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Software Engineer Contractor Jobs in Alameda, CA

Walmart

Software Engineer III

Sunnyvale, CA

$90K - $180K/yr

This is a replacement position for an existing contractor on the Fraud Gateway team. This position ... As a Software Engineer III for Walmart Global Tech, you'll have the opportunity to: * Develop ...

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All JobsSoftware Engineer Contractor JobsSoftware Engineer Contractor Jobs in Alameda, CA

Software Engineer Contractor information

See Alameda, CA salary details

$72K

$167.2K

$232.9K

How much do software engineer contractor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineer contractor in Alameda, CA is $167,197.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,000.00 and $196,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software engineer contractor?

Software Engineer Contractors are professionals hired on a temporary or project basis to design, develop, and maintain software applications. Unlike full-time employees, they typically work for a predetermined period or on specific projects for a company. Contractors may work independently or through contracting agencies and often have flexibility regarding work hours and location. Their expertise is sought after for specialized tasks, scaling development teams, or covering skill gaps within organizations.

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

To thrive as a Software Engineer Contractor, you need advanced programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and a solid understanding of software development lifecycles, often backed by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with source control systems (like Git), cloud platforms, and project management tools, as well as proficiency in key programming languages, is typically required. Strong communication, adaptability, and self-motivation are essential soft skills for collaborating with diverse teams and managing project-based workloads. These skills ensure high-quality deliverables, effective client communication, and successful navigation of varied contract environments.

How does the work structure and team integration typically differ for software engineer contractors compared to full-time employees?

As a Software Engineer Contractor, you will often work on specific projects or deliverables within a defined contract period, which may mean less involvement in long-term planning or company-wide initiatives. Contractors are usually integrated into existing development teams, collaborating closely with full-time engineers, project managers, and QA staff, but may have less access to certain internal resources or benefits. While you can expect to contribute to daily stand-ups, code reviews, and agile sprints, the onboarding process and access to proprietary tools or systems may be streamlined for contractors. This role offers valuable exposure to diverse tech stacks and industries, and successful contracts can lead to extended engagements or full-time offers.

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

AspectSoftware Engineer ContractorSoftware Engineer Full-Time Employee
CredentialsTypically requires a relevant degree and technical skills; certifications optionalSame as contractor; often prefers ongoing professional development
Work EnvironmentProject-based, flexible hours, often remote or on-siteSteady, long-term employment, usually on-site or hybrid
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech, startups, consulting firmsStandard in large corporations, tech companies, and enterprises
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for short-term or project-based rolesSeeking stable, long-term employment

In summary, Software Engineer Contractors typically work on short-term projects with flexible schedules, while full-time employees enjoy ongoing employment and benefits. Both roles require similar skills and credentials but differ mainly in work arrangement and job stability.

What are popular job titles related to Software Engineer Contractor jobs in Alameda, CA?

For Software Engineer Contractor jobs in Alameda, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Engineer Contractor jobs in Alameda, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Engineer Contractor jobs in Alameda, CA are:

What cities near Alameda, CA are hiring for Software Engineer Contractor jobs?

Cities near Alameda, CA with the most Software Engineer Contractor job openings:

Software Engineer Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Contractor job openings in Alameda, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,197 per year, or $80.4 per hour.

