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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

eNett

Senior Software Development Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$145K - $191K/yr

Programming/Software Development: As a Staff Engineer, you are an expert across multiple tech ... senior leadership. * Ability to work independently and as a strategic lead within a cross ...

WEX

Senior Software Development Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$145K - $191K/yr

Programming/Software Development: As a Staff Engineer, you are an expert across multiple tech ... senior leadership. * Ability to work independently and as a strategic lead within a cross ...

Adobe

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA

$143K - $189K/yr

The Opportunity We are looking for a senior software engineer who is passionate about building ... Join our bold and fast-paced team as an expert Software Development Engineer 5. Help build a new ...

WEX

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Programming/Software Development: As a Staff Engineer, you are an expert across multiple tech ... senior leadership. * Ability to work independently and as a strategic lead within a cross ...

Futran Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Senior SDET

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$117K - $152K/yr

Senior SDET Location: El Segundo, California, US (hybrid 2-3 days per week) Duration: 6+ Months We need to focus on profiles with good Appium, Selenium and strong Java programming skills, and less ...

Adobe

Sr. Software Development Engineer 4

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

The Sr. Software Development Engineer 4 will be responsible for the technical design and implementation of the Adobe Experience Cloud data platform, focusing on a distributed Query Engine and ...

Clover

Sr. SDET

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$58.25 - $75.25/hr

They are seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of billing systems within the Clover EMEA platform. Responsibilities : • ...

Adobe

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

... development, owning critical infrastructure while ensuring systems are world-ready by design. We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and scale core GenAI services, evaluation ...

Esri

Sr. Software Development Engineer - Gen AI

Redlands, CA · On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

Esri's Professional Services division is seeking an experienced Sr. Software Development Engineer to help advance the next generation of geospatial data quality capabilities across the ArcGIS ...

Esri

Sr. Software Development Engineer - Gen AI

Redlands, CA · On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

Esri is a leading company in geospatial technology, and they are seeking an experienced Sr. Software Development Engineer to enhance geospatial data quality capabilities across the ArcGIS platform.

Adobe, Inc.

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

The Opportunity Adobe is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to help build the platform that ... Participating in all aspects of software development activities, including design, coding, code ...

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All JobsSoftware Development Engineer JobsSenior Software Development Engineer JobsSenior Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Software Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$74.5K

$141.4K

$189.5K

How much do senior software development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development engineer in California is $141,415.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,900.00 and $159,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Software Development Engineer, you need deep expertise in software engineering principles, advanced programming skills in languages such as Java, Python, or C++, and a bachelor's or higher degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, and experience with CI/CD pipelines are typically required, and certifications in these technologies can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help you mentor junior engineers and collaborate effectively across teams. These competencies are critical for delivering robust solutions, driving technical innovation, and ensuring project success in complex engineering environments.

What are some common challenges Senior Software Development Engineers face when leading cross-functional projects?

Senior Software Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as aligning priorities across diverse teams, managing technical debt while delivering new features, and ensuring effective communication among stakeholders. Balancing hands-on coding with mentorship responsibilities and architectural decision-making can also be demanding. Success in this role typically requires strong interpersonal skills, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to adapt to shifting project requirements while maintaining high code quality.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior Software Development Engineers in high-demand industries or companies, especially those with expertise in areas like machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in large tech firms or startups with significant funding.

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

Senior Software Development Engineers in many regions can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with experience, specialized skills, and working at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living areas. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, and reaching this level typically requires advanced technical expertise and a strong track record.

What are Senior Software Development Engineers?

Senior Software Development Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and maintain complex software systems. They often lead technical projects, mentor junior developers, and ensure software quality and best practices within a team. Their responsibilities include writing code, conducting code reviews, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and solving challenging technical problems. Senior Software Development Engineers typically have several years of industry experience and a deep understanding of software engineering principles.

What is the difference between Senior Software Development Engineer vs Software Development Engineer?

AspectSenior Software Development EngineerSoftware Development Engineer
ExperienceTypically 5+ years, with leadership responsibilitiesEntry to mid-level, 1-3 years of experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigning complex systems, mentoring juniors, leading projectsImplementing features, fixing bugs, collaborating on code
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in multiple programming languages, system design, often with certificationsStrong coding skills, foundational knowledge, less emphasis on certifications
Work EnvironmentOften leads teams, involved in architecture decisionsFocused on individual contributions, team collaboration

The main difference between a Senior Software Development Engineer and a Software Development Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Seniors typically lead projects and mentor others, while juniors focus on coding and task completion. Both roles are vital in software development teams, with seniors bringing more strategic input and mentorship.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Software Development Engineers at top tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like distributed systems or machine learning, and a track record of significant contributions or leadership roles.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Senior software development engineers at large tech companies or with extensive experience and specialized skills can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires advanced expertise, leadership roles, or working in high-paying industries or regions with competitive compensation packages.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Development Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Software Development Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Software Development Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,415 per year, or $68 per hour.
Senior Software Development Engineer in Test

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

San Mateo, CA

$126K - $163K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

At PlayStation, we are passionate about building high-quality experiences used by millions of players worldwide. We are looking for a highly technical and hands-on Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to help drive quality engineering strategy, automation architecture, and AI-driven testing innovation across Subscription in PlayStation ecosystem.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in highly complex, cross-platform environments and enjoys solving challenging quality engineering problems multi-platform consumer ecosystem.

