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Jr Data Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Jr Algorithms/Video Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$80 - $150K/hr

Bachelor's or higher degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field. * Strong programming skills in C/C++, Python required, with experience in embedded ...

Be it core Java, full-stack Java, Web/UI designers, Big Data or Cloud or Mobility developers/architects, we have them all. GC/CITIZEN can apply Requirements: 3 years of experience with Hadoop ...

Principal Engineer - Identity

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$120 - $160/hr

JR\_050519Global Technology Solutions (GTS) at ResMed is a division dedicated to creating ... We build, deliver, and manage a portfolio of data management platforms and mobile offerings ...

Reviewing system logs, monitoring information, and performance data to identify potential issues ... Working with experienced engineers and cross-functional teams to investigate and resolve technical ...

Jr.AngularJS-JavaScript Developer

Santa Ana, CA ยท On-site

$57 - $69.75/hr

Be it core Java, full-stack Java, Web/UI designers, Big Data or Cloud or Mobility developers/architects, we have them all. AngularJS & JavaScript Apache Cordova / PhoneGap RESTFul web services ...

Showing results 41-60

Jr Data Engineer information

See California salary details

$43.9K

$128K

$175.2K

How much do jr data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for jr data engineer in California is $128,018.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,000.00 and $135,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Jr Data Engineer do?

A Jr Data Engineer is responsible for supporting the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines and systems. They work with senior data engineers to collect, clean, and organize data from various sources, ensuring that the data is reliable and accessible for analysis. Junior data engineers may also assist in troubleshooting data issues, optimizing data flows, and learning best practices in data engineering. Their role provides foundational experience in data management, database technologies, and programming.

What types of projects and tasks can a Jr Data Engineer expect to work on during their first year?

As a Jr Data Engineer, you can expect to be involved in projects such as building and maintaining data pipelines, cleaning and transforming raw data, and supporting the integration of new data sources. You'll likely collaborate closely with data analysts, senior engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure data is accessible and reliable for analysis. During your first year, you'll gain experience with ETL tools, cloud data platforms, and scripting languages, while learning best practices in data architecture and quality assurance. This hands-on involvement lays a strong foundation for future growth into more advanced engineering or analytics roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Jr Data Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Jr Data Engineer, you need a solid understanding of database concepts, SQL, and programming languages like Python or Java, usually supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with ETL tools, cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and version control systems like Git is typically required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for collaborating with teams and handling data issues. These combined skills ensure efficient data pipeline development, accurate data handling, and smooth integration of data solutions within an organization.

What is the difference between Jr Data Engineer vs Data Analyst?

AspectJr Data EngineerData Analyst
Required SkillsBasic SQL, Python, ETL processes, data pipeline developmentData visualization, SQL, Excel, statistical analysis
Work EnvironmentData engineering teams, cloud platforms, data warehousesBusiness units, reporting tools, dashboards
CertificationsEntry-level data engineering certifications (e.g., Google Cloud, AWS)Data analysis certifications (e.g., Microsoft, Tableau)

The Jr Data Engineer typically focuses on building and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructure, requiring skills in SQL, Python, and ETL processes. In contrast, a Data Analyst concentrates on interpreting data, creating reports, and visualizations. Both roles often work within similar industries and environments but serve different functions in data management and analysis.

What job categories do people searching Jr Data Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Jr Data Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Jr Data Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Jr Data Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Jr Data Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,018 per year, or $61.5 per hour.

Senior Engineer II, Inference Engine - Serving Engine

DigitalOcean

San Francisco, CA โ€ข Remote

$167K - $209K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

DigitalOcean is expanding its AI Infrastructure layer to support the next generation of AI-driven applications. We are seeking a Senior Engineer IIย to join our AI Inference Engine Systemsย team. In this role, you will be a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and delivering high-scale, resilient data plane services that power our "Inference as a Service" offering. You will work at the intersection of distributed systems and specialized AI hardware to ensure our customers can deploy and scale their models with industry-leading performance and reliability. This is a hands-on role, requiring you to be able to develop high quality software while availing of all the productivity boosts granted by the latest AI coding agents.ย 

What You'll Do:
  • Technical Leadership: Act as a technical leader on the team, driving the end-to-end design, development, and delivery of critical data plane components hosting large generative AI models.
  • System Design: Architect and refine system design proposals for our high-scale, multi-tenant AI inference cloud ecosystem, ensuring they meet rigorous availability and resiliency standards.
  • Performance Optimization: Implement and optimize distributed inference hosting using techniques like tensor/data parallelism, KV cache optimizations, and smart routing.
  • Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with Product Managers, customer-facing teams, and other engineering teams to align technical roadmaps with customer needs.
  • Mentorship: Coach and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Operational Excellence: Maintain and operate critical, high-scale services, utilizing observability tools and defining SLOs to ensure superior platform health.
What You'll Bring to DigitalOcean:
  • Distributed Systems Expertise: Strong experience with microservices, messaging systems, databases, and infrastructure as code.
  • AI/ML Domain Knowledge: Hands-on experience hosting large language or multimodal models using inference engines like vLLM, SGLang, or Modular.
  • Inference Frameworks: Familiarity with distributed inference serving frameworks such as llm-d, NVIDIA Dynamo, or Ray Serve.
  • Hardware & Interconnects: Understanding of GPU-level optimization and experience with interconnect technologies like NVlink, XGMI, or RoCE.
  • Architecture Proficiency: Knowledge of common LLM architectures and optimization techniques (e.g., continuous batching, quantization).
  • Software Engineering: Expert-level proficiency in GoLang or Python and familiarity with gRPC.
  • Cloud Operations: Proven experience shipping customer-facing software products and running critical services in a high-scale environment similar to DigitalOcean.
  • Open Source Mindset: Experience integrating and building with open-source software.
Compensation Range:ย 
  • $167,200 - $209,000

*This is a remote role

JR: 2026-7591

#LI-Remote