Senior Software Platform Engineer

Prolific Machines

Emeryville, CA • On-site

$141K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our mission is to make next-generation therapies broadly available to patients. Our first-of-its-kind Photomolecular Platform uses light to precisely guide how cells produce complex biologics, enabling higher titers, improved quality, and faster development timelines. By helping partners overcome today's manufacturing bottlenecks, we're accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield, and SOSV.
Help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. We're looking for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to join our team.
This is a high-ownership role with significant opportunity to shape the long-term direction of software systems at Prolific. As a foundational Software Engineer within the organization, you will have substantial influence over architecture, tooling, and long-term technical direction.
We're looking for a Software Engineer to help define and build the next-generation software and controls platform underlying Prolific's illumination systems. This role will serve as a foundational software hire within a multidisciplinary illuminator technology team, helping define software architecture across device control, cloud-connected infrastructure, internal tooling, and future customer-facing systems.
This individual will work closely with Firmware, Hardware, Data, and Bioprocess Engineering teams to develop scalable, production-ready control systems for next-generation illumination products. Over time, this role is expected to help define software architecture, interfaces, and development strategy as Prolific expands both internal software capabilities and external development partnerships.
This is not a traditional consumer web or SaaS role. Success in this position requires strong systems thinking and comfort operating across the hardware/software boundary. The ideal candidate enjoys working in-person, operating close to real-world systems and hardware, and is comfortable working across abstraction layers rather than specializing narrowly in frontend or backend development.
This role will be primarily based on-site in Emeryville, CA with some hybrid flexibility depending on current project needs.
Responsibilities
  • Architect and develop the software platform connecting Prolific illumination hardware, firmware, cloud infrastructure, internal tooling, and future operational and customer-deployed systems
  • Define software interfaces, communication layers, and subsystem boundaries across distributed control systems
  • Collaborate closely with firmware and hardware engineers to design robust hardware/software interactions
  • Establish scalable software infrastructure and engineering practices suitable for long-term productization
  • Help define technical scopes, interfaces, and development strategy for external software development partners and contractors where appropriate
  • Contribute hands-on across the stack while helping shape longer-term software technical direction

Requirements
  • MS with 5+ years or BS with 7+ years of professional software development experience. Degree in Software Engineering , Computer Science, or a related field preferred.
  • Strong systems-level thinking and ability to reason across software, firmware, hardware, and operational workflows
  • Ability to balance rapid prototyping with long-term architectural scalability
  • Experience decomposing complex systems into modular, maintainable subsystems
  • Fluency in Python and proficiency in at least one other general-purpose language (e.g. TypeScript, Go, Rust)
  • Experience defining requirements, designing, implementing, and deploying software
  • Experience designing software for reliability, maintainability, and operational robustness in mission-critical systems
  • Experience deploying and maintaining cloud-connected applications or services
  • Experience working with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.)
  • Experience working closely with end users to iteratively improve software usability and workflows
  • Experience setting up and owning their own development environment (incl. unit/integration/end-to-end testing, continuous integration, etc.)
  • Experience interfacing software with hardware systems (serial, TCP/IP, etc.) and ability to debug issues across the software/hardware boundary
  • Comfort working in Linux environments

Nice to Haves
  • Experience leading technical projects involving external vendors, contractors, or distributed development teams
  • Exposure to the Industrial IoT / Industry 4.0 stack, e.g. protocols (MQTT Sparkplug B, OPC UA), system layers (HMI/SCADA, MES), and architectural patterns like Unified Namespace (UNS).
  • Experience with electronic records, audit trails, and data integrity principles for industrial or regulated settings
  • Experience developing software in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries where 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, or ALCOA+ or similar regulations are relevant
  • Experience modernizing or replacing ad-hoc operational tooling (e.g. Airtable-based workflows)
  • Experience developing custom dashboards and data visualizers
  • Expertise in defining and building out devops, development workflows, and selecting toolchains
  • Embedded C/C++ development experience or knowledge about the limitations of firmware and embedded systems
  • Experience with Ignition, AirTable or the Particle Cloud systems.

About You
  • Enjoys taking projects all the way from concept to deployment
  • Comfortable in a dynamic startup environment with evolving requirements
  • Thrives in multidisciplinary environments alongside scientists, engineers, and operators
  • Comfortable making pragmatic technical decisions in an ambiguous, rapidly evolving environment
  • Excited to enable a technology and end product that will have a positive impact on people's lives

$160,000 - $210,000 a year
This role is salaried, exempt, and paid semi-monthly. Starting salary will be dependent upon specific experience, knowledge, and skillset. The range depending on exact level will typically fall between $160k-$210k.
Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events!
Diversity: Prolific Machines values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and have equal opportunities to succeed. Prolific Machines is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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