ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Freelance Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

CreativeCircle

Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$90 - $95.79/hr

Software Engineer Software Engineer - ML Data Infrastructure & Pipeline Engineering Scope: Contract ... Benefits Creative Circle's Freelance Employee benefits package includes eligibility for Minimum ...

Abbott

Cloud Software Engineer II

Los Angeles, CA

$81K - $141K/yr

Minimum 2 years of experience in software development (combination of programming-heavy coursework, school projects, freelance work and professional experience). * Excellent communication skills and ...

Abbott

Cloud Software Engineer II

Sylmar, CA · On-site

$81K - $141K/yr

Minimum 2 years of experience in software development (combination of programming-heavy coursework, school projects, freelance work and professional experience). * Excellent communication skills and ...

Abbott

Cloud Software Engineer II

Los Angeles, CA

$81K - $141K/yr

Minimum 2 years of experience in software development (combination of programming-heavy coursework, school projects, freelance work and professional experience). * Excellent communication skills and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsSoftware Engineer JobsFreelance Software Engineer JobsFreelance Software Engineer Jobs in California

Freelance Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$23.7K

$103.5K

$186.5K

How much do freelance software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance software 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 a Freelance Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, proficiency in relevant languages (such as Python, JavaScript, or Java), and a good understanding of software development methodologies. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, cloud platforms, and project management tools is highly beneficial, along with a portfolio or certifications to demonstrate expertise. Excellent communication, time management, and self-motivation are critical soft skills for managing client relationships and project deadlines independently. These competencies are essential for delivering high-quality work, maintaining client trust, and sustaining a successful freelance business.

What Does a Freelance Software Engineer Do?

Freelance software engineers design and develop applications for clients on a short- or long-term contract basis. In this role, your job duties may include coordinating with systems analysts and programmers to determine the scope of the project, developing new or modifying existing software according to your client's needs and expectations, and analyzing computer specifications and layouts to build a better system. You also troubleshoot and update the application when necessary. Freelance software engineers may work remotely from home or they may occasionally travel to their client’s office to perform job duties. You may work primarily with one client at a time, or you may choose to contract with many different clients.

Can I pay someone to code for me?

A freelance software engineer can be hired to write code or develop software on a project basis. This is common for tasks like app development, website creation, or automation, often involving remote collaboration and clear project specifications. Hiring freelancers allows flexibility but requires careful communication of requirements and expectations.

Can a software engineer be a freelancer?

Yes, a software engineer can work as a freelancer by offering services such as coding, app development, or consulting independently. Freelance software engineers typically use online platforms, manage their own schedules, and require skills in communication and project management.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Senior freelance software engineers with specialized skills, extensive experience, and a strong client network can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually. Achieving this level often requires working on high-value projects, consulting, or developing products with significant market demand. Income varies based on expertise, location, and workload.

How do freelance software engineers typically manage client communication and project expectations?

Freelance software engineers usually handle client communication directly, which means clear and regular updates are crucial for building trust and ensuring project success. Setting expectations early—such as deliverables, timelines, and feedback processes—helps prevent misunderstandings and scope creep. Many freelancers use project management tools, structured status reports, and scheduled check-ins to keep projects on track. Balancing multiple clients can be challenging, so effective time management and proactive communication are key to maintaining client satisfaction and repeat business.

What is a freelance software engineer?

A freelance software engineer is an independent professional who offers software development services to clients on a contract or project basis, rather than being a full-time employee at a company. They may work on a variety of projects, such as building websites, creating apps, or developing custom software solutions. Freelance software engineers typically manage their own schedules, seek out clients, and are responsible for handling business operations like billing and taxes. This flexible career path allows them to work with different clients and industries, often remotely or from any location.

Can you make 10k a month freelancing?

