The Founding Software Engineer will collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build ... Required : • Proven experience in building and shipping production software, ideally in a startup ...
The Founding Software Engineer will collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build ... Required : • Proven experience in building and shipping production software, ideally in a startup ...
Founding Fullstack Software Engineer
$200K - $270K/yr
A venture-backed startup is looking for a Founding Full-Stack Software Engineer to join its early team and help build the core product from the ground up. The company is developing a next-generation ...
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Founding Fullstack Software Engineer
$200K - $270K/yr
A venture-backed startup is looking for a Founding Full-Stack Software Engineer to join its early team and help build the core product from the ground up. The company is developing a next-generation ...
Senior Software Engineer (Python, Back-end)
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
Join a hypergrowth startup building AI features for 4,000+ mission-driven customers. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll take AI prototypes to production and own resilient, scalable systems end-to ...
New
Senior Software Engineer (Python, Back-end)
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
Join a hypergrowth startup building AI features for 4,000+ mission-driven customers. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll take AI prototypes to production and own resilient, scalable systems end-to ...
New
Senior Software Engineer, ArsenalOS
$131K - $173K/yr
As a Full Stack Senior Software Engineer on ArsenalOS you will be architecting and implementing ... Experience in hyper growth startup-like environments, with demonstrated successes in scaling and ...
Senior Software Engineer, ArsenalOS
$131K - $173K/yr
As a Full Stack Senior Software Engineer on ArsenalOS you will be architecting and implementing ... Experience in hyper growth startup-like environments, with demonstrated successes in scaling and ...
Software Engineer
Redwood City, CA · On-site
As a Software Engineer, you will ship features across the tech stack, work closely with your team ... startup, or another fast-moving environment • Familiarity with ERP, POS, payments, or other ...
Software Engineer
Redwood City, CA · On-site
As a Software Engineer, you will ship features across the tech stack, work closely with your team ... startup, or another fast-moving environment • Familiarity with ERP, POS, payments, or other ...
Software Engineer
$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 ...
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Software Engineer
$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 ...
Software Engineer
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$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 ...
Software Engineer
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$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 ...
Software Engineer
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$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 ...
Software Engineer
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$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 ...
Staff Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
Recruiting from Scratch is representing a dynamic startup that is unlocking the powerful SMS channel for small and medium-sized businesses. The Staff Software Engineer will design and implement ...
New
Staff Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
Recruiting from Scratch is representing a dynamic startup that is unlocking the powerful SMS channel for small and medium-sized businesses. The Staff Software Engineer will design and implement ...
New
Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
What we are Looking For * 3+ Years of Software Engineering experience graduated from top-tier CS ... Experience as an early engineer at a hyper-growth startup.
Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
What we are Looking For * 3+ Years of Software Engineering experience graduated from top-tier CS ... Experience as an early engineer at a hyper-growth startup.
Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
What we are Looking For * 3+ Years of Software Engineering experience graduated from top-tier CS ... Experience as an early engineer at a hyper-growth startup.
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Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
What we are Looking For * 3+ Years of Software Engineering experience graduated from top-tier CS ... Experience as an early engineer at a hyper-growth startup.
Senior Software Engineer, Platform
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer for their client, who is building an AI infrastructure ... startup environments • Strong communication and collaboration skills Preferred : • Staff or ...
Senior Software Engineer, Platform
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer for their client, who is building an AI infrastructure ... startup environments • Strong communication and collaboration skills Preferred : • Staff or ...
Senior Software Engineer
$144K - $190K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (required 5 days/week in-office) Type ... S taff-level or quickly promoted engineer at a startup or AI-first company * F ormer founder or ...
Senior Software Engineer
$144K - $190K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (required 5 days/week in-office) Type ... S taff-level or quickly promoted engineer at a startup or AI-first company * F ormer founder or ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (required 5 days/week in-office) Type ... startup or top AI company (e.g., Stripe, Ramp, OpenAI, Anthropic) - Strong backend or full-stack ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$144K - $190K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (required 5 days/week in-office) Type ... startup or top AI company (e.g., Stripe, Ramp, OpenAI, Anthropic) - Strong backend or full-stack ...
As an AI/ML Software Engineer Intern, you will define and implement the AI/ML infrastructure ... This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a rapidly growing domain within a fast-moving startup.
As an AI/ML Software Engineer Intern, you will define and implement the AI/ML infrastructure ... This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a rapidly growing domain within a fast-moving startup.
Junior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $200K/yr
Junior Software Engineer w/ Equity (Engineering Automation Startup) (Ivy League Schools Only) Location: San Francisco, CA (in-person) Job Duration: Full-Time/Permanent Job Overview Are you an ...
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Junior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $200K/yr
Junior Software Engineer w/ Equity (Engineering Automation Startup) (Ivy League Schools Only) Location: San Francisco, CA (in-person) Job Duration: Full-Time/Permanent Job Overview Are you an ...
As a ML Software Engineering Intern, you'll work alongside experienced hardware engineers to build ... They should also be excited to adapt, learn quickly, and grow in a fast-paced startup environment.
As a ML Software Engineering Intern, you'll work alongside experienced hardware engineers to build ... They should also be excited to adapt, learn quickly, and grow in a fast-paced startup environment.
