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Media Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Figma

Software Engineer - Graphics & Media

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$164K - $203K/yr

The Pixel Engine team is looking for engineers with domain expertise in Media processing and ... We'd love to hear from you if you have: * 5+ years of professional experience shipping software ...

The Walt Disney Company

Sr Software Engineer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$148K - $199K/yr

Building the future of Disney's media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products ... As a Senior Software Engineer, you will be expected to develop backend solutions in a dynamic ...

The Walt Disney Company

Software Engineer II

Glendale, CA · On-site

$103K - $141K/yr

Software Engineer II Req ID: 10148551 Technology is at the heart of Disney's past, present, and ... Building the future of Disney's media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products ...

The Walt Disney Company

Sr Software Engineer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

Building the future of Disney's media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products ... As a Senior Software Engineer on this team, you will: * Define platform capabilities, designing and ...

Remilia-Corporation

Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

We're looking for software engineers who care about craft, interesting engineering challenges and ... Media pipelines (upload, processing, delivery) * In-game social systems, chat, community, or UGC ...

Figma

Software Engineer - Graphics & Media

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

The Pixel Engine team is looking for engineers with domain expertise in Media processing and ... We'd love to hear from you if you have: * 5+ years of professional experience shipping software ...

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Showing results 21-40

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:

Media Intelligence Systems & Performance Software Engineer

San Diego, CA • On-site

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

$148K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Do you bring passion and dedication to your job? If so, we are looking for individuals like you.
We are looking for a motivated engineer to join us to shape the future of media intelligence. The team develops cutting edge technologies and systems that enable intelligent media experiences across Apple's product line, including applications like Photos, FaceTime, Camera, etc., as well as system wide features. You will work closely with a group of experts to architect and deliver solutions that will have a huge impact across our platforms.
Description
As a software engineer in this role, you will be responsible for contributing to design and architecture, prototyping and developing new features, profiling and optimizing performance, implementing tools & testing. We're looking for a teammate with proven success in delivering technologies. You will be a critical part of a diverse team, and will thrive in a high energy, time constrained, multitasking environment.
Minimum Qualifications
Software development experience in one of the following: C, C++, Objective C
A deep understanding of multithreaded programming
Strong analytical, programming and debugging skills
Preferred Qualifications
Software optimization experience, leveraging SIMD, GPU or hardware acceleration
Experience with media processing systems (image, video or audio processing)
Experience with systems applying machine learning / computer vision
Experience in continuous integration and test automation

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

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