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Software Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

vijil

Senior Software Development Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Vijil is an AI software startup on a mission to help organizations build and operate autonomous agents that they can trust. The role involves owning the backend platform services, ensuring ...

Pago

Software Engineer

Fresno, CA · On-site

Pago is a growth stage software startup that provides workforce and harvest management solutions for the agricultural sector. They are seeking a Software Engineer to contribute to the development of ...

Fraction

Sales Associate

San Francisco, CA

$16.50 - $22.50/hr

Fraction Software Startup Sales Associate San Francisco, CA About the Company Fraction is a software startup based in San Francisco's Union Square. Our products help small businesses succeed through ...

Fraction

Sales Associate

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$16.50 - $22.50/hr

Fraction Software Startup Sales Associate San Francisco, CA About the Company Fraction is a software startup based in San Francisco's Union Square. Our products help small businesses succeed through ...

Fraction

Sales Associate

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$16.50 - $22.50/hr

Fraction Software Startup Sales Associate San Francisco, CA About the Company Fraction is a software startup based in San Francisco's Union Square. Our products help small businesses succeed through ...

Quantifind

Software Engineer (Scala)

Palo Alto, CA

$130K - $155K/yr

Professional experience at a software startup strongly preferred * Must be legally authorized to ... work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the ...

Quantifind

Software Engineer (Scala)

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$130K - $155K/yr

Professional experience at a software startup strongly preferred * Must be legally authorized to ... work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the ...

Quantifind

Senior Software Engineer (Scala)

Palo Alto, CA

$144K - $189K/yr

You value the security of a company with a proven business model and enjoy the opportunities a startup offers. You're looking to explore a client-facing role at the intersection of software and ...

Quantifind

Senior Software Engineer (Scala)

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$144K - $189K/yr

You value the security of a company with a proven business model and enjoy the opportunities a startup offers. You're looking to explore a client-facing role at the intersection of software and ...

Regal Executive Search

Accountant Staff

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$64K - $85K/yr

Staff Accountant - Software Startup - Silicon Valley Our client is a startup company specializing in next-generation SaaS solution for managing data centers. They are looking for a highly skilled ...

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 Systems

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 · 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 ...

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All JobsSoftware Startup JobsSoftware Startup Jobs in California

Software Startup information

See California salary details

$47.4K

$110.4K

$163.8K

How much do software startup jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for software startup in California is $110,380.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those working at large tech companies or in specialized fields like machine learning or cloud infrastructure, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often leadership responsibilities or equity compensation.

What is the difference between Software Startup vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware StartupSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in Computer Science or related field; coding skillsSame as startup; often a degree and coding proficiency
Work EnvironmentFast-paced, innovative, often small teamsVaries; can be in startups, corporate, or agency settings
Employer & Industry UsageStartups in tech industry, entrepreneurial settingsBroad; tech, finance, healthcare, and more
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding startup roles vs traditional coding jobsClarifying job scope and environment

Software startups are dynamic, innovative environments focused on rapid growth and product development, often requiring versatile coding skills. Software developers work across various industries and settings, including startups, corporate firms, and agencies. While both roles demand similar technical credentials, startups emphasize adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit, whereas traditional developer roles may focus more on specialized tasks within established companies.

Is it hard to get hired at a startup?

Getting hired at a startup can be competitive due to limited positions and high demand, but they often value skills, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. Candidates with relevant technical expertise, such as coding or product development, and a strong cultural fit tend to have better chances. The hiring process may be faster and less formal than at larger companies.

What is a software startup?

A software startup is a newly established company that focuses on developing and bringing innovative software products or services to market. These companies typically operate in fast-paced environments and aim to solve specific problems through technology. Software startups often seek rapid growth by leveraging scalable software solutions and may attract funding from investors to fuel their expansion. They are known for their agility, experimental approaches, and potential for significant impact in the technology industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a software startup, and why are they important?

