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Systems Engineer Contract Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Leidos

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Coordinate engineering or execution issues with technical teams; contracts issues require ... Experience with system administrative work, excellent technical skills, and familiarity with common ...

Chipton Ross

Systems Engineer

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$64.90/hr

Job #219153 Chipton-Ross is seeking a Systems Engineer for a contract opportunity in Anaheim, CA. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE) Experience with all aspects of SEIT and product ...

Leidos

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $157K/yr

As a Systems Engineer, your typical job duties will involve installing, monitoring, and ... Coordinate engineering or execution issues with technical teams; contracts issues require ...

Leidos

Systems Engineer

Chula Vista, CA · On-site

$87K - $157K/yr

As a Systems Engineer, your typical job duties will involve installing, monitoring, and ... Coordinate engineering or execution issues with technical teams; contracts issues require ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Systems Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

R0237054 Systems Engineer The Opportunity: Are you looking for an opportunity to combine your ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Systems Engineer

El Segundo, CA

$86K - $198K/yr

Systems Engineer The Opportunity: Are you looking for an opportunity to combine your technical ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA · On-site

$61K - $141K/yr

R0240972 Systems Engineer The Opportunity: As a Systems and Digital Engineer on our team, you'll ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA · On-site

$61K - $141K/yr

Systems Engineer The Opportunity: As a Systems and Digital Engineer on our team, you'll work on the ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA

$61K - $141K/yr

Systems Engineer The Opportunity: As a Systems and Digital Engineeron our team,you'llwork on ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

XSITE LLC

Systems Engineer II

San Diego, CA · On-site

$111K - $141K/yr

Salary: $111,700-$141,000 XSITE LLC is looking for a Systems Engineer II to join our team in San Diego, CA to support the PMW/A 170 office/contract. We are Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned company ...

The Structures Company

Systems Engineer

Palmdale, CA · On-site

$48 - $115/hr

Systems Engineer LOCATION: Palmdale, CA PAY RATE: $48.08-115.00/hour We are a national aerospace ... Contract (13 days with potential for extension) * Clearance: Active Secret Security Clearance ...

Cornerstone Defense

Systems Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Contract * Job #3811 Title: Systems Engineer Location : Sunnyvale, CA Security Clearance: Secret Required to start (Will eventually have to get Top Secret) Salary: $100k - $130k Work Schedule: Onsite ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsSystems Engineer Contract JobsSystems Engineer Contract Jobs in California

Systems Engineer Contract information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$125.5K

$164.8K

How much do systems engineer contract jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for systems engineer contract in California is $125,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,700.00 and $154,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical responsibilities and challenges faced by a Systems Engineer under a contract position?

As a Systems Engineer working on a contract basis, your daily responsibilities usually include managing infrastructure deployments, configuring and maintaining servers, troubleshooting system issues, and optimizing network performance for client projects. You may face challenges such as quickly adapting to new environments, understanding legacy systems, or integrating new technologies with existing IT infrastructure. Contract roles often require working independently while effectively collaborating with internal IT teams, project managers, and other stakeholders. This environment provides valuable exposure to diverse industries and technical challenges, which can greatly enhance your experience and open avenues for future permanent or advanced contract opportunities.

What is a Systems Engineer Contract job?

A Systems Engineer Contract job is a temporary or project-based position where an engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining complex systems. These roles often involve working with hardware, software, networking, and security components to ensure system functionality and efficiency. Contract Systems Engineers may work for a specific duration or on a particular project for a company, typically through a consulting firm or as independent contractors. They are expected to collaborate with cross-functional teams, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system performance. The contract terms, duration, and scope of work can vary based on the employer's needs.