Freelance software engineers can potentially earn $10,000 or more per month, especially with specialized skills, a strong client base, and high-demand technologies like cloud computing or AI. Achieving this income level often requires building a solid reputation, efficient project management, and consistent work volume, which can vary based on experience and market conditions.
More about Freelance Software Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Software Engineer jobs in California? For Freelance Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Freelance Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Freelance Software Engineer job openings:
Freelance Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Software Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% 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 Engineer

CreativeCircle

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$90 - $95.79/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer

Software Engineer - ML Data Infrastructure & Pipeline Engineering

Scope: Contract
Duration: 6 Months (Potential Extension)
Hours: 40 Hours/Week
Location: Foster City, CA
Onsite Requirement: 5 Days/Week Preferred (Hybrid flexibility may be considered for exceptional candidates)
Pay Range: $90-$95.79/hour (W2)

Ideal Candidate
A mid-level software engineer with strong C++ skills and experience processing large-scale datasets. Candidates who have built robust data pipelines, backend services, or distributed systems (and have exposure to embeddings, vector search, similarity search, or ML infrastructure) will be especially successful in this role.

Interview Process

Round 1: C++ Coding Assessment
Round 2: Systems Design / Technical Interview
Final Round: Hiring Team Interview

Overview
We are partnering with a leading autonomous vehicle company seeking a Software Engineer to help build and scale the data infrastructure that supports production machine learning and autonomous vehicle systems.

This team is responsible for preparing and processing large-scale datasets used to train production ML models. The engineer will focus on improving the reliability, scalability, automation, and performance of the pipelines and services that power data preparation workflows.

The ideal candidate has experience building robust data processing systems, working with large volumes of data, and developing production-grade software in distributed environments. Experience with vector search, embeddings, similarity search, or ML infrastructure is highly desirable.

What You'll Do

Data Processing & Pipeline Engineering

  • Design, build, and maintain large-scale data processing pipelines
  • Improve the stability, reliability, and automation of existing data workflows
  • Process and manage massive datasets in distributed computing environments
  • Optimize performance and scalability across data infrastructure
  • Build systems that support continuous, production-grade data processing

Backend & Infrastructure Development

  • Develop and maintain backend services that support data preparation workflows
  • Build infrastructure that enables efficient dataset generation and management
  • Create robust, maintainable software focused on operational excellence
  • Partner with engineering teams to improve service reliability and system performance

Machine Learning Data Infrastructure

  • Support workflows used to prepare training datasets for production ML models
  • Contribute to infrastructure that enables embedding generation, vector processing, and similarity search
  • Help scale systems that support ML and LLM-related development efforts

Required Qualifications

  • 3+ years of software engineering experience
  • Strong C++ development skills (required)
  • Experience building and maintaining large-scale data processing pipelines
  • Experience working with high-volume datasets in distributed or scalable environments
  • Strong understanding of data processing, data infrastructure, and system reliability
  • Experience building production-quality backend services or infrastructure
  • Familiarity with SQL and large-scale data operations
  • Ability to write efficient, scalable, and maintainable code

Technologies & Backgrounds That Translate Well
Candidates may come from backgrounds involving:

  • Distributed Data Processing
  • Data Infrastructure Engineering
  • ML Platform Engineering
  • Search Infrastructure
  • Backend Systems Engineering
  • Large-Scale Analytics Platforms

Relevant technologies may include:

  • C++
  • Spark
  • Databricks
  • Presto
  • Distributed Compute Platforms
  • Vector Databases
  • Similarity Search Systems
  • Embedding Pipelines

We are looking forward to your application! No remote candidates will be considered; please only apply if you are able to be on site in Foster City, CA.

In this position, you may have access to client or customer systems, confidential and/or proprietary information or data. This position is onsite and requires you to work closely with other individuals in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Creative Circle's Freelance Employee benefits package includes eligibility for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) medical plan, dental/vision/term life package, discount prescription program, critical illness, accident, tele-behavioral health, and 401(k) plan. Sick leave is provided to Candidates whose assignment work location is in a state or city subject to sick leave laws. A Minimum Value (MV) PPO medical plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and paid holiday eligibility are based on length and dates of service.

- For Creative Circle to represent you for this opportunity, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa such as a H-1B, TN, or O visa. We do not support or provide training for STEM/OPT programs. Additionally, you must be physically located in and perform the work for our client in the United States.This job was first posted by Creative Circle on 07/20/2026 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed.Everforth Creative Circle is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results. Everforth Creative Circle will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact your Recruiter (the person you'll be interviewing with) or a member of our Human Resources team to make arrangements. Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Creative Circle.