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High Performance Computing Engineer Jobs in California

RadixArk

Performance Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

... high-performance computing • Familiarity with profiling tools, performance debugging, tracing ... both engineers and customers Preferred : • Experience with CUDA, Triton, Pallas, ROCm, XLA, or ...

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$10

$59

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How much do high performance computing engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for high performance computing engineer in California is $59.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.65 and $67.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a High Performance Computing Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, parallel programming, and distributed systems, typically supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with HPC clusters, Linux/Unix environments, programming languages like C/C++ or Python, and tools such as MPI, OpenMP, and job schedulers is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for optimizing system performance and collaborating with researchers or end-users. These abilities ensure efficient computational solutions, maximize resource utilization, and drive innovation in data-intensive scientific or engineering projects.

What are some common challenges High Performance Computing Engineers face when optimizing system performance?

High Performance Computing Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing resource allocation, managing workload distribution, and minimizing system bottlenecks. They must ensure that hardware and software components interact efficiently, which can require deep knowledge of parallel computing, networking, and storage systems. Additionally, staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving technologies and troubleshooting complex performance issues are integral parts of the role. Collaborating closely with researchers and IT teams is essential to tailor solutions that meet specific computational needs.

What is a High Performance Computing Engineer?

A High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer is a specialist who designs, builds, and maintains advanced computing systems that deliver exceptional processing power for complex computational tasks. These professionals optimize hardware and software environments to support scientific research, large-scale simulations, and data-intensive applications. They work with supercomputers, clusters, and cloud HPC resources, ensuring high efficiency, scalability, and reliability. HPC Engineers also support researchers and organizations in maximizing the performance of their computing infrastructure.

What is the difference between High Performance Computing Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectHigh Performance Computing EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or master's in computer science, engineering, or related fields; knowledge of parallel computingBachelor's or master's in data science, statistics, or related fields; programming skills in Python, R
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, supercomputing centersBusiness, tech firms, research institutions
Industry UsageSupercomputing, scientific research, simulationsData analysis, machine learning, predictive modeling

High Performance Computing Engineers focus on developing and optimizing large-scale computing systems for scientific and technical applications, while Data Scientists analyze data to extract insights. Both roles require programming skills and work in tech-driven environments, but their core objectives differ: system performance versus data analysis.

What are the most commonly searched types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California? For High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California are:
High Performance Computing Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various High Performance Computing Engineer job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 9% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 67% Physical, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,381 per year, or $59.3 per hour.
Software Engineer, High Performance Computing (Starlink)

Software Engineer, High Performance Computing (Starlink)

SpaceX

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$163.40K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 hours ago

SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 142 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 59 rated aerospace companies

Job description

Job Summary:
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. As a Beam Planning Software Engineer on the Starlink program, you will be solving challenges that improve our ability to fully utilize the hardware we have deployed, providing customers with the best possible satellite internet experience.
Responsibilities:
• Develop highly reliable, real-time software that determines which beams (user, laser, gateway, etc) should be formed in order to provide the best possible user experience for our low-latency, high-bandwidth satellite-based global network.
• Participate in and lead architecture, design, and code reviews.
• Develop prototypes and manage experiments to prove out key design concepts.
• Develop tools for software development and deployment, data analysis and visualization, and test execution across multiple environments, including virtualized hardware environments, real hardware-in-the-loop simulations, and on-orbit testing.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or science discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree (internship experience is applicable).
• Development experience in assembly, C, or C++.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Preferred:
• Knowledgeable in real-time rendering, game engine development, physics simulation, or other real-time, resource-constrained, high-performance computing.
• Knowledgeable in network topology, numerical optimization techniques, graph theoretic approaches, or convex optimization.
• Developed, debugged, and deployed software that has been used in real world applications/projects.
• Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills, and engineering fundamentals.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements.
• Experience with distributed systems and internet services.
Company:
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft to facilitate space exploration. Founded in 2002, the company is headquartered in Hawthorne, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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