To thrive in a software startup, you need a strong background in software development, problem-solving, and adaptability, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python, JavaScript, or Java), agile development tools, and cloud platforms is typically required. Initiative, flexibility, effective communication, and a collaborative mindset are standout soft skills in this fast-paced environment. These skills and qualities are crucial for driving innovation, responding quickly to changing demands, and ensuring the startup's growth and success.

What hot tech job pays $775,000?

Senior software engineers, especially those in specialized fields like machine learning, AI, or high-frequency trading, can earn total compensation around $775,000 or more in top tech companies. These roles often require advanced skills, extensive experience, and sometimes stock options or bonuses as part of their compensation packages.

What are some common challenges faced by team members working at a software startup, and how can they effectively navigate them?

Team members at software startups often encounter fast-paced change, shifting priorities, and resource constraints. Adapting quickly, communicating openly with colleagues, and being comfortable with ambiguity are essential for success. It's important to proactively seek feedback, embrace a collaborative mindset, and be open to learning new skills as the company evolves. Building strong relationships across teams and taking initiative can help you thrive and contribute meaningfully to the startup's growth.

What are the job titles in tech startups?

Common job titles in tech startups include Software Engineer, Product Manager, UX/UI Designer, Data Scientist, Marketing Manager, Sales Representative, and Customer Support Specialist. These roles often require versatile skills, and titles can vary depending on the company's size and focus, with many roles overlapping or evolving rapidly.
What are popular job titles related to Software Startup jobs in California? For Software Startup jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Startup jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Software Startup jobs in California are:
Software Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Startup job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,380 per year, or $53.1 per hour.

Senior Software Development Engineer

vijil

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Vijil is an AI software startup on a mission to help organizations build and operate autonomous agents that they can trust. The role involves owning the backend platform services, ensuring reliability in production, and collaborating with a small team to deliver solutions to customers.
Responsibilities:
• Own production end-to-end: cloud infrastructure, deployments, observability, on-call.
• Own CI/CD: build, test, release, and image promotion across every repository we ship.
• Build, deploy, and maintain the AI agents and libraries that make up our product.
• Write production-quality backend code in Python.
• Set the engineering bar: clean architecture, real tests against real systems, no silent failures.
• Cut through cross-repo work that no one else has the context to finish.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 10+ years of professional software engineering, primarily backend.
• Core cloud development competency. You have designed, deployed, and operated production services on a major cloud. You understand networking, identity (IAM or equivalent), storage (S3 or equivalent), and compute (EC2/EKS or equivalent) at the level needed to debug them under pressure. This is non-negotiable.
• Hands-on experience building or operating agentic AI systems in production — LLM-backed agents that call tools, coordinate with other agents, and run as services. You can speak concretely about what failed in production and how you fixed it. This is non-negotiable.
• Strong Python, including modern async, type hints, and production frameworks such as FastAPI and Pydantic.
• Ownership of CI/CD pipelines you built or rebuilt yourself (GitHub Actions, AWS CodeBuild, or equivalent).
• Container-based deployment and orchestration at production depth: Docker, Kubernetes, and Helm.
• Working fluency with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred), including writing migrations and debugging slow queries.
• Disciplined Git workflow, code review hygiene, and semantic commit history. GitHub link appreciated.
• Strong written communication. You write design docs that other engineers actually read.
Preferred:
• Familiarity with agent interoperability standards such as MCP (Model Context Protocol) or A2A (Agent-to-Agent).
• Experience with agent development frameworks such as Google ADK, LangGraph, or equivalent.
• Production observability experience with OpenTelemetry or equivalent.
• Experience operating a multi-service platform owned by a small team.
• Open-source maintainer or contributor history.
• Prior work on AI infrastructure, agent platforms, or evaluation systems.
• Comfort working directly with applied scientists and translating research into production code.
Company:
Vijil is an AI software startup that helps developers build and operate intelligent agents that people can trust. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Menlo Park, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.

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