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
$180K - $220K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on ... High About the Company The Company is a small, fast-paced startup in the Creator Tech industry. The ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
$180K - $220K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on ... High About the Company The Company is a small, fast-paced startup in the Creator Tech industry. The ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $220K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on ... High About the Company The Company is a small, fast-paced startup in the Creator Tech industry. The ...
Senior Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180K - $220K/yr
Senior Software Engineer Location: San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days in-office; NYC option depending on ... High About the Company The Company is a small, fast-paced startup in the Creator Tech industry. The ...
Staff Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
... startup team • Enjoy mentoring & growing engineers earlier in their technical careers Preferred ... software engineering. Loves making beautiful, functional interfaces for humans • Curious and ...
Staff Software Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
... startup team • Enjoy mentoring & growing engineers earlier in their technical careers Preferred ... software engineering. Loves making beautiful, functional interfaces for humans • Curious and ...
Software Engineer Startup information
See California salary details
$62.7K - $75.4K
2% of jobs
$75.4K - $88.1K
4% of jobs
$88.1K - $100.9K
6% of jobs
$100.9K - $113.6K
8% of jobs
$120.5K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$113.6K - $126.4K
7% of jobs
$126.4K - $139.1K
18% of jobs
The median wage is $142.1K / yr.
$139.1K - $151.8K
16% of jobs
$151.8K - $164.6K
2% of jobs
$169.8K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$164.6K - $177.3K
26% of jobs
$177.3K - $190.1K
1% of jobs
$190.1K - $202.8K
8% of jobs
$62.7K
$145.6K
$202.8K
How much do software engineer startup jobs pay per year?
As of Jul 17, 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:
Full-time
Posted 24 days ago
Job description
Job Summary:
Recruiting from Scratch is representing a dynamic early-stage company that is building a next-generation customer research platform. The Founding Software Engineer will collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build, and ship core features across the full product stack, while also establishing engineering best practices and engaging directly with users to translate needs into scalable solutions.
Responsibilities:
• Collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build, and ship core features across the full product stack.
• Design and develop systems that enable AI-driven conversational interviews, focusing on real-time dialogue management and adaptive questioning.
• Build and maintain infrastructure for the entire research lifecycle, including research plan generation, participant recruitment, and insight synthesis.
• Contribute to technical architecture decisions, tooling, and engineering processes as a foundational team member.
• Engage directly with users and stakeholders to translate research and product needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Establish engineering best practices, code quality standards, and development workflows that will grow with the team.
• Own features end-to-end, from initial design through deployment and iteration, with a high degree of autonomy.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Proven experience in building and shipping production software, ideally in a startup or fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency across the full stack, with hands-on experience in frontend and backend systems.
• Familiarity with integrating large language models, AI agents, or conversational AI systems.
• Demonstrated product instincts, with a focus on user experience alongside technical implementation.
• Ability to work autonomously and make sound decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving situations.
Preferred:
• Prior experience at an early-stage or seed-stage startup, particularly in a founding or first-engineer role.
• Knowledge of NLP pipelines, prompt engineering, or frameworks for LLM orchestration.
• Experience in building real-time or streaming systems, especially those involving audio or live conversation interfaces.
Company:
A recruiting agency working with technology companies to help them hire software engineers, data roles, product managers, and hardware. Founded in 2021, the company is headquartered in Albany, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.
Recruiting from Scratch is representing a dynamic early-stage company that is building a next-generation customer research platform. The Founding Software Engineer will collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build, and ship core features across the full product stack, while also establishing engineering best practices and engaging directly with users to translate needs into scalable solutions.
Responsibilities:
• Collaborate closely with the founding team to architect, build, and ship core features across the full product stack.
• Design and develop systems that enable AI-driven conversational interviews, focusing on real-time dialogue management and adaptive questioning.
• Build and maintain infrastructure for the entire research lifecycle, including research plan generation, participant recruitment, and insight synthesis.
• Contribute to technical architecture decisions, tooling, and engineering processes as a foundational team member.
• Engage directly with users and stakeholders to translate research and product needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Establish engineering best practices, code quality standards, and development workflows that will grow with the team.
• Own features end-to-end, from initial design through deployment and iteration, with a high degree of autonomy.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Proven experience in building and shipping production software, ideally in a startup or fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency across the full stack, with hands-on experience in frontend and backend systems.
• Familiarity with integrating large language models, AI agents, or conversational AI systems.
• Demonstrated product instincts, with a focus on user experience alongside technical implementation.
• Ability to work autonomously and make sound decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving situations.
Preferred:
• Prior experience at an early-stage or seed-stage startup, particularly in a founding or first-engineer role.
• Knowledge of NLP pipelines, prompt engineering, or frameworks for LLM orchestration.
• Experience in building real-time or streaming systems, especially those involving audio or live conversation interfaces.
Company:
A recruiting agency working with technology companies to help them hire software engineers, data roles, product managers, and hardware. Founded in 2021, the company is headquartered in Albany, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.
About Recruiting from Scratch
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Recruiting from Scratch is a premier talent firm that focuses on placing the best product managers, software, and hardware talent at innovative companies. Our team is 100% remote and we work with teams across the United States to help them hire. We work with companies funded by the best investors including Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Ventures, Tiger Global Management, A16Z, Accel, DFJ, and more.
Industry
Recruiting and staffing services
Company size
11 - 50 Employees
Headquarters location
New York, NY, US
Year founded
2021