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Multimedia Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Embedded NPU Software Engineer, Senior

San Diego, CA · On-site

$131K - $172K/yr

Qualcomm is seeking a Staff Embedded NPU Software Engineer to lead the design and development of ... Familiarity with multimedia frameworks (Android, Linux, Windows) and AI acceleration pipelines.

We are looking for a highly motivated software engineer to support us in the design and development ... multimedia experiences to all of our customers. This role offers an incredible opportunity to learn ...

#Senior Sensors Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$130K - $171K/yr

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering General Summary: ** This position is ... as multimedia, navigation, compute, IoT, wearables, virtual reality, augmented reality, gaming ...

Sr Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$193K - $289K/yr

Partner with platform, hardware, and system software teams to investigate and resolve complex, high ... Contributions to open-source projects in multimedia, systems programming, or performance ...

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Multimedia Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$54.8K

$102.8K

$149.5K

How much do multimedia software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for multimedia software engineer in California is $102,761.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $129,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical collaboration points between a Multimedia Software Engineer and other teams within a tech company?

Multimedia Software Engineers frequently collaborate with designers, product managers, and QA testers to deliver seamless multimedia experiences. They work closely with UI/UX designers to ensure that audio, video, and interactive elements are integrated smoothly and meet user expectations. Coordination with backend engineers is also common, especially when optimizing media streaming or storage solutions. Regular sync-ups help align project requirements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure timely delivery of features. This collaborative environment fosters growth and enables engineers to develop both technical and interpersonal skills.

What does a Multimedia Software Engineer do?

A Multimedia Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications that handle various types of media, such as audio, video, graphics, and animation. They work on applications for entertainment, education, gaming, and more, ensuring seamless integration of multimedia elements. Their responsibilities include coding, optimizing media performance, troubleshooting issues, and collaborating with designers and other engineers to create rich user experiences. They often use programming languages like C++, Java, or Python and are familiar with multimedia frameworks and libraries.

What is the difference between Multimedia Software Engineer vs Video Game Developer?

AspectMultimedia Software EngineerVideo Game Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Multimedia, or related fields; proficiency in multimedia toolsBachelor's in Computer Science, Game Design, or related fields; experience with game engines
Work EnvironmentSoftware companies, multimedia firms, advertising agenciesGame studios, entertainment companies, independent developers
Industry UsageMedia production, digital content creation, interactive mediaVideo game development, interactive entertainment

Multimedia Software Engineers focus on creating digital media content, including audio, video, and interactive applications, often working across various industries. Video Game Developers specialize in designing and programming video games, primarily within the gaming industry. While both roles require programming skills and multimedia knowledge, their focus areas and end products differ significantly.

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

To thrive as a Multimedia Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C++, Java, or Python, and a solid understanding of computer graphics, audio/video processing, and software development fundamentals. Familiarity with multimedia frameworks (such as FFmpeg or OpenGL), version control systems, and relevant certifications in software engineering or multimedia technologies is common. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills that help in delivering engaging and efficient multimedia solutions. These skills ensure high-quality, innovative products that meet user needs and keep pace with rapidly evolving multimedia technologies.
What are popular job titles related to Multimedia Software Engineer jobs in California? For Multimedia Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Multimedia Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Multimedia Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Multimedia Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Multimedia Software Engineer job openings:
Future opportunities - Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Video Systems

Future opportunities - Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Video Systems

Intuitive Surgical

Sunnyvale, CA

$145K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Intuitive Surgical rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.
As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.
Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.
Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.
Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

The Ion™ endoluminal system is Intuitive's new robotic platform designed for minimally invasive biopsy in the peripheral lung, with the goal of improving early lung cancer diagnosis. This position is integral to the development of a novel surgical robot system. The engineer will collaborate with a skilled team to design, build and optimize software that enables high-performance video capture, enhancement, compression, streaming, and display across a range of embedded platforms. The engineer will collaborate with hardware and systems teams to deliver next-generation solutions using GPU and FPGA-based pipelines to process and transport 4K video data efficiently and reliably. The successful candidate should thrive in a collaborative team environment, be adept at developing solutions from initial requirements, and be committed to delivering high-quality products. A strong sense of shared responsibility and teamwork is essential

Essential Job Duties

  • Develop software for real-time video capture from camera sensor/third party devices, processing, streaming on embedded Linux platforms.
  • Optimize performance for high-bandwidth, multi-stream 4K video transport over PCIe, Ethernet, fiber or custom interconnects.
  • Collaborate with hardware teams to integrate GPU and FPGA acceleration for video workloads.
  • Ensure robustness, security, and synchronization across video pipelines.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop technical specifications and evaluate design trade-offs, particularly in platform and infrastructure software.
  • Support clinical studies and participate in product demonstrations as needed.
  • Engage in design, verification and validation, and transfer to manufacturing activities.
Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

  • Proficiency in developing cross-platform, object-oriented C++ code (version 11 and higher).
  • Familiarity with FPGA programming and hardware/software co-design for video pipelines.
  • Strong knowledge of real-time systems, low-latency pipelines, and performance tuning.
  • Experience working with embedded Linux development environment and multimedia frameworks.
  • Strong problem-solving skills for isolating and debugging embedded hardware and software issues.
  • Experience working collaboratively on product-focused designs.
  • Familiarity with automation, CI/CD, and unit testing.
  • Strong intuition and interest in designing systems for testability and scalability.

Required Education and Training

  • Minimum Bachelor’s plus 6 years or Master’s plus 4 years degree in computer science, Computer Engineering or related engineering discipline.
  • Minimum, 4+ years Minimum, 4+ years industry experience developing embedded systems,
    multimedia software, or video technology.

​​​​​​​Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Understanding of video compression standards (H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP9, AV1).
  • Experience with video streaming protocols (RTP/SRTP/RTSP).
  • Hands-on experience with GPU programming (CUDA).
  • Knowledge of networking for high-bandwidth media transport (e.g., SMPTE ST 2110, RDMA, NVENC/NVDEC).
  • Experience with working with Nix and Bazel build systems.
  • Proficiency with serialization and messaging frameworks such as Protocol Buffers (Protobuf).
  • Experience with all phases of the product development lifecycle, including design, implementation, debugging, verification, validation, and manufacturing transfer.
  • Experience in designing software products for FDA-regulated or mission-critical applications, with an understanding of design input, design output, traceability, risk analysis, and mitigation processes.
Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target base compensation ranges are listed.

Base Salary Range Region 1:$118,400 - $259,600
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.


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