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Software Engineer Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Pulse Software Corp

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Prior startup or founding experience is a plus About the Role Design, build, and operate features ... software, new grads considered * Proficiency in Python or TypeScript, plus SQL * Clear ...

Juicebox, Inc

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $250K/yr

About the Role As a software engineer you'll play a key role in engineering decisions, working ... About You * You've built something from scratch - a startup, project, or feature. * You enjoy ...

Simple AI Lab Company

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $280K/yr

We are growing revenue like crazy and looking to hire a couple founding software engineers to help ... Experience as an early-stage startup engineer or founder. * Experience with TypeScript, React ...

Oscar Technology

AI Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$230K - $280K/yr

San Jose, CA Salary: $230K - $280K An AI startup is hiring Mid and Senior Python Software Engineer to join a small, high-impact team building the next generation of AI-powered products. This is an ...

Alljoined

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

About the Role As a Software Engineer , you will build the infrastructure that allows us to do high ... Competitive equity compensation at a seed stage startup While this represents our expected range ...

Tendo

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$127K - $172K/yr

We are looking for a seasoned software engineer who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

Tendo

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$117K - $158K/yr

We are looking for a seasoned software engineer who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

Tendo

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$117K - $158K/yr

We are looking for a seasoned software engineer who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

Tendo

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$127K - $172K/yr

We are looking for a seasoned software engineer who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

Brilent

Software Engineer Intern

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Company Description Brilent is a well-funded, award winning startup located in the Silicon Valley ... As a software engineering intern, you will work alongside our small team of engineers to create new ...

Brevian.ai

Software Engineer - Frontend

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Software Engineer, Frontend BREV/AN is at the forefront of revolutionizing how businesses leverage ... Why BREVIAN? We are a very well funded seed stage startup. You get to experience the 0-1 of ...

Britive

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

About You You are a passionate Software Engineer who wants to develop and scale our multi-tenant ... startup environment. This position will report to the Engineering Manager. Your Impact Key ...

Clockwork.io

Lead Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180K - $260K/yr

About the Role We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to drive the architecture, development ... A strong sense of ownership and the ability to lead in a fast-paced startup environment * Strong ...

Tendo

Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$157K - $212K/yr

We are looking for a software engineering leader who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

Tendo

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $195K/yr

We are looking for a software engineering leader who is passionate about creating next-generation ... Our team-driven culture and rapid growth have earned us recognition as one of Forbes' Top Startup ...

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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 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:
Software Engineer Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Startup job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,592 per year, or $70 per hour.

Software Engineer

Pulse Software Corp

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

Overview
Pulse is tackling one of the most persistent challenges in data infrastructure: extracting accurate, structured information from complex documents at scale. We have a breakthrough approach to document understanding that combines intelligent schema mapping with fine-tuned extraction models where legacy OCR and other parsing tools consistently fail.
We are a small, fast-growing team of engineers in San Francisco powering Fortune 100 enterprises, YC startups, public investment firms, and growth-stage companies. We are backed by tier 1 investors and growing quickly.
What makes our tech special is our multi-stage architecture:
  • Layout understanding with specialized component detection models
  • Low-latency OCR models for targeted extraction
  • Advanced reading-order algorithms for complex structures
  • Proprietary table structure recognition and parsing
  • Fine-tuned vision-language models for charts, tables, and figures

If you are passionate about the intersection of computer vision, NLP, and data infrastructure, your work at Pulse will directly impact customers and shape the future of document intelligence.
What we are looking for
  • 5 days in-office at our San Francisco office
  • Eager to learn and adapt quickly
  • Prior startup or founding experience is a plus

About the RoleDesign, build, and operate features that power extraction, review, and analytics. Work across the stack and ship measurable product improvements.
Responsibilities
  • Build backend services in Python and secure APIs
  • Ship front end features in React and TypeScript for our console and tools
  • Improve accuracy, latency, and reliability across the extraction pipeline
  • Write tests, own deployments, and monitor production health
  • Collaborate with design, ML, and customer-facing teams

Requirements
  • 2+ years building production software, new grads considered
  • Proficiency in Python or TypeScript, plus SQL
  • Clear communication and bias to ship

Nice to have
  • FastAPI, Postgres, Redis, React, AWS

SponsorshipSponsorship available.
Compensation and benefitsCompetitive base salary plus equity, performance-based bonus, relocation assistance for Bay Area moves, daily meal stipend, medical, vision, and dental coverage.

Apply