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Software Engineer Contract Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

PlayStation Global

Software QA Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Software QA Engineer (Contract) Join PlayStation's global initiative to build innovative test automation systems in a sophisticated environment. Engage with engineers, product owners, and designers ...

PlayStation Global

Software QA Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Software QA Engineer (Contract) Join PlayStation's global initiative to build innovative test automation systems in a sophisticated environment. Engage with engineers, product owners, and designers ...

ApTask Global Workforce

Software Engineer

Burlingame, CA · On-site

$94.69/hr

This is a 12+ month contract opportunity. We are looking for a Senior Mobile Systems Engineer with extensive client-server experience to design and implement software systems spanning wearable ...

New

Icehouseventures

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Ivo is the contract intelligence platform of choice for companies like Uber, Meta, Canva, IBM, and ... Backend Engineer Our software solves all these problems (and more) at scale, and our Backend ...

Ivo Inc.

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Merging contracts with their amendments to make a time series of "composite" contracts (a customer actually cried when we showed her this) [2025] Role Our software solves all these problems (and more ...

Ascend

Solutions Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$45/hr

Contract to hire as a full time software engineer (6 months) Benefits do not apply until contract positions are converted to full-time (not guaranteed)

Epitec

Software Engineer III

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$87.15 - $102/hr

Contract * Job #106418 Job Title: Software/Solution Engineer Location: Menlo Park, California Job Type: Full-time, 6-month, On-Going Contract, W2 Schedule: Monday - Friday, Remote Pay Range: $87.15 ...

Valeo

Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA

$96K - $156K/yr

About the Role: As a Software Engineer, you will develop software in an automotive setting to ... Permanent contract Job Posting Date: 2026-03-20 Join Us ! Being part of our team, you will join ...

Valeo

Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$96K - $156K/yr

About the Role: As a Software Engineer, you will develop software in an automotive setting to ... Permanent contract Job Posting Date: 2026-03-20 Join Us ! Being part of our team, you will join ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Android Developer

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$75 - $80/hr

Android Software Engineer (Contract) We are not accepting C2C or 1099 arrangements. Location: San Leandro, CA (Hybrid, 3 days onsite per week) Duration: Contingent/Contract Assignment with Potential ...

DocuSign

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$146K - $235K/yr

... and contract lifecycle management (CLM). What you'll do As a Full Stack Software Engineer at ... Docusign, you will be responsible for owning the end-to-end software development lifecycle from ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsSoftware Engineer Contract JobsSoftware Engineer Contract Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Software Engineer Contract information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$77.8K

$180.6K

$251.6K

How much do software engineer contract jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineer contract in Berkeley, CA is $180,634.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $146,900.00 and $211,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software engineer contract?

Software engineer contracts are agreements where software engineers are hired on a temporary basis to work on specific projects or for a set period of time, rather than as permanent employees. Contractors often work for multiple clients, are paid hourly or per project, and may have more flexible schedules. These contracts outline the scope of work, compensation, deadlines, and other terms. Contract software engineers are responsible for delivering quality code and meeting the requirements set by the client or organization. This working arrangement can offer more autonomy, but also less job security and benefits compared to full-time employment.

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

To thrive as a Software Engineer Contract, you need strong programming skills, a solid understanding of software development methodologies, and a relevant degree or proven experience in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with source control systems (e.g., Git), cloud platforms, and proficiency in languages or frameworks required by the contract are crucial, as are any certifications in areas like AWS or Agile methodologies. Excellent problem-solving, adaptability, and communication skills help you quickly integrate with new teams and deliver results in diverse environments. These skills ensure you can efficiently contribute to projects, meet client expectations, and maintain professional flexibility across various assignments.

What are some common challenges faced by software engineers working on contract positions, and how can they be managed?

Software engineers on contract often face challenges such as quickly adapting to new codebases, understanding diverse team workflows, and managing changing project scopes. It's important to proactively communicate with team members, clarify project requirements early on, and stay organized to meet tight deadlines. Additionally, maintaining a strong personal workflow and being open to feedback can help contract engineers integrate more smoothly and deliver high-quality results within limited timeframes.

What is the difference between Software Engineer Contract vs Software Engineer Full-Time?

