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Rust Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Vector Atomic

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 80 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum ...

IonQ

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 50 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum ...

IonQ

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$142K - $186K/yr

As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 50 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum ...

Vector Atomic

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 80 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum ...

Vector Atomic

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 80 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum ...

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Rust Engineer information

See California salary details

$35K

$94.8K

$165.8K

How much do rust engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for rust engineer in California is $94,849.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $106,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Rust Engineers?

Rust Engineers are software developers who specialize in using the Rust programming language to build reliable, efficient, and safe systems. They often work on performance-critical applications such as backend services, embedded software, systems programming, and blockchain technologies. Rust Engineers are valued for their ability to write code that minimizes bugs and security vulnerabilities, leveraging Rust's strict compiler and memory safety features. Their expertise is increasingly sought after in industries where safety, speed, and concurrency are essential.

What do Rust engineers do?

Rust engineers develop software using the Rust programming language, focusing on building high-performance, safe, and reliable applications. They often work on systems programming, embedded systems, or backend services, utilizing tools like Cargo and adhering to best practices in memory safety and concurrency.

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

To thrive as a Rust Engineer, you need a strong understanding of systems programming concepts, the Rust language, and experience with software development best practices, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, build tools such as Cargo, and knowledge of CI/CD pipelines are typically required. Problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set outstanding Rust Engineers apart. These skills and qualifications are essential for building reliable, high-performance, and secure software systems in collaborative development environments.

What are some common challenges Rust Engineers face when integrating Rust with existing systems?

Rust Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating Rust into codebases written in other languages, such as C, C++, or Python. These challenges can include managing foreign function interfaces (FFI), ensuring memory safety across language boundaries, and handling differences in build systems and tooling. Collaboration with teams familiar with legacy systems is often essential to navigate these complexities, and clear documentation is key to successful integration. Over time, these challenges can deepen your understanding of system interoperability and lead to broader career opportunities in systems programming.

What is the difference between Rust Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectRust EngineerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related, familiarity with RustBachelor's in Computer Science or related, general programming skills
Work EnvironmentTech companies, startups, embedded systems, systems programmingVarious industries including tech, finance, healthcare, web development
Employer & Industry UsageCompanies developing performance-critical or system-level applicationsBroad range of companies developing software across sectors
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on Rust-specific roles, systems programmingGeneral software development roles across languages

Rust Engineers specialize in developing high-performance, safe systems using Rust, often in embedded or systems programming contexts. Software Developers have a broader scope, working across multiple languages and industries. While both roles require strong programming skills, Rust Engineers focus on Rust expertise, whereas Software Developers may work with various languages and technologies.

Can I make 200K a year as a software engineer?

As a Rust engineer, earning $200,000 annually is possible, especially with experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies. Salaries vary based on location, company size, and expertise, with senior roles and those in tech hubs often reaching or exceeding this level. Continuous learning and proficiency in tools like Rust and related technologies can help achieve higher compensation.

How much do Rust engineers make?

Rust engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in systems programming and performance optimization tend to command higher salaries.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in high-demand fields such as software engineering, especially those with expertise in specialized areas like machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity, can earn $500,000 or more annually. Achieving this level often requires extensive experience, advanced skills, leadership roles, and sometimes stock options or bonuses in large tech companies or startups.
What are popular job titles related to Rust Engineer jobs in California? For Rust Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Rust Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Rust Engineer jobs in California are:
Rust Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rust Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, and 24% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,849 per year, or $45.6 per hour.
Senior Rust Software Engineer

Senior Rust Software Engineer

Vector Atomic

Pleasanton, CA • On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

About IonQ:
IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.
The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.
About Vector Atomic:Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you're excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you.
The Role:
Vector Atomic is building next-generation quantum devices designed for real-world applications, including GPS-free navigation, high-precision timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. As a Senior Rust Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader within a rapidly growing, collaborative team of over 80 professionals delivering practical, transformational quantum technologies. In this high-impact role, you will architect and write production-quality Rust code, driving the software strategy for our advanced quantum instruments. You will collaborate deeply across disciplines with physicists, electronics engineers, and firmware engineers, taking ownership of system controllers, data acquisition pipelines, and critical control algorithms on ARM SoCs from concept to deployment.
Responsibilities:
  • Technical Leadership & Architecture: Lead the design and development of reliable, high-performance, production-quality software architectures in Rust.
  • System Control & Drivers: Architect and verify system controllers on ARM SoCs, designing robust user-space drivers for complex peripherals (including mixed-signal devices) and low-latency data acquisition pipelines.
  • Advanced Algorithm Implementation: Implement and optimize critical control loops and precision algorithms essential to the stability and operation of quantum sensing instruments.
  • Hardware Integration & Bring-up: Partner closely with hardware teams to lead board testing, hardware bring-up, and the implementation of fault-tolerant error-handling systems.
  • Quantum Software Infrastructure: Oversee the development and scaling of core software libraries used for the control and automation of next-generation quantum systems.
  • Mentorship & Process Improvement: Champion continuous improvement within the development process-leading technical code reviews, project retrospectives, and mentoring junior engineers.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with 6+ years of professional software engineering experience (with a proven track record in embedded or hardware-adjacent environments).
  • To comply with the US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.
  • Must be fully comfortable working hands-on in a laboratory environment alongside physical hardware and complex test setups.
  • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to bridge technical gaps between hardware engineers, software teams, and physicists.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Extensive background coding in C/C++ or utilizing Python and its scientific libraries for data analysis and modeling.
  • Deep expertise in designing, modeling, and coding advanced control algorithms (such as PID loops) and fixed-point digital filters.
  • Advanced experience interfacing with external hardware devices through protocols like TCP/UDP, UART, SPI, and I2C.
  • Comprehensive background working with SoC/FPGA architectures and developing specialized Linux device drivers.
  • Highly proficient in using standard test and measurement equipment-including oscilloscopes, function generators, and voltmeters-to benchmark, validate, and debug software performance.

Benefits
Vector Atomic values teamwork, open and honest discourse, and work-life balance. We are an employee-owned company with competitive compensation and benefits including:
  • Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
  • Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Employer 401(k) contributions
  • 20 days of paid time off / 11 paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Stock ownership plan
  • Fully stocked kitchen

Pay Range
The approximate base salary range for this position is $142,113 to $186,063 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience level.
Vector Atomic is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law.
Vector Atomic does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or HR team.

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