ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Freelance Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SaphoBio

GROWTH ENGINEER- Life Science

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Internships, co-ops, student ventures, research projects, freelance work, and substantial portfolio ... software approaches, showing what you built, how you measured it (hypotheses, success metrics ...

Single Grain

AI Automation Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

We are evolving into a tech-enabled services (TES) company, where software, automation, and ... Side projects, internal tools, freelance automations, or class projects all count. Show us the ...

Apply

Senior Product Manager, Coding

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

... freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value ... You must have worked as a software developer at a tech company. FAANG or equivalent is strongly ...

BLANKSPACES

Event/Marketing Coordinator

Venice, CA

$20/hr

... of individuals, freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and remote workers who ... Familiarity with CRM software, billing platforms, and marketing tools is a plus. * Creative eye for ...

BLANKSPACES

Location Manager

Venice, CA

$70K/yr

... of individuals, freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses and remote workers who ... M software, and cloud‑based applications. If you're someone looking to contribute to a team ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

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 Aug 23, 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

How much do freelance software engineers make?

Freelance software engineers' earnings vary widely based on experience, skills, project complexity, and client budget. On average, they can charge hourly rates from $50 to over $150, with annual income ranging from $50,000 to over $150,000 for experienced professionals working on high-demand projects. Rates often depend on expertise in specific programming languages, tools, and the ability to manage multiple clients.
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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,490 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

GROWTH ENGINEER- Life Science

SaphoBio

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

EARLY CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
About the Company
Sapho Bio is the developer of a rapid microbiology release platform for precision medicine. We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers committed to transforming pharmaceutical release testing through innovation, speed, and accuracy. We are a team built on ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement, scaling rapidly following product validation and commercial traction. Our culture emphasizes agency, innovation, intellectual curiosity, and continual learning.
About the Role
We are seeking an early-career Growth Engineer reporting to the Head of Growth to help Sapho Bio turn ambitious ideas into measurable growth. This is a hands-on role at the intersection of technology, communication, AI, experimentation, and go-to-market execution.
You will engineer the systems that power growth at Sapho Bio: AI apps, tools, and agents; an authoritative knowledge base that keeps generated content accurate and current without constant manual review; and the data pipelines and dashboards that show what is working. You will then put those systems to work on real business surfaces: technical and scientific content, website operations, events, and more.
You will work across the full experiment cycle: identify an opportunity, form a hypothesis, build a prototype, launch a test, measure the result, communicate what you learned, and improve the next version.
This role is designed for a recent graduate or early-career builder who is equally energized by creating, testing, analyzing, and communicating. You do not need years of traditional marketing experience. We care about evidence that you have built something, shipped it to real users or audiences, measured the result, and improved it.
Qualifications
Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Marketing, Life Sciences, or a related field.
  • At least 1 year of hands-on experience building and testing modern AI tools (such as fine-tuning models, retrieval and knowledge-base pipelines, or agentic workflows) and systematically evaluating their output for usefulness, accuracy, and consistency. Internships, co-ops, student ventures, research projects, freelance work, and substantial portfolio projects count.
  • Experience creating, managing, and scaling the distribution of technical or scientific content to real users or audiences.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated by the ability to translate technical or scientific concepts into clear, compelling language, with an interest in biotechnology or regulated industries (prior biotechnology experience is welcome but not required).
  • A portfolio, GitHub repository, personal site, or concise case study that includes at least two full-stack prototypes built with modern software approaches, showing what you built, how you measured it (hypotheses, success metrics, performance data), and how you approached the work.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, move quickly, and maintain strong attention to detail in a fast-paced startup environment, with a demonstrated ownership mentality and strong follow-through.
  • Must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of San Carlos, CA.

Responsibilities
  • Prototype and launch campaigns, content, digital experiences, and internal tools that test growth ideas quickly and make Sapho Bio's work compelling to scientific and business audiences.
  • Build and test AI apps, tools, and agents to accelerate research, content development, task execution, and data analysis; run structured tests to identify where AI improves quality or speed and where human review remains essential.
  • Build an authoritative knowledge base for content generation: ingest and annotate internal and external sources so that current policies, factual statements, FAQs, and regulatory context are always available as a grounded source of truth, reducing the need for manual review of generated content over time.
  • Turn what works into scalable, auditable workflows: repeatable systems, templates, automations, and documented playbooks that combine verifiable code with predictable AI steps with well-defined inputs and outputs, supported by measurement dashboards and a searchable record of learnings.
  • Translate complex technical and scientific work into accurate, audience-appropriate communication and content.
  • Own projects end to end and perform other duties as assigned in support of company growth.

Schedule & Location
  • This position is full-time, exempt, and primarily onsite in San Carlos, California.
  • The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, with regular in-person collaboration across the team.
  • Occasional local travel may be required for company events, customer research, training, or other business needs.

Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,000 - $115,000 annually
In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for stock option participation, subject to company equity plan terms.
Benefits
  • Paid Time Off: Unlimited PTO, plus company-recognized holidays.
  • Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • DoorDash Credit: $25 credit for lunch and dinner while working in the office.
  • 401(k) Plan with company matching, subject to plan terms.
  • Company-paid life insurance.
  • Stock option package.

Ideal Candidate Profile
You are someone who:
  • Takes full ownership of outcomes, not just assigned tasks.
  • Has a strong work ethic and consistently follows through on commitments.
  • Is naturally organized and enjoys building systems that scale.
  • Thrives when solving operational problems and improving processes.
  • Is intellectually curious and committed to continuous learning.
  • Learns quickly and adapts well to changing priorities.
  • Maintains a high level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
  • Enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment.
  • Leverages technology and AI tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Application Requirements
Your cover letter (one page) should include clear examples of:
  • Something you built and shipped (an app, tool, automation, or campaign), what happened after launch, and what you changed as a result.
  • A time you used or tested AI tools or agents to do real work, how you designed the workflow, and how you evaluated the output for accuracy and consistency.
  • A time you organized messy information (documents, data, or sources) into something structured and current that others could rely on.

Life at Sapho Bio
  • High-Impact Work: Help transform pharmaceutical testing and accelerate patient access to life-saving therapies.
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Financial Security: 401(k) with company matching and company-paid life insurance.
  • Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO and company-recognized holidays.
  • Connection & Community: Team lunches, office events, and offsite gatherings.
  • Competitive Compensation: Market-leading salary and meaningful equity participation.
  • Fast-Paced Environment: Join a team that moves quickly, learns continuously, and executes with purpose.
  • World-Class Team: Work alongside experienced scientists, engineers, and operators.
  • Prime Location: Sunny, collaborative workspace in San Carlos.

Sapho Bio is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment is at-will, in accordance with California law.

Apply