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Senior Systems Software Engineer Jobs in California

Apple

Systems Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$183K - $217K/yr

The Product Integrity group is looking for a Systems Software Engineer to develop future products. As a member of the OS Diagnostics team you will develop and maintain software used to characterize ...

Apple

Systems Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$122K - $214K/yr

The Product Integrity group is looking for a Systems Software Engineer to develop future products. As a member of the OS Diagnostics team you will develop and maintain software used to characterize ...

Sunday Inc

Systems Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$211K - $251K/yr

As a System Software Engineer, you'll focus on the runtime itself which encompasses the IPC layer, performance, scheduling, observability, logging and replay infrastructure that the rest of the robot ...

OpenAI

Host Systems Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$266K - $445K/yr

About the Role We're looking for an experienced systems software engineer to help define and build ... Experience with PCIe, DMA, peer-to-peer communication, SR-IOV, IOMMU, dma-buf, or related ...

Elumn8 Medical, Inc.

Systems Software Engineer

Campbell, CA

$200K - $237K/yr

Position Summary The Systems Software Engineer is expected to develop, document, maintain and optimize medical graphical display software in C/C++ for Windows and Linux environments as part of the R& ...

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Senior Systems Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$86.4K

$133.5K

$187K

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

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior systems software engineer in California is $133,518.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,600.00 and $157,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior systems software engineer?

A Senior Systems Software Engineer is an experienced professional who designs, develops, and maintains system-level software such as operating systems, embedded systems, and network protocols. They are responsible for ensuring that software interacts efficiently with hardware, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting complex issues. Senior engineers often lead technical projects, mentor junior team members, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver robust software solutions.

What are some common challenges faced by senior systems software engineers and how can they be addressed?

Senior Systems Software Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating legacy systems with modern technologies, optimizing system performance under tight resource constraints, and ensuring robust security in complex environments. These challenges can be addressed by staying current with industry best practices, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams (like DevOps and Security), and regularly participating in code reviews and architecture discussions. Leveraging automation tools and maintaining thorough documentation also help in efficiently managing and scaling large, distributed systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior systems software engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Systems Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in computer science, operating systems, and programming languages like C/C++, often supported by a relevant degree and extensive experience. Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git), build automation tools, and debugging/profiling utilities is typically required, and certifications in systems programming or cloud platforms can be advantageous. Exceptional problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills set standout engineers apart by enabling them to navigate complex systems and coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams. These skills are vital for building robust, efficient software solutions that meet business and technical requirements in demanding environments.
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Systems Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Systems Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Systems Software Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,518 per year, or $64.2 per hour.

Systems Software Engineer

Apple

San Diego, CA • On-site

$183K - $217K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

The Product Integrity group is looking for a Systems Software Engineer to develop future products. As a member of the OS Diagnostics team you will develop and maintain software used to characterize, calibrate and test new hardware, debug software and hardware both independently and multi-functionally, and work with many other teams at Apple and at various contract manufacturers. Your experience writing and debugging software on different hardware platforms will be meaningful to your success.
Description
In this role you will be responsible for developing, debugging and maintaining internal software running on many Apple products. You will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of worldwide cross-functional teams including Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Operations, and our Contract Manufacturing partners. You will engage with many products from early development through mass production where your contributions will directly impact hardware quality and end user experiences.
Minimum Qualifications
BS in CS/CE/EE and 0-2+ years of software engineer career experience
Expertise in at least one of C++/Objective-C/Swift
Experience developing drivers/applications in Unix, Linux, or macOS
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with building embedded system architectures and using interfaces such as I2C, USB, PCIe
Experience building and debugging distributed applications
Experience debugging at all levels of an operating system
Experience with Python/Lua/Bash
Proven task management
Effective communication skills

What Apple employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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