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Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

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 ...

Sr Software Dev Engineer

La Honda, CA · On-site

$126K - $185K/yr

Senior ML Infrastructure & MLOps Engineer (Core Platform) Role Overview We are seeking an ownership ... Collaborate closely with ML researchers and core software engineers to translate theoretical models ...

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Required : • 10+ years of professional software engineering, primarily backend. • Core cloud development competency. You have designed, deployed, and operated production services on a major cloud.

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

We are seeking a full-time Software Development Engineer to join the Commerce Engineering Team responsible for managing tens of millions of subscriptions for Adobe. The Challenge We seek a dedicated ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

Mentor engineers on design, programming, and AI-assisted development practices; grow others' technical leadership * Provide technical recommendations to senior leadership and influence hiring ...

SDET, Remote opportunity

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$130K - $145K/yr

Senior SDET, Automation Quality and Test Engineering Position: Senior SDET Location: Hybrid if local to Irvine, CA. 100% remote if you live more than 30 miles from the office. Our client is one of ...

Participating in all aspects of software development activities, including design, coding, code review, testing, bug fixing, and code/API documentation. * Collaborate with engineers and participate ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Mentor engineers on design, programming, and AI-assisted development practices; grow others' technical leadership * Provide technical recommendations to senior leadership and influence hiring ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in building scalable, intelligent systems ... development experience at major technology companies and/or software startups building SaaS ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in building scalable, intelligent systems ... development experience at major technology companies and/or software startups building SaaS ...

Sr. Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

... a Software Development Engineer-related occupation. Position requires: * B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or a related field or equivalent experiences required * Experience with distributed ...

Showing results 41-60

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 Aug 6, 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?

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 is a senior software development engineer?

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 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, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,415 per year, or $68 per hour.

Sr. Software Development Engineer - Gen AI

Esri

Redlands, CA • On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Esri rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

8th of 242 rated software companies


Job description

Job Summary:
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 platform. In this role, you will design and develop the software used by a large community of GIS professionals to power the operations of their organizations.
Responsibilities:
• Develop Python-based machine learning components that enhance how users assess, understand, and improve spatial data quality
• Build software that follows industry-standard design patterns, development methodologies, and deployment models
• Design, develop, test, and integrate AI/ML algorithms as part of product releases and evolve data quality capabilities for customers
• Build scalable ML pipelines and data engineering processes to improve overall system architecture
• Work collaboratively with product engineers, researchers, Professional Services product teams, and domain experts
• Work effectively in an Agile Scrum team environment and iterative development cycles
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years of professional experience in a similar position supporting similar responsibilities with emphasis on Python, Machine learning or AI systems
• Strong understanding of object-oriented principles, software architecture, and API design
• Ability to analyze software/algorithms and identify improvements
• Experience with software development using Python, ML frameworks and RAG systems
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, or STEM related field
Preferred:
• Familiarity and knowledge with C++ in large-scale or performance-critical software environments is beneficial
• Experience analyzing large geospatial datasets and working with vector databases
• Knowledge of the ArcGIS platform, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise and enterprise geodatabases
• Experience in developing REST based services and cloud deployment patterns
• Understanding of key AI concepts, model evaluation and agentic workflows
• Experience with Agile development methodologies and CI/CD pipelines
• Master's degree in computer science, mathematics, or STEM related field
Company:
Esri is a software company that devolops geographic information system software, location intelligence, and mapping. Founded in 1969, the company is headquartered in Redlands, USA, with a team of 5001-10000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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Benefits

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Workplace

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ESRI logo

About ESRI

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our passion for improving quality of life through geography is at the heart of everything we do. Esri's geographic information system (GIS) technology inspires and enables governments, universities, and businesses worldwide to save money, lives, and our environment through a deeper understanding of the changing world around them.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Redlands, CA, US

Year founded

1969