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Manual Software Testing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer

Monterey, CA ยท On-site

$110/hr

Software Testing - Design, develop, and execute comprehensive manual and automated test plans, including unit, integration, and system testing. * Defect Tracking - Identify, record, document ...

Around 1-3+ years of experience in manual software testing or a similar QA role. * Solid understanding of testing concepts such as smoke testing, regression testing, and structured bug reporting.

SDET Test Engineer - Remote

San Jose, CA ยท Remote

$60 - $112/hr

Perform manual and automated testing and document results. * Identify, report, and track bugs with ... Software Testing * Automation Testing * Test Case Design * Regression Testing * Bug Tracking

New

SDET Test Engineer - Remote

Palo Alto, CA ยท Remote

$60 - $112/hr

Perform manual and automated testing and document results. * Identify, report, and track bugs with ... Software Testing * Automation Testing * Test Case Design * Regression Testing * Bug Tracking

New

Perform manual and automated testing and document results. * Identify, report, and track bugs with ... Software Testing * Automation Testing * Test Case Design * Regression Testing * Bug Tracking

New

Perform manual and automated testing and document results. * Identify, report, and track bugs with ... Software Testing * Automation Testing * Test Case Design * Regression Testing * Bug Tracking

New

Showing results 21-40

Manual Software Testing information

See California salary details

$10

$41

$60

How much do manual software testing jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for manual software testing in California is $41.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.22 and $48.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is manual software testing?

A Manual Software Testing job involves manually executing test cases without using automation tools to identify defects in software applications. Testers validate functionality, usability, and performance by simulating real user scenarios. They analyze requirements, create test cases, execute tests, and report bugs to ensure software quality. This role requires attention to detail, analytical thinking, and effective communication to collaborate with developers and stakeholders.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a manual software tester?

As a Manual Software Tester, your daily responsibilities often include reviewing software requirements, designing and executing test cases, documenting defects, and collaborating closely with developers and product teams to ensure issues are resolved. You will spend a significant portion of your day performing exploratory, functional, and regression testing on new or updated software features. Clear communication and meticulous reporting are important, as testers often provide detailed feedback that improves product quality. This role is integral to maintaining high standards in software release cycles and contributing to continuous improvement within the development team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a manual software tester?

To thrive as a Manual Software Tester, you need a solid understanding of software development processes, attention to detail, and proficiency in creating and executing test cases, usually supported by a relevant degree or practical experience. Familiarity with testing tools such as JIRA, Bugzilla, or TestRail, and certifications like ISTQB can enhance your technical proficiency. Strong analytical thinking, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively make candidates stand out in this position. These skills ensure thorough defect detection, clear documentation, and seamless teamwork, which are critical for delivering high-quality software products.

How to become a manual software tester?

To become a manual software tester, you should develop a good understanding of software development life cycles, testing methodologies, and defect tracking tools. Gaining knowledge of basic programming, attention to detail, and strong analytical skills are essential, and obtaining certifications like ISTQB can improve job prospects. Entry-level positions often require a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training provided for specific testing processes.

Is manual software testing in demand?

Manual software testing remains in demand as many companies require human oversight to identify user experience issues and complex bugs. While automation testing is growing, manual testing skills are still essential for certain projects, especially in environments with frequent changes or limited automation resources.

What are the most commonly searched types of Manual Software Testing jobs in California?

The most popular types of Manual Software Testing jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Manual Software Testing jobs in California?

For Manual Software Testing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Manual Software Testing jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Manual Software Testing jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Manual Software Testing jobs?

Cities in California with the most Manual Software Testing job openings:

Infographic showing various Manual Software Testing job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,032 per year, or $41.4 per hour.

Software Engineer

Monterey, CA โ€ข On-site

$110/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Radiance Technologies is an employee-owned company with benefits that are unmatched by most companies in the Monterey Bay, California area. Employee ownership, generous 401K and profit sharing, health/dental/life/vision insurance benefits, interesting assignments, educational reimbursement, competitive salaries, and a pleasant work environment combine to make Radiance Technologies a great place to work and succeed.
The Software Engineer will advance the capabilities of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) by providing software design, development, and maintenance. In this role, you will bridge the gap between software development, quality assurance, and technical writing. You will provide programming support to our engineering teams while also performing software testing procedures and comprehensive documentation tasks.. NRL is in Monterey, CA and the work would be performed in NRL's facilities.
Salary Range: $110-125K
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Programming Support - Assist software engineering teams with writing, debugging, optimizing, and maintaining code modules.

  • Collaboration Work - closely with senior developers to troubleshoot complex issues and integrate new features into the existing codebase.

  • Software Transition - Deploy changes to software to the operational environment at FNMOC and provide reports back to the team.

  • Software Testing - Design, develop, and execute comprehensive manual and automated test plans, including unit, integration, and system testing.

  • Defect Tracking - Identify, record, document thoroughly, and track bugs using standard issue tracking systems (e.g., Jira, GitLab).

  • Documentation - Create and maintain clear, accurate technical documentation, API guides, release notes, and user manuals

Required Experience:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or any other relevant technical field

  • Secret Security Clearance

  • 2+ Years of Software Development Experience

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience with:

  • Programming languages such as Python, Fortran, Bash/KShell

  • Data structures

  • Algorithm Development

  • Documentation and Technical Writing

  • Self-motivated yet able to work well within a development team

  • Strong oral and written communication skills

Strong additional consideration for experience with:
  • Weather Modeling

  • Operational Center experience

Radiance Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.