AspectSoftware Engineer ContractSoftware Engineer Full-Time
Employment TypeTemporary, project-basedPermanent, ongoing
Work EnvironmentTypically freelance or agency-basedCompany offices or remote
CredentialsUsually similar certifications and skillsSame as contract roles
BenefitsLimited or no benefitsHealth, retirement, paid leave

In summary, Software Engineer Contract roles are temporary positions focused on specific projects, often with fewer benefits, while Software Engineer Full-Time roles offer permanent employment with comprehensive benefits. Both roles require similar skills and credentials but differ mainly in employment stability and perks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA?

The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Software Engineer Contract jobs in Berkeley, CA?

For Software Engineer Contract jobs in Berkeley, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Engineer Contract jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Engineer Contract jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Software Engineer Contract jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Software Engineer Contract job openings:

Software Engineer Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Contract job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $180,634 per year, or $86.8 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer (Contract-to-Hire)

South San Francisco, CA • On-site

Vibehackers
See more jobs at Vibehackersexternal

$150 - $200/hr

Other

Posted 9 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop AI-driven tools, workflows, and integrations to support model development and analysis.

  • Build visualizations, dashboards, and automated parametric search tools for complex workflows.

  • Turn concepts and prototypes into scalable, extensible software solutions.

Job description

Sr. Software Engineer (Contract-to-Hire)

Explicitly requires vibe coding skills and building AI-assisted, agentic workflows and LLM integrations for scientific tooling.

About the Role

Senior software engineer to build AI-driven tools, visualizations, and integrations for a computational platform modeling brain health and neurodegeneration. Role focuses on developing agentic workflows, LLM integrations, and scalable software to support model-enabled research and drug discovery.

Job Description Role

Reporting to the CTO, this hands-on Senior Software Engineer will develop AI-driven tools and infrastructure to enable biological models, digital populations, digital twins, and model-enabled research. The role emphasizes building agentic workflows, chat-based interactions, LLM integrations, visualizations, dashboards, and automated parametric search tools that can operate autonomously or with human-in-the-loop.

Key Responsibilities
  • Develop AI-driven tools and skills including chat-based interactions, agentic workflows, and MCP-based integrations to support model development and analysis.
  • Build AI-enabled visualizations, dashboards, and automated parametric search tools for complex, iterative workflows.
  • Integrate and analyze external literature and data into the modeling platform.
  • Turn concepts and prototypes into scalable, extensible software solutions.
  • Capture requirements from technical discussions and produce clear documentation (commented code, architecture and workflow descriptions, API documentation).
Qualifications Required
  • BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
  • 5+ years developing software in a professional environment.
  • Experience vibe coding with one or more frontier models.
  • Proficient in Python and JSON; experience interfacing with API-driven platforms.
  • Demonstrated skill producing well-designed, well-documented code and supporting documentation.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment and juggling multiple priorities.
Highly Desired
  • Experience developing scientific, modeling, or analytical software.
  • Experience developing AI skills for agentic workflows and integrating with LLMs (LLM APIs, RAG, MCP).
  • Experience using open-weight (local) LLM models.
  • Familiarity with Bayesian statistics and simulation of non-linear differential equation systems.
Work Arrangement
  • Full-time, contract-to-hire (intended path to full-time employment).
  • Ideal candidate based in the San Francisco Bay Area and able to work at the South San Francisco, CA office one day per week. Remote candidates willing to periodically travel to South San Francisco will be considered.
What We Offer
  • Meaningful early-stage equity and a contract rate commensurate with experience.
  • Opportunity to build modeling tools supporting research into Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases at an early-stage company.

Python JSON Mathematica LLM APIs RAG MCP open-weight LLMs API-driven platforms

Skills

Software Development API Design Requirements Analysis Technical Documentation Collaboration Problem Solving AI/ML Tooling Data Integration Human-in-the-loop System Design Rapid Prototyping

Experience Level

Senior

Employment Type

Contract

  • Meaningful early-stage equity
  • Contract-to-hire (path to full-time)
  • Contract rate commensurate with experience
  • Opportunity to work on neurodegenerative disease researchFlexible/remote candidates considered with periodic travel to South San Francisco
  • Office presence one day per week in South San Francisco, CA
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