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Software Quality Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Software Quality Engineer II Department: Software Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redondo Beach Compensation: $145,000 - $170,000 / year Description As a Software Quality Engineer at Impulse you ...

Software Quality Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$150K - $277K/yr

Be part of the engineering team, focused on testing software and frameworks used to develop Apple ... Developing quality from an early stage by being involved through the entire project lifecycle ...

Software Quality Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$129K - $194K/yr

Be part of the engineering team, focused on testing software and frameworks used to develop Apple ... Developing quality from an early stage by being involved through the entire project lifecycle ...

Be part of the engineering team, focused on testing software and frameworks used to develop Apple's next generation human interface devices! Description Testing is focused on macOS and iOS frameworks ...

Be part of the engineering team, focused on testing software and frameworks used to develop Apple's next generation human interface devices! Description Testing is focused on macOS and iOS frameworks ...

Senior Software Quality Engineer - Mobile Applications Would you like to help ensure the quality of world‑class mobile applications used by millions of users? Join the team building innovative ...

Job #219667 Chipton-Ross is seeking multiple Software Quality Engineer 3's for a contract opportunity in Huntsville, AL. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE) * Bachelor's Degree and 2-15 ...

The Software Quality Assurance Engineer I is an entry-level individual contributor within the Software Quality Assurance organization. The role is primarily focused on supporting software quality ...

Summary Bionano is looking for a talented software quality engineer to support our bioinformatic software. Our goal is to produce compelling, robust commercial products that enable our customers to ...

Showing results 21-40

Software Quality Engineer information

See California salary details

$18

$47

$77

How much do software quality engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for software quality engineer in California is $47.91, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37.74 and $54.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software quality engineer?

Software Quality Engineers are professionals responsible for ensuring that software products meet established quality standards before they are released to customers. They design and execute tests, identify bugs or issues, and collaborate with developers to resolve problems. Their work helps prevent defects, enhances user satisfaction, and ensures the reliability and safety of software applications. Software Quality Engineers may use automation tools and manual testing methods to validate functionality, performance, and security.

How does a software quality engineer typically collaborate with development and product teams to ensure high-quality releases?

As a Software Quality Engineer, you’ll work closely with developers and product managers throughout the software development lifecycle. Regular collaboration involves participating in sprint planning, reviewing requirements, designing test cases, and providing feedback on user stories. You’ll also be responsible for communicating defects clearly, suggesting improvements, and validating fixes, ensuring everyone is aligned on quality goals. This close teamwork ensures that issues are caught early and that the final product meets both technical and user expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software quality engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Quality Engineer, you need a solid understanding of software development lifecycles, test methodologies, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with automated testing tools (like Selenium or JUnit), bug tracking systems (such as Jira), and scripting languages is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and strong communication are vital soft skills that set top performers apart. These abilities ensure software products meet high standards for reliability and functionality, reducing defects and improving user satisfaction.

What is the difference between Software Quality Engineer vs Software Tester?

AspectSoftware Quality EngineerSoftware Tester
Primary FocusEnsuring overall quality, process improvement, and defect preventionIdentifying bugs and verifying software functionality
ResponsibilitiesDeveloping quality strategies, automating tests, collaborating with teamsExecuting test cases, reporting bugs, manual testing
Required SkillsTesting tools, automation, quality assurance processesManual testing, test case execution, defect tracking
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, cross-functional teams in software developmentPrimarily testing teams or QA departments

While both roles focus on software quality, Software Quality Engineers take a broader approach, emphasizing process improvement and automation, whereas Software Testers mainly focus on executing tests and identifying bugs. The roles often overlap but serve different stages of the quality assurance process.

More about Software Quality Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Quality Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Software Quality Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Software Quality Engineer jobs in California?

For Software Quality Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Quality Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Quality Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Software Quality Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Software Quality Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Quality Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,648 per year, or $47.9 per hour.

Software Quality Engineer II

Impulsespace

Redondo Beach, CA • On-site

$145 - $170/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Software Quality Engineer II

Department: Software

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $145,000 - $170,000 / year

Description

As a Software Quality Engineer at Impulse you will ensure that our software maintains the highest standards of quality across complex, mission-critical flight and ground software programs. In this role, you will help to define and document software development and test processes, define tests for our automated testing pipelines, and prepare software releases for space missions anywhere from low Earth orbit to Mars.

Responsibilities
  • Write software development plans, software configuration management plans, and software test plans to communicate our software development process to our customers and other stakeholders
  • Define comprehensive test plans, including functional, integration, system, and user acceptance tests
  • Support development of software documentation and coordinate releases and deliveries with our customers
  • Work with the development team during code reviews and through an integrated CI/CD pipeline to ensure continuous improvement and immediate feedback.
  • Define quality metrics and dashboards for continuous monitoring
  • Verify release candidates pass testing
  • Evaluate compliance with our software development process
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
  • 3+ years of demonstrated experience in software quality assurance or test automation
  • Demonstrated proficiency in C, C++, and/or python languages
  • Understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle
  • Demonstrated experience tailoring software development processes
  • Demonstrated experience writing or editing software user documentation
  • Demonstrated experience with git repositories and artifacts
  • Proven track record producing or testing high quality software in a CI/CD pipeline
Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-498 or SMC-S-012
  • 5+ years of demonstrated experience with the AS9100 processes
  • 3+ years of Software Quality Engineering experience supporting satellite, spacecraft, constellation, or launch vehicle testing
  • Demonstrated experience with static analysis tools
  • Demonstrated experience with the risk management framework

Additional Information:

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case‑related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full‑time hires, you may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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