1

Senior Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in California

next page

Showing results 1-20

Senior Distributed Systems Engineer information

See California salary details

$55.3K

$123.1K

$173.7K

How much do senior distributed systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior distributed systems engineer in California is $123,099.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,100.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Distributed Systems Engineer vs Cloud Solutions Architect?

AspectSenior Distributed Systems EngineerCloud Solutions Architect
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, experience with distributed systemsBachelor's/Master's in CS, IT, or related, cloud certifications (AWS, Azure)
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and maintaining distributed systems in tech companiesDesigning cloud infrastructure solutions for clients or internal teams
Industry UsageTech, finance, e-commerce, and enterprise sectorsIT consulting, cloud service providers, enterprise IT departments

The Senior Distributed Systems Engineer focuses on building and optimizing distributed computing systems, while the Cloud Solutions Architect designs cloud infrastructure solutions. Both roles require technical expertise and often overlap in cloud environments, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills in cloud infrastructure, and leadership roles. High compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and other incentives in large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

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

A Senior Distributed Systems Engineer requires deep expertise in computer science fundamentals, scalable system architecture, and proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Go, or Python, often supported by a relevant degree and significant experience in distributed systems. Familiarity with tools like Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is typically expected, along with knowledge of monitoring and CI/CD pipelines. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help in tackling complex engineering challenges and collaborating across teams. These skills are crucial for designing robust, scalable, and reliable systems that support organizational growth and high availability.

What is the role of a DCS engineer?

A DCS (Distributed Control System) engineer designs, implements, and maintains control systems used in industrial processes, ensuring reliable and efficient operation. They work with automation tools, programming languages, and system integration to optimize plant performance and safety.

How much do distributed systems engineers make?

Distributed systems engineers typically earn between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior roles with specialized skills in cloud platforms, programming, and system architecture can command higher salaries, often exceeding $180,000.

What are some common challenges Senior Distributed Systems Engineers face when designing scalable systems?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing data consistency, ensuring fault tolerance, and minimizing latency across multiple nodes. Balancing trade-offs between availability and partition tolerance (as outlined by the CAP theorem) is a frequent consideration. Additionally, coordinating between development and operations teams to maintain system reliability and efficiently resolve issues that arise in production environments is crucial. Strong communication skills and a deep understanding of distributed architectures help address these complexities effectively.

What are Senior Distributed Systems Engineers?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers are experienced professionals who design, build, and maintain large-scale computing systems that run across multiple machines or locations. They focus on ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance of distributed applications, often dealing with challenges like data consistency, fault tolerance, and network latency. These engineers typically have deep expertise in distributed computing principles, programming languages, and cloud infrastructure. They also mentor junior team members and help architect robust solutions for complex technical problems.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior distributed systems engineers, software engineers in specialized fields like machine learning or cloud infrastructure, and senior roles in high-demand tech companies often earn $300,000 or more annually. These positions typically require advanced skills, extensive experience, and expertise in distributed architectures, scalable systems, and relevant tools such as Kubernetes or cloud platforms.
What are the most commonly searched types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California? For Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Distributed Systems Engineer job openings:
Senior Distributed Storage System Engineer

Senior Distributed Storage System Engineer

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

San Jose, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Hewlett Packard Enterprise rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

30th of 139 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Senior Distributed Storage System EngineerThis role has been designed as ''Onsite' with an expectation that you will primarily work from an HPE office.

Who We Are:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today's complex world.Our culture thrives onfinding new and better ways to accelerate what's next.We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs.We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you.Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description:

Job Family Definition:

Designs, develops, troubleshoots and debugs software programs for software enhancements and new products. Develops software including operating systems, compilers, routers, networks, utilities, databases and Internet-related tools. Determines hardware compatibility and/or influences hardware design.

Management Level Definition:

Contributions impact technical components of HPE products, solutions, or services regularly and sustainable. Applies advanced subject matter knowledge to solve complex business issues and is regarded as a subject matter expert. Provides expertise and partnership to functional and technical project teams and may participate in cross-functional initiatives. Exercises significant independent judgment to determine best method for achieving objectives. May provide team leadership and mentoring to others.

Responsibilities:

  • Leads multiple project teams of other software systems engineers and internal and outsourced development partners responsible for all stages of design and development for complex products and platforms, including solution design, analysis, coding, testing, and integration.
  • Manages and expands relationships with internal and outsourced development partners on software systems design and development.
  • Reviews and evaluates designs and project activities for compliance with systems design and development guidelines and standards; provides tangible feedback to improve product quality and mitigate failure risk.
  • Provides domain-specific expertise and overall software systems leadership and perspective to cross-organization projects, programs, and activities.
  • Drives innovation and integration of new technologies into projects and activities in the software systems design organization.
  • Provides guidance and mentoring to less- experienced staff members.

Education and Experience Required:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent.
  • Typically 6-10 years experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Extensive experience with multiple software systems design tools and languages.
  • Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Experience in overall architecture of software systems for products and solutions.
  • Designing and integrating software systems running on multiple platform types into overall architecture.
  • Evaluating forms and processes for software systems testing and methodology, including writing and execution of test plans, debugging, and testing scripts and tools.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; mastery in English and local language. Ability to effectively communicate product architectures, design proposals and negotiate options at senior management levels.

Additional Skills:

Cloud Architectures, Cross Domain Knowledge, Design Thinking, Development Fundamentals, DevOps, Distributed Computing, Microservices Fluency, Full Stack Development, Security-First Mindset, Solutions Design, Testing & Automation, User Experience (UX)

What We Can Offer You:

Health & Wellbeing

We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have - whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

Let's Stay Connected:

Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.

#unitedstates

Job:

Engineering

Job Level:

TCP_04"The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level.
- United States of America: Annual Salary USD 136,500 - 276,500 in California
The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered."

Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html

HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.

No Fees Notice & Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer

It has come to HPE's attention that there has been an increase in recruitment fraud whereby scammer impersonate HPE or HPE-authorized recruiting agencies and offer fake employment opportunities to candidates. These scammers often seek to obtain personal information or money from candidates.

Please note that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and its authorized recruitment agencies/vendorswill never charge any candidate a registration fee, hiring fee, or any other fee in connection with its recruitment and hiring process.The credentials of any hiring agency that claims to be working with HPE for recruitment of talent should be verified by candidates and candidates shall be solely responsible to conduct such verification. Any candidate/individual who relies on the erroneous representations made by fraudulent employment agencies does so at their own risk, and HPE disclaims liability for any damages or claims that may result from any such communication.


What Hewlett Packard Enterprise employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom