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Professional Software Engineer Jobs in California

KH Aerospace

Software Engineer

Truckee, CA · On-site

Strong professional software engineering experience developing and supporting production software. * Experience building substantial web applications, with TypeScript as a significant part of the ...

KH Aerospace

Software Engineer

South Lake Tahoe, CA · On-site

Strong professional software engineering experience developing and supporting production software. * Experience building substantial web applications, with TypeScript as a significant part of the ...

Prosum Inc.

Senior Software Engineer

Temecula, CA · On-site

$150K - $175K/yr

Required Qualifications * 7+ years of professional software engineering experience with significant C/C++ systems development. * Demonstrated experience developing cryptographic, cybersecurity, or ...

MDAEdge

HEM Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Required : • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT, or related field. • 2-4 years of professional software engineering experience. • Proficiency in C, C++, Python, and ...

Industrious Ventures

Senior Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$130K - $172K/yr

... professional software development experience - OR - MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field with 3+ years of professional software development experience

Nidec Corporation

Software Engineer II

Rancho Cordova, CA · On-site

$104K - $142K/yr

... professional software development experience Demonstrated experience delivering production-ready software features or services Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Proficiency in one or more programming ...

InvestedintheMission

Software Engineer II

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

... of professional software engineering experience, including software for robotics, motion control, embedded systems, hardware systems, or other complex technical products. * Strong proficiency in C ...

VantageScore

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$145K - $155K/yr

... years of professional software development experience. * Strong proficiency in Python and ... Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, OOP.

OneTrust

Staff Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field * 8+ years of professional software engineering experience * Demonstrated track record leading technical ...

Rocket Lab Corporation

Software Engineer II

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

... of professional software engineering experience, including software for robotics, motion control, embedded systems, hardware systems, or other complex technical products. * Strong proficiency in C ...

Nidec Corporation

Software Engineer II

Rancho Cordova, CA · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

Job Summary The Software Engineer II is an intermediate individual-contributor role responsible for ... Typically 2-5 years of professional software development experience * Demonstrated experience ...

Rocket Lab Corporation

Software Engineer II

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

... of professional software engineering experience, including software for robotics, motion control, embedded systems, hardware systems, or other complex technical products. * Strong proficiency in C ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsProfessional Software Engineer JobsProfessional Software Engineer Jobs in California

Professional Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do professional software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional 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 professional software engineer?

Professional software engineers are trained experts who design, develop, test, and maintain software applications or systems to solve problems or meet user needs. They use programming languages, tools, and engineering principles to create reliable and efficient software. In addition to coding, software engineers often collaborate with other team members, participate in code reviews, and follow industry best practices to ensure high-quality software delivery.

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

To thrive as a Professional Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), software development frameworks, and cloud platforms is typically required, and certifications such as AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate can be beneficial. Excellent communication, teamwork, and adaptability are soft skills that help you collaborate effectively and navigate changing project requirements. These skills ensure you can build robust, scalable solutions while working efficiently within diverse technical teams.

What are some common challenges faced by professional software engineers when working on large-scale projects?

Professional software engineers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges such as managing complex codebases, ensuring effective communication across multidisciplinary teams, and maintaining high code quality under tight deadlines. Coordinating with other engineers, testers, and product managers can be demanding, especially when handling dependencies or integrating new features. Staying updated with evolving technologies and adhering to best practices in version control and documentation are also crucial for successful project delivery.

What is the difference between Professional Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectProfessional Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, certifications optionalSimilar educational background, certifications less common
Work EnvironmentOften in teams, involved in full project lifecycle, may work in corporate or enterprise settingsTypically focused on coding, testing, and implementation, in various settings including startups and freelance
Industry UsageWidely used in corporate, enterprise, and government sectorsCommon in startups, freelance, and smaller companies

The main difference lies in scope and responsibilities. Professional Software Engineers often have a broader role, including design, architecture, and project management, while Software Developers primarily focus on coding and implementation. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but the Professional Software Engineer may be expected to handle more complex projects and collaborate across teams.

What do professional software engineers do?

Professional software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and systems. They analyze user requirements, write code using programming languages, and collaborate with teams to ensure functionality, performance, and security. They often use tools like version control systems and follow industry best practices to deliver reliable software solutions.

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

The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in California are:

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

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

Professional Software Engineer jobs near you

Software Engineer, Oncology Applications

San Diego, CA • On-site

Scorpion Therapeutics
51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Scorpion Therapeuticsexternal

$138K - $224K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer, Oncology ApplicationsPosition Summary

Oncology at Lilly depends on software that connects people, data, systems, and workflows across research and business operations. The Software Engineer, Oncology Applications designs, builds, integrates, and sustains applications that improve access to information, reduce manual work, and help teams operate more efficiently.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design, build, deploy, and sustain full-stack applications, data services, workflow tools, and automation.
  • Partner with scientists, engineers, informatics teams, and stakeholders to identify needs and define deliverables.
  • Improve efficiency by simplifying processes, reducing manual handoffs and duplicative entry, and connecting fragmented systems/data.
  • Build and maintain APIs, data models, and access layers across data sources.
  • Integrate with laboratory systems, data pipelines, analysis environments, and enterprise platforms.
  • Apply standards for data quality, provenance, versioning, security, and access control.
  • Develop AI-enabled capabilities (retrieval, natural-language access, extraction, annotation, summarization).
  • Use AI-assisted development tools with code review/testing/security/ownership standards.
  • Evaluate build vs. configure/integrate/reuse/purchase/process change/retire.
  • Contribute to engineering practices (version control, peer review, automated testing, CI/CD, containerization, observability, dependency management).
  • Deploy and operate on Lilly cloud infrastructure; own reliability, support, documentation, maintenance, and lifecycle planning.
  • Mentor junior engineers, co-ops, and scientist-developers.
Required Qualifications
  • BS or MS in computer science/software engineering (or related) with 5+ years professional software engineering experience.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Strong Python (or modern server-side language) experience; Python preferred.
  • Web apps/APIs with modern frameworks (Django/Flask/Rails).
  • Front-end with JavaScript/TypeScript and a component framework.
  • Relational DB design, SQL, APIs, system integration.
  • Cloud deployment (prefer AWS), containerization, CI/CD.
  • Git-based collaboration, code review, automated testing, production support.
  • AI-assisted development tools; familiarity with LLM APIs.
  • Communicate with scientific/operational stakeholders; independent, manages concurrent projects.
  • Experience with scientific/operational/data-intensive apps; pharma/biotech/healthcare/research/regulation.
  • Experience with biological data/lab systems/scientific instruments/data pipelines.
  • Workflow automation, enterprise integration, reporting, interactive visualization.
  • AI-enabled/agentic apps over internal data; data governance/sensitive-data/controlled-access systems.
Benefits (as stated)
  • Eligible for company bonus; comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, and well-being benefits.
Compensation (as stated)
  • Anticipated wage: $138,000–$224,400.
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