/yr

Currently, We are looking for entry-level software programmers, Java Full stack developers, Python/Java developers, Data analysts/Data Engineers/ Data Scientists, Machine Learning engineers for ...

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Entry Level Software information

See California salary details

$29.1K

$99K

$238.3K

How much do entry level software jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level software in California is $98,952.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,700.00 and $104,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectEntry Level SoftwareEntry Level Software Developer
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or associate degree; some roles may require coding bootcampsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; foundational coding skills
Work EnvironmentOffice, remote, or hybrid; often in tech companies or IT departmentsSimilar; typically in tech firms, startups, or IT teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed broadly for entry-level roles in tech, IT, and software companiesSpecifically refers to roles involving software development tasks

Entry Level Software is a broad term for initial roles in tech, while Entry Level Software Developer specifically focuses on software creation and coding tasks. Both roles often require similar foundational skills, but the developer role emphasizes programming and software design. Understanding these differences helps job seekers target the right positions based on their skills and career goals.

What is the easiest entry-level tech job?

An entry-level software role such as a junior developer or QA tester is often considered among the easiest tech jobs to start with minimal experience. These positions typically require basic programming knowledge, familiarity with common tools, and sometimes certifications like CompTIA or entry-level coding bootcamps.

What is L1, L2, L3, and L4 developer?

In the context of entry-level software roles, L1, L2, L3, and L4 typically refer to different levels of experience and responsibility, with L1 being the most junior and L4 more senior. These levels often indicate progression in skills, complexity of tasks, and expectations, with L1 focusing on basic coding and L4 involving system design and leadership. Employers may use these designations to structure career growth and assign appropriate tasks based on experience.

What kinds of projects and tasks can an entry-level software developer expect to work on?

Entry-level software developers typically start by working on smaller features, bug fixes, or assisting with code maintenance under the supervision of more experienced team members. You'll often participate in code reviews, write unit tests, and gradually take on more complex assignments as you build your skills. Collaboration is common, so expect to work closely with other developers, testers, and sometimes product managers. Over time, you'll gain exposure to the full software development lifecycle and have opportunities to contribute to larger projects.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced software engineers, especially those in senior or specialized roles such as machine learning engineers or software architects at large tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually. These roles often require advanced skills, extensive experience, and sometimes stock options or bonuses as part of compensation packages.

What are entry level software jobs?

Entry level software jobs are positions designed for individuals who are new to the software industry, typically requiring little to no prior professional experience. These roles often include titles like Junior Software Developer, Software Engineer I, or Software Intern, and focus on basic coding, testing, and debugging tasks under supervision. Entry level software professionals work closely with more experienced engineers to build their skills and gain familiarity with software development processes, tools, and best practices. These jobs usually require a foundational understanding of programming languages and may require a degree in computer science or related fields.

How to get a software job with no experience?

Entry level software positions often require foundational programming skills in languages like Python, Java, or C++, which can be gained through online courses or coding bootcamps. Building a portfolio of personal projects, contributing to open-source, and obtaining certifications such as CompTIA or Microsoft can improve your chances, even without prior work experience.

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

To thrive as an Entry Level Software Engineer, you generally need a solid understanding of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), algorithms, and data structures, often supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, basic software development tools, and sometimes relevant certifications (such as AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals) is helpful. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and a willingness to learn make candidates stand out in this position. These skills and qualities are crucial for writing effective code, collaborating with teams, and adapting to evolving project requirements.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software jobs in California? The most popular types of Software jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Software jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Software job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Software job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,952 per year, or $47.6 per hour.
Software Engineer - AI & Edge Kubernetes Orchestration - San Jose, CA

Software Engineer - AI & Edge Kubernetes Orchestration - San Jose, CA

ZEDEDA

San Jose, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
ZEDEDA unlocks the value of AI where it matters most, enabling enterprises to create, secure and operate edge AI at scale. They are seeking a curious, self-driven entry level Software Engineer to work on real-world problems in edge orchestration, collaborating with experienced engineers and contributing to the development of software components that bridge AI model lifecycle management with Kubernetes-based edge orchestration.
Responsibilities:
• Design, develop, and maintain software components that bridge AI model lifecycle management with Kubernetes-based edge orchestration.
• Build and extend Kubernetes controllers, operators, and Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) to support AI workload scheduling and deployment at the edge.
• Work with ONNX, GenAI, and ML models — integrating them into production-ready pipelines and edge environments.
• Use AI coding agents (Claude Code, Copilot, Codex, etc.) as first-class tools in your daily development workflow.
• Participate in design discussions, write clean code, submit pull requests, and iterate rapidly based on feedback.
• Contribute to open-source components related to ZEDEDA's platform and the broader cloud-native ecosystem.
• Write and maintain Helm charts for deploying services into Kubernetes clusters.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across AI, infrastructure, and product to ship features end-to-end.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, AI/ML, or a related technical field — or equivalent practical experience.
• Foundational knowledge of machine learning concepts: neural networks, deep learning, model training and inference, and attention mechanisms (self-attention / transformers).
• Familiarity with ONNX models, GenAI model architectures, or frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Practical exposure to Kubernetes — understanding of pods, deployments, services, namespaces, and controllers. Familiarity with lightweight Kubernetes distributions such as k3s is a plus, particularly in the context of resource-constrained edge environments.
• Comfort working with Git, submitting pull requests, reading diffs, and collaborating in a version-controlled environment.
• Ability to work with vague or evolving problem statements and drive toward clarity independently.
• Language-agnostic development mindset — you pick the right tool for the job and learn what you don't know.
• Comfortable with basic Linux commands and shell scripting.
Preferred:
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes advanced constructs: Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs), Operators, Controllers, and the kubeconfig API.
• CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) or CKD certification, or active preparation for it.
• Experience with AI agent frameworks: LangChain, LangGraph, LangFuse, or similar.
• Demonstrated use of AI coding tools (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex) in real development workflows — not just familiarity, but fluency.
• Prior contribution to, or porting of, open-source projects.
• Experience with CI/CD systems: Jenkins, CircleCI, GitHub Actions, or similar.
• Familiarity with AWS or Azure tooling.
• Knowledge of cloud-native technologies: Kafka, REST APIs, SSO/OAuth, microservices patterns.
• Exposure to Helm chart authoring, not just usage.
• Awareness of edge computing concepts, IoT, or distributed systems.
• Familiarity with edge AI hardware platforms and inference infrastructure: NVIDIA Jetson (Jetpack SDK), Qualcomm IQ9, NVIDIA Triton Inference Server, vLLM, or similar model serving frameworks.
• Familiarity with ArgoCD or other GitOps-based continuous delivery tools for Kubernetes.
Company:
ZEDEDA is a provider of distributed orchestration and virtualization software for Edge AI Compute. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in San Jose, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.