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

To thrive as a Systems Engineer Contract, you need a strong background in systems architecture, troubleshooting, and integration, typically supported by a degree in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with tools such as VMware, Linux/Windows server environments, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and relevant certifications like CompTIA, Cisco, or Microsoft are highly valued. Excellent problem-solving, time management, and communication skills set top candidates apart in contract roles where autonomy and collaboration are both crucial. These skills and attributes ensure efficient delivery, adaptability to different project requirements, and successful collaboration in dynamic technical environments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Systems Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Systems Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Systems Engineer Contract jobs in California? For Systems Engineer Contract jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Systems Engineer Contract jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Systems Engineer Contract jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Systems Engineer Contract jobs? Cities in California with the most Systems Engineer Contract job openings:
Systems Engineer Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Systems Engineer Contract job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $125,549 per year, or $60.4 per hour.
Systems Engineer

Systems Engineer

Leidos

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Leidos rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 149 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

67th of 488 rated business services

Job description

Job Description (Responsibilities/Duties - Sell Your Position!):
Are you looking to make a difference? Leidos in San Diego, CA is looking for a Systems Engineer to join our team supporting NGLD-M initiatives within our Intelligence Organization.
Leidos ranks as a top industry leader for its high performance and high reliability ensuring priority of our nation's safety. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.
We welcome all those who have big ideas, crave innovation and have the passion to bring the warfighter home safe. With a 9/80 schedule, and every other Friday off, our flexible work environment provides you a chance to change the world without giving up your personal life. This is your chance to join a dynamic team working across multiple disciplines with opportunities to further expand your knowledge and grow your career.
Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come join our mission!
Job Summary:
As a Systems Engineer, your typical job duties will involve installing, monitoring, and troubleshooting operating systems, software, hardware, and other computer infrastructures. Assignments may be broad in nature, requiring originality and innovation in determining how to accomplish tasks. Successful candidates must possess and apply expertise on multiple complex work assignments. As a member of the Systems Engineering team you will actively participate in assisting with program increment planning and related Agile team activities. This includes working to determine and populate project backlog for the development team. The selected individual will also work with other System Engineers in defining test procedures and task success criteria.
Additional position responsibilities will include:
  • Develop technical solutions to support the MVMC seams in the area of ITSM.
  • Support aspects of system engineering for SMIT, to include technical planning, design, development, integration, assessment, and requirements analysis, as well as future capability needs (near and long-term) to drive the design and maintain an IT Enterprise.
  • Comply with ITSM processes and procedures.
  • Comply with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) governance.
  • Validate requirements with stakeholders.
  • Create and maintain requirements traceability to source documents, other requirements, test plans, and system architecture.
  • Collaborate with technical experts to synthesize solution architectures and designs from requirements and constraints.
  • Coordinate engineering or execution issues with technical teams; contracts issues require coordination with contracts manager or the PMO.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with ITSM SMIT team members to determine the root causes of seam issues to ensure stable operations and eliminate future occurrences.
  • Contribute to seamless service delivery, an ever-improved user experience, and reduced risk of disruption to mission support or important technology initiatives.

Requirements (Education /Years of Experience/Skill Sets - both technical & soft skill):
Required Qualifications:
Requires B.S. Degree and 4+ years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 2+ years of prior relevant experience.
  • U.S. Citizen and DoD Secret Clearance
  • Specialized experience in a single discipline such as assembly/integration, cross-discipline functions, data engineering, industry expertise, knowledge engineering or legacy evolution
  • Experience in documenting processes and procedures and creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Knowledge of common programming languages, such as C++, Visual Basic, Java, or similar
  • Experience with system administrative work, excellent technical skills, and familiarity with common programming languages (HTML/CSS, Python, JavaScript, SQL, Java)

These Qualifications Would be Nice to Have:
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science, MIS, Business, or related field
  • Experience in IT Service Management
  • Experience across a broad-range of programs with increasing responsibility
  • Experience with cryptography and COMSEC.
  • Understanding of mobile and touch-based development environments. Knowledge of ECUs and SKLs a plus.
  • Certified ITIL V4
  • Experience with the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodology or as a member of an agile team.
  • Knowledge and understanding of ITIL process infrastructure improvements in Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition and Service Operations
  • Experience conducting deep dives and assessing Root Cause Analysis resulting in improved stability and operational performance
  • DoD 8570 approved security certification (i.e., Security +) (Will be required 90 days after hire).

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
May 19, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

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