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Professional Software Engineer Jobs in California

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 ...

Linuxconfig

Software Engineer

Scotts Valley, CA · On-site

Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent demonstrated experience will be considered. * 2+ years of professional software engineering experience for the ...

Next Matter

Ground Software Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field * 1+ years of professional software engineering experience with strong proficiency ...

EQL Tech

Mid-Level Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

Around 3-5 years' professional software engineering experience * Strong mission-driven orientation and motivation to make an impact * Strong production React * Comfortable across the stack - roughly ...

EQL Tech

Mid-Level Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

Around 3-5 years' professional software engineering experience * Strong mission-driven orientation and motivation to make an impact * Strong production React * Comfortable across the stack - roughly ...

Apple

Software Engineer, Evaluation

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Minimum Qualifications 3+ years of professional software engineering experience building and operating production systems Ability to tackle complex challenges, think critically, and deliver ...

Mintex Technology

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$185K/yr

Deploy and monitor services in production environments Required Qualifications: * 1+ years of professional Software Engineering experience * Strong backend engineering skills with Python * Experience ...

Rocket Lab

Software Engineer II - MES

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

Required : • A degree or diploma in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or other technical discipline • 2+ years of professional software development experience • ...

Rundoo, Inc.

Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

Qualifications * 1-3 years of professional software engineering experience. * Solid command of computer-science fundamentals and fluency in at least one production language. * Comfort shipping ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Engineer Software 3

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$100 - $140/hr

Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. 8+ years of professional ...

KBR

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site +1

$143K - $192K/yr

Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related technical field * 10+ years of professional software development experience * Extensive experience ...

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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

Scotts Valley, CA • On-site

Heron Power Electronics Company
See more jobs at Heron Power Electronics Companyexternal

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Build software across the stack, including backend services, data pipelines, developer tooling, and deployment infrastructure.

  • Write production code and design systems that scale from early production into volume manufacturing.

  • Collaborate with hardware, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations teams to translate real-world requirements into systems.

Job description

What to Expect
Heron Power is a startup company building cutting-edge power electronics for the 21st-century grid. We aim to debottleneck the growth of electricity generation and consumption with scalable, innovative, and less costly hardware solutions, accelerating the electrification of everything.
Our first focus goal is to build better converters (inverters & rectifiers) to connect large-scale renewables, storage, and loads to the grid. Heron Power's leadership team is made up of seasoned veterans who have designed and shipped gigawatts of power conversion products over the past decade.
We understand that no one individual knows everything. We will all learn a lot together and from each other. We strive to build a collaborative, enriching environment conducive to personal, technical, and career growth. You can expect to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment, driven by first principles engineering, solving difficult problems.
Job Overview
As a Software Engineer/Senior Software Engineer, you will be a core member of the Software team, building the systems that run Heron Power from the full-scale Build platform that powers our factory floor and supply chain to the internal tools, services, and data infrastructure our engineers and operators depend on every day. You will build software across the stack: backend services, data pipelines, developer tooling, and the cloud and deployment infrastructure underneath them.
This is a hands-on role. You will write production code and design systems that scale from early production into volume manufacturing. Depending on your level, you will own features and services end-to-end and, as a Senior Engineer, take on larger, more ambiguous problems, contribute to architecture, and help raise the engineering bar through code review and mentorship.
You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with hardware, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations teams, translating real-world requirements into systems that perform. Your impact grows through the quality of what you ship, the technical judgment you bring, and how you help the engineers around you.
What You Will Bring
We prioritize a strong grip on first principles, solid technical range, and the judgment to know what to build, what to buy, and what to leave alone.
Must-Have Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent demonstrated experience will be considered.
  • 2+ years of professional software engineering experience for the Software Engineer level, or 5+ years including ownership of production systems for the Senior level.
  • Experience building and operating backend services in production, with solid fundamentals in data modeling, APIs, and system design.
  • Strong proficiency in one or more modern languages (e.g., Go, Python, TypeScript/JavaScript) and comfort moving across the stack.
  • Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS or equivalent) and containers; familiarity with Kubernetes.
  • Experience working with CI/CD pipelines and developer tooling that let teams ship reliably
  • Working grasp of observability, security, and operational best practices, monitoring, alerting, access controls, and secrets management.
  • Strong written and verbal communication; able to collaborate across teams and drive technical decisions.
  • A track record of delivering projects end-to-end; for Senior candidates, a track record of leading ambiguous, cross-functional projects and mentoring other engineers.

Nice-to-Haves
  • Experience building software for manufacturing, supply chain, hardware, or other physical-world operations (MES, WMS, ERP, factory or industrial systems).
  • Experience standing up platforms or internal tooling from greenfield at a fast-growing startup.
  • Familiarity with relational databases and SQL, and with designing data pipelines and warehousing.
  • Experience with event-driven architectures, message queues, or real-time / telemetry data.
  • Strong comfort with Linux, Git workflows, and command-line tooling.
  • Prior experience integrating third-party SaaS systems and making build-versus-buy decisions.

If you are passionate about technology and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you. Join us in accelerating the electrification of everything at Heron Power.

Apply