ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Media Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Streaming Media Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Description As a Streaming Media Software Engineer, you will develop new features for video streaming and web-based playback, contributing to overall media systems design, tuning adaptation ...

Apple

Streaming Media Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Streaming Media Software Engineer, you will develop new features for video streaming and web-based playback, contributing to overall media systems design, tuning adaptation ...

Apple

Software Engineer - Universal Media

San Diego, CA

$142K - $263K/yr

Our engineers build secure, end-to-end solutions. They develop the custom software used to process all the creative work, the tools that providers use to deliver that media, all the server-side ...

SpaceXAI

Software Engineer, Media

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180K - $440K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE: We're looking for exceptional media engineers who want to join us on a new project to deeply integrate SpaceXAI's advanced AI infrastructure into a platform used by around 600 million ...

SpaceXAI

Software Engineer, Media

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180K - $440K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE: We're looking for exceptional media engineers who want to join us on a new project to deeply integrate SpaceXAI's advanced AI infrastructure into a platform used by around 600 million ...

Pantera Capital

Software Engineer, Media

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180K - $440K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE: We're looking for exceptional media engineers who want to join us on a new project to deeply integrate SpaceXAI's advanced AI infrastructure into a platform used by around 600 million ...

New

SpaceXAI

Software Engineer, Media

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180K - $440K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE: We're looking for exceptional media engineers who want to join us on a new project to deeply integrate SpaceXAI's advanced AI infrastructure into a platform used by around 600 million ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsMedia Software Engineer JobsMedia Software Engineer Jobs in California

Media Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do media software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for media software engineer in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a media software engineer?

A Media Software Engineer is a technology professional who designs, develops, and maintains software applications that handle various forms of media, such as audio, video, images, and streaming content. They work on building tools and platforms for media processing, editing, playback, and distribution, often ensuring compatibility across different devices and formats. These engineers may collaborate with artists, producers, and other developers to create seamless media experiences, and they often need expertise in multimedia frameworks, codecs, and performance optimization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a media software engineer?

To thrive as a Media Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (such as C++, Java, or Python), a solid understanding of digital media formats, and typically a degree in computer science or related field. Experience with media processing frameworks (like FFmpeg, GStreamer), video/audio codecs, and familiarity with version control systems are commonly required. Creative problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are important soft skills that set candidates apart. These skills and qualities ensure the ability to develop high-quality media applications that perform reliably and efficiently in dynamic, collaborative environments.

What are some common challenges media software engineers face when integrating new media formats into existing platforms?

Media Software Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating new media formats, such as ensuring compatibility with legacy systems, optimizing media playback across various devices, and managing differences in codec support. Addressing these issues typically requires close collaboration with product managers, QA teams, and sometimes even third-party vendors to test and maintain a seamless user experience. Staying updated with evolving media standards and proactively identifying potential bottlenecks are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Media Software Engineer vs Video Software Engineer?

AspectMedia Software EngineerVideo Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; experience with multimedia frameworksBachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; expertise in video processing and codecs
Work EnvironmentDevelops multimedia applications for streaming, editing, and playback across platformsFocuses on video encoding, decoding, and playback optimization
Industry UsageUsed in media streaming services, multimedia apps, and broadcastingCommon in video conferencing, streaming platforms, and video editing tools

Media Software Engineers and Video Software Engineers share foundational skills in multimedia processing and programming. However, Media Software Engineers typically work on broader multimedia applications, while Video Software Engineers specialize in video-specific technologies like codecs and streaming. Both roles are vital in media and entertainment industries, often overlapping but with distinct focus areas.

What does a media software engineer do?

A media software engineer develops and maintains software applications related to media processing, such as video, audio, and image handling. They work with programming languages like C++, Python, or Java, and often use multimedia frameworks and tools to optimize media playback, editing, and streaming functionalities. The role typically requires knowledge of digital media standards and may involve collaboration with content creators and hardware integration.

What cities in California are hiring for Media Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Media Software Engineer job openings:

Streaming Media Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees
Learn more about Appleexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Apple is where individual creativities capture together, contributing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other's ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It's the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you'll do more than join something - you'll add something.
We are looking for a creative and dedicated engineer to join the Streaming Media team. This team delivers the technology that powers the media viewing and listening experiences across our entire ecosystem for both 1st party (TV+, Apple Music, Sports) and 3rd party content streaming services (Disney, Netflix, HBO). We are looking for a highly motivated software engineer to support us in the design and development of our next generation of media streaming technologies. The role offers an incredible opportunity to contribute in the stack that powers our adaptive bit-rate engine across billion+ devices.
Description
As a Streaming Media Software Engineer, you will develop new features for video streaming and web-based playback, contributing to overall media systems design, tuning adaptation algorithms, and integrating ML models to build rich experiences. Working cross-functionally, you will partner closely with applications, tooling, and data analytics teams to drive improvements in our player stack and launch new features. Our team crafts the protocols, implementations, and services that deliver industry-leading multimedia experiences to all of our customers. This role offers an incredible opportunity to learn from world-class experts across multiple disciplines both within Apple and in the industry.
Minimum Qualifications
Ability to understand end to end architectures and functional details of a complex system with multiple inter-dependencies
Strong software development experience in C / C++ for multi-threaded/systems development
Outstanding analytical, programming and debugging skills
Excellent communication skills, ability to collaborate and deliver under aggressive schedules
BS/MS in CS/CE or equivalent with 3-5 years of experience
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with audio visual media
Experience using LLMs in Software development

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apple logo

About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

View All Apple Jobs

Apply