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Senior Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Location: Irvine, CA Employment Type: Full-Time/ Hybrid Senior Software Engineer - Microgrid Controller (MGC) We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the design and ...

Senior Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Location: Irvine, CA Employment Type: Full-Time/ Hybrid Senior Software Engineer - Microgrid Controller (MGC) We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the design and ...

Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on business needs) Compensation: $180,000 - $220,000 + Competitive Equity Type: Full-Time Priority:

Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on business needs) Compensation: $180,000 - $220,000 + Competitive Equity Type: Full-Time Priority:

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$130K - $171K/yr

[Position] Senior Software Engineer [About Our Client] Research & Development hub for artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies and is also home to a dedicated medical device software ...

Senior Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

Senior Software Engineer Parallel Systems is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and optimize critical system applications. You will work on high-performance backend systems that ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$144K - $190K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer you will: * Design and build mission-critical software, from robot systems to cloud infrastructure, with attention to performance, reliability, flexibility, and code ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer role focuses on delivering superior technical solutions for customer payment needs, leading implementation, and ensuring reliable service. Responsibilities : • Deep ...

Senior Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

Senior Software Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Responsibilities * Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. * Analyze user needs and develop ...

.Net Senior Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$132K - $174K/yr

Senior Software Engineer BaaS Team Role Overview We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Software Engineer to join our BaaS team, supporting partner onboarding and BaaS platform ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will develop and deploy innovative hardware and software solutions to enhance logistics operations, collaborating closely with product and engineering teams ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$74.5K

$141.4K

$189.5K

How much do senior software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software 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 is a senior software engineer?

A senior software engineer designs, codes, tests, and maintains computer software. While these are your primary responsibilities as a senior software engineer, you may also have supervisory duties. These include overseeing a team of junior software engineers or developers. The senior software engineer title is sometimes used interchangeably with senior developer, and positions for both may share similar job duties and responsibilities. In general, software engineers are distinguished from developers in that software engineers apply engineering principles to software development.

What are some common challenges senior software engineers face when mentoring junior team members?

Senior Software Engineers often mentor junior colleagues, which can be incredibly rewarding but also presents challenges. Balancing mentorship with project deadlines can be demanding, as it requires strong time management and communication skills. Additionally, adapting explanations to different learning styles and levels of experience can be tricky. However, effective mentorship helps build a stronger team and can lead to enhanced leadership opportunities for the senior engineer.

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

AspectSenior Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; experience often 5+ yearsBachelor's in CS or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesigning complex systems, leading projects, mentoringWriting code, developing features, debugging
Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, enterpriseCommon in software firms, startups, freelance work
Search & ComparisonOften compared for experience level, responsibilitiesCompared for entry-level to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Senior Software Engineer and a Software Developer lies in experience, responsibilities, and scope. Senior Software Engineers typically have more experience, lead projects, and mentor others, while Software Developers focus on coding and feature development. Both roles are essential in tech companies, but the Senior Software Engineer position involves higher-level planning and leadership.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer, you need advanced programming skills, deep understanding of software architecture, and several years of experience in software development, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with tools like Git, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and expertise in technologies such as Java, Python, or JavaScript are typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for mentoring teams and collaborating across departments. These skills ensure the delivery of robust, scalable solutions and drive successful project outcomes in complex technical environments.

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 job categories do people searching Senior Software Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,415 per year, or $68 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer - OMS

Lynx Software Technologies, Inc.

Palmdale, CA • On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Senior Software Engineer - OMS

Lynx Software Technologies, Inc. Palmdale, California, United States

About this position

Job Title: Senior SW Engineer - OMS

Location : Fort Worth, TX or Palmdale, CA.

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 + Bonus Eligible

Active Secret Clearance Required to Start

Company Overview

Founded in 2004 with locations in Atlanta, GA, Fort Worth, TX, Denver, CO, & Huntsville, AL, Thompson Software Solutions (TSS) is a mission-driven aerospace and defense software and systems engineering company supporting the U.S. military, defense primes, and commercial space partners. We specialize in the development, integration, test, and deployment of safety & mission-critical software systems that power next-generation aircraft, defense platforms, and space technologies. Our team understands what it takes to modernize complex embedded systems while maintaining the rigor, compliance, and reliability required for mission and safety-critical environments.

As a defense-focused company of highly skilled and dedicated engineers, we take pride in solving complex technical challenges that directly impact national security and operational readiness. We partner closely with customers across the military aviation and space domains to deliver resilient, future-ready solutions with portability, sustainability, and long-term mission success in mind.

Description

Thompson Software Solutions is seeking a Senior Software Engineer – Open Mission Systems (OMS) to support the development and integration of advanced software capabilities for a military aircraft platform. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to next-generation avionics architectures that enhance interoperability, rapid capability integration, and mission effectiveness for U.S. military aviation programs.

This position requires a software engineer to use a wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the software field to develop, integrate, and test software products. The successful candidate will be a member of a high-performing multi-site team and must be self-motivated with a strong work ethic, time-management, and interpersonal skills. In this role, you will work independently at times on projects, at other times will be in a collaborative team environment with other software engineers, as well as other program development and deployment teams.

Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Continued eligibility for access to classified information is required throughout employment, as dictated by program needs.

Basic Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in STEM discipline
  • 5+ years of C++ development experience
  • Open Mission Systems (OMS) software architecture and development
  • Middleware and data distribution (DDS, pub/sub architectures)
  • Service-oriented and event-driven software design
  • Interface definition, ICD development, and data modeling
  • Mission-level simulation and integration testing
  • Ability to work onsite 100%
  • Ability to travel 10%

Preferred / Additional Skills

  • Proficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.)
  • Experience communicating and documenting complex technical designs
  • Software development experience in Java
  • Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and FACE technical standards
  • Integration of third-party mission applications
  • Secure and sustainable mission software lifecycle
  • CI/CD and configuration management for mission software
  • Ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

Sound Exciting? Get in touch today! We have very robust benefits including:

  • Low-cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options
  • 401K with generous employer match
  • Responsible Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
  • Remote work opportunities based on role
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Career growth and professional development opportunities

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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