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Software Engineer Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NextHop AI

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

NextHop AI

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

NextHop AI

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

Beacon Software

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... startup or high-growth environment. * Strong foundation in software engineering best practices ... including code quality, testing, and deployment * Command of one or more modern programming ...

Mintstage Consulting Services

Be Seen First

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

Role: Software Engineer, Product Location: San Francisco, CA-Onsite Job Type- Full Time (USC ... Strong startup experience, product ownership, and customer-facing mindset required. AI/LLM ...

Opsin

Software Engineer

San Jose, CA

Software Engineer We're looking for a Software Engineer with a strong growth mindset and high ... Readiness to work independently in a startup environment * Ability to navigate ambiguity and solve ...

Top Engineer

Sr Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Sr Software Engineer Step into a high-impact Sr Software Engineer opportunity with a confidential ... Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment. Strong problem-solving skills and ...

Brevian.ai

Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Software Engineer BREV/AN is at the forefront of revolutionizing how businesses leverage artificial ... You get to experience the 0-1 of building a startup, working with talented engineers from ...

Beacon Software

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... startup or high-growth environment. * Strong foundation in software engineering best practices ... including code quality, testing, and deployment * Command of one or more modern programming ...

Merge

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

They are seeking software engineers to help build their infrastructure and new products, focusing ... Startup or SaaS experience preferred Company : Merge is one API to add hundreds of integrations to ...

Epsilon3

Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$120K - $180K/yr

This is an impactful role within a fast-paced startup. The ideal candidate is someone who has ... software engineer * Proficiency with TypeScript and with JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue ...

Clera

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $200K/yr

About the Role A well-funded, seed-stage B2B SaaS startup in the supply chain integrations space is looking for a Founding Software Engineer to help shape the architecture, culture, and product ...

Clera

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $200K/yr

About the Role A well-funded, seed-stage B2B SaaS startup in the supply chain integrations space is looking for a Founding Software Engineer to help shape the architecture, culture, and product ...

Clera

Founding Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $200K/yr

About the Role A well-funded, seed-stage B2B SaaS startup in the supply chain integrations space is looking for a Founding Software Engineer to help shape the architecture, culture, and product ...

Applied Intuition

Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

They are seeking a Software Engineer to design solutions in the autonomy space, working on full ... startup veterans • Carve out your own area of expertise and influence product decisions • ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsSoftware Engineer Startup JobsSoftware Engineer Startup Jobs in California

Software Engineer Startup information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do software engineer startup jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineer startup in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Software Engineer Startup position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Engineer in a startup environment, you need solid programming skills, a problem-solving mindset, and a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with agile methodologies, cloud platforms, version control (like Git), and rapid prototyping tools is highly valued, and startup engineers may also benefit from exposure to full-stack development. Adaptability, effective communication, and the ability to work independently in uncertain environments are standout soft skills. These competencies enable engineers to rapidly iterate on products, effectively collaborate across small teams, and contribute to the dynamic demands of a growing company.

What is a Software Engineer Startup job?

A Software Engineer Startup job involves developing, testing, and maintaining software in a fast-paced, early-stage company. Engineers in startups often wear multiple hats, working on both backend and frontend development, infrastructure, and sometimes even product decisions. The role requires adaptability, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with limited resources. Unlike larger companies, startup engineers may need to prototype quickly, iterate based on user feedback, and contribute to the overall growth strategy. This position is ideal for those who enjoy dynamic environments and taking ownership of projects.

What can I expect from the daily work environment as a Software Engineer at a startup?

Working as a Software Engineer at a startup typically means you'll be part of a small, agile team where roles and responsibilities can shift quickly based on company needs. You'll often participate in daily stand-ups, collaborate closely with founders or product leads, and have the opportunity to contribute ideas beyond your core coding tasks. The pace is usually fast, and you'll likely wear multiple hats, working on everything from prototyping new features to troubleshooting production issues. This hands-on, collaborative atmosphere provides excellent opportunities for skill growth, creative problem-solving, and making a visible impact on the company's direction.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Software Engineer Startup jobs in California? For Software Engineer Startup jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Engineer Startup jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Software Engineer Startup jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Software Engineer Startup jobs? Cities in California with the most Software Engineer Startup job openings:
Software Engineer Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Startup job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,592 per year, or $70 per hour.

Software Engineer

David Joseph & Company

San Francisco, CA

$175K - $225K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer

Location: San Francisco, CA (Onsite, 5 days/week)
Compensation: $175,000 – $225,000 base + equity
Experience Level: 1–4 years
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Company

The Company builds enterprise AI agents for some of the largest companies in the world — working with $1B–$100B revenue enterprises with a reported 100% production deployment success rate. The team includes talent from Meta, AWS Bedrock, Citadel Securities, McKinsey, and Stanford.

About the Role

This is a high-ownership engineering role building and deploying production AI agents into major enterprise environments. You will ship production code daily, own code quality and engineering standards, and progress toward leading a small engineering team within 6 months.

What You'll Own
  • Build production AI agents against audit specifications
  • Deploy solutions into Salesforce, NetSuite, D365, and similar enterprise systems
  • Ship production code daily
  • Own code quality and engineering standards
  • Take ownership across systems without waiting for direction
  • Progress toward leading a small engineering team within 6 months
Requirements
  • 1–4 years of professional software engineering experience
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals and production development experience
  • AI-native builder experience with Claude, Codex, agent frameworks, or API loops
  • Fast execution and strong ownership mentality
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguity
  • Able to receive and implement feedback quickly
  • Willing to work onsite in San Francisco 5 days/week
Target Backgrounds

Strong signals include experience at Ramp, Cursor, xAI, or top AI-native startups, strong GitHub presence, open source contributions, agent infrastructure experience, LLM application development, and a systems-thinking mindset. Ideal roles: Product Engineer, Software Engineer, AI Engineer, Full Stack Engineer, Agent Infrastructure Engineer, LLM Applications Engineer, Startup Engineer, Founding Engineer, or Early-Stage Startup Builder.

This Role Is NOT For
  • Vibe-coding-only backgrounds
  • Candidates who cannot explain shipped projects
  • Slow executors with weak engineering fundamentals
  • Poor response to feedback
  • Framework memorization without systems understanding
Interview Process
  1. Pending approval
  2. Initial screen
  3. First round
  4. Second round
  5. Third round
  6. Onsite
  7. Offer
Logistics
  • Role is fully onsite in San Francisco — 5 days/week — please only apply if you can commit to this

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co.