Role Overview:

As a Senior SDET for Subscription Services, you will lead the design and implementation of scalable test automation frameworks and quality engineering solutions supporting PlayStation subscription products and streaming experiences across multiple platforms.

You will work closely with Software Engineering, Product Management, QE, Infrastructure, and Release teams to ensure reliable, performant, and seamless customer experiences across:

  • Subscription and commerce platforms
  • Streaming and cloud gaming services
  • Mobile and companion applications
  • Gaming console ecosystems
  • Multi-device connected experiences

This role will also help drive organizational quality engineering ambitions around efficiency, observability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration by promoting shift-left testing practices, AI-driven quality strategies, scalable automation, and measurable quality insights across Subscription platforms.

Responsibilities:
  • Define and drive enterprise-level QE and automation strategy for Subscription platform
  • Architect scalable, maintainable, and reusable automation frameworks across web, mobile, console, and connected device ecosystems
  • Promote a shift-left quality engineering mindset through early engagement, automation-first strategies, and scalable testing practices
  • Drive observability initiatives by building dashboards, metrics, and quality visualization systems that improve visibility into release health, automation coverage, and platform reliability
  • Partner across business, product, engineering, and platform teams to align QE strategy with broader organizational and customer experience goals
  • Drive adoption of modern quality engineering practices focused on intelligent automation, AI-assisted testing, and continuous improvement
  • Contribute reusable tools, frameworks, and best practices that improve engineering efficiency and encourage cross-team collaboration
  • Lead automation initiatives for end-to-end subscription and streaming workflows, including authentication, commerce, entitlement validation, lifecycle management, retention journeys, and experiences across multiple platforms
  • Design and implement AI-assisted quality engineering solutions and integrate into day-to-day engineering practices
  • Develop and enhance automation solutions using Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, XCUITest, Selenium/Appium, and API/backend automation tools
  • Lead testing initiatives across cloud gaming experiences, subscription services, gaming console devices, and cross-device ecosystems
  • Build automation and validation strategies for native mobile applications, APIs, backend services, and distributed systems
  • Partner with globally distributed teams to ensure high-quality releases and continuous delivery
  • Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and automation infrastructure using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native tooling
  • Establish quality reporting and operational insights that support data-driven engineering and release decisions
  • Mentor and coach SDETs and QE engineers across teams on automation best practices, AI adoption, and quality engineering excellence
  • Participate in architecture reviews and provide quality-focused technical leadership during feature design and implementation
  • Lead defect triage, root cause analysis, production validation, and release readiness activities
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of experience in Software Development Engineering in Test, Quality Engineering, or Test Automation
  • Proven experience leading large-scale automation architecture and QE strategy initiatives
  • Strong hands-on programming experience in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript
  • Strong hands-on experience with XCUITest, Appium, Selenium, and API automation frameworks
  • Experience developing automation for streaming, media playback, or cloud gaming applications
  • Experience testing mobile devices, gaming consoles, connected devices, or multi-device environments
  • Hands-on experience integrating AI technologies into QE workflows and day-to-day testing practices
  • Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, distributed systems, test framework design, and end-to-end automation strategies
  • Experience with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, and Git-based workflows
  • Experience with subscription-based consumer products or digital subscription platforms
  • Strong expertise in API, backend, and microservices testing
  • Excellent debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills
  • Strong communication and leadership abilities with experience mentoring engineers across organizations
  • 1+ years hands on experience building AI-powered QE tooling or internal developer productivity tools
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience working on subscription or retention-focused products
  • Experience testing commerce/payment systems and entitlement services
  • Experience with live streaming platforms or video delivery systems
  • Experience with React Native or cross-platform frameworks
  • Experience developing or testing, console, or gaming platforms
  • Exposure to SDK testing
  • Familiarity with observability and monitoring platforms
  • Experience with performance, scalability, and reliability testing
  • Exposure to accessibility (a11y) and localization (l10n) testing practices
What We're Looking For:
  • Passion for quality engineering and modern automation practices
  • Strong ownership mindset and ability to drive initiatives across multiple teams
  • Ability to balance strategic leadership with deep technical execution
  • Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, especially AI-driven engineering solutions
  • A collaborative leader who can influence engineering excellence across organizations
  • Someone excited to help shape the future of Subscription and PlayStation experiences

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Clickhere to learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$183,000-$274,600 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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