ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Vp Systems Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Nace AI

VP of Engineering

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$212K - $273K/yr

VP of Engineering Palo Alto, CA · Full-time · On-site About Nace AI Nace AI builds trustworthy ... Partner with the CTO on system architecture, technical strategy, and build-vs-buy decisions

Axiado

VP of HW Systems Engineering

San Jose, CA · On-site

$211K - $271K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking an agile, results-driven VP of HW Systems Engineering to lead our hardware organization. In this highly visible role, you will own the hardware product lifecycle from ...

Nace.AI

VP of Engineering

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$212K - $273K/yr

VP of Engineering Palo Alto, CA · Full-time · On-site About Nace AI Nace AI builds trustworthy ... Partner with the CTO on system architecture, technical strategy, and build-vs-buy decisions

Axiado

VP of HW Systems Engineering

San Jose, CA · On-site

$211K - $271K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking an agile, results-driven VP of HW Systems Engineering to lead our hardware organization. In this highly visible role, you will own the hardware product lifecycle from ...

Axiado

VP of HW Systems Engineering

San Jose, CA · On-site

$211K - $271K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking an agile, results-driven VP of HW Systems Engineering to lead our hardware organization. In this highly visible role, you will own the hardware product lifecycle from ...

Nace AI

VP of Engineering

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$211K - $272K/yr

VP of Engineering Palo Alto, CA • Full-time • On-site About Nace AI Nace AI builds trustworthy ... Partner with the CTO on system architecture, technical strategy, and build-vs-buy decisions

AEG Worldwide

VP Engineering

Los Angeles, CA

$194K - $250K/yr

Job Summary The Vice President Engineering leads the organization responsible for building ... Oversee engineering including cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and system reliability while ...

AEG Worldwide

VP Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$194K - $250K/yr

Job Summary The Vice President Engineering leads the organization responsible for building ... Oversee engineering including cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and system reliability while ...

AEG Presents

VP Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$194K - $250K/yr

Job Summary The Vice President Engineering leads the organization responsible for building ... Oversee engineering including cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and system reliability while ...

AXS

VP, Data Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$212K - $273K/yr

The Role The Vice President of Data Engineering will lead AXS' global data engineering organization ... the systems that make trusted, real-time data available to Product, Data Science, Marketing ...

AXS

VP, Data Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$212K - $273K/yr

The Role The Vice President of Data Engineering will lead AXS' global data engineering organization ... the systems that make trusted, real-time data available to Product, Data Science, Marketing ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsVp Systems Engineering JobsVp Systems Engineering Jobs in California

Vp Systems Engineering information

See California salary details

$20.2K

$220.2K

$308.6K

How much do vp systems engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for vp systems engineering in California is $220,165.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $186,700.00 and $254,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a VP Systems Engineering do?

A VP of Systems Engineering oversees the design, development, and implementation of complex systems within an organization, ensuring that all components work together effectively. They lead teams of engineers, set technical direction, and coordinate with other departments to meet business objectives. This role also involves managing budgets, resources, and timelines for large-scale engineering projects. Additionally, they ensure that systems meet quality, security, and regulatory standards while driving innovation and continuous improvement.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a VP Systems Engineering?

To thrive as a VP Systems Engineering, you need deep expertise in systems architecture, engineering management, and a relevant technical degree, often complemented by significant leadership experience. Familiarity with tools like Enterprise Architecture frameworks, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and certifications such as PMP or ITIL are commonly required. Strategic thinking, strong communication, and the ability to inspire cross-functional teams are crucial soft skills. These competencies ensure effective leadership of complex engineering projects, alignment with business goals, and successful delivery of robust systems solutions.

What are the primary challenges faced by a VP Systems Engineering in aligning technology strategies with overall business goals?

A VP of Systems Engineering often navigates the challenge of translating complex technical requirements into actionable strategies that support the organization's broader objectives. This involves balancing innovation with reliability, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring systems scalability while controlling costs. Additionally, fostering effective communication between engineering teams and executive leadership is key to ensuring that technology solutions align with business priorities. Success in this role requires strategic vision, adaptability, and strong leadership to drive both technical excellence and organizational growth.

What is the difference between Vp Systems Engineering vs Systems Engineer?

AspectVp Systems EngineeringSystems Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, PMP or similar certifications often preferredBachelor's degree in Engineering or related field, certifications like INCOSE are common
Work EnvironmentLeadership role overseeing teams, strategic planning, cross-department collaborationTechnical role focused on system design, development, and testing
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large tech, aerospace, defense companies for senior leadershipFound across industries for technical system development roles
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership responsibilities and qualificationsTechnical skills, project involvement, and career progression

The Vp Systems Engineering is a senior leadership role overseeing system engineering teams and strategy, while a Systems Engineer focuses on technical system design and implementation. Both roles require engineering credentials, but the Vp emphasizes management and strategic planning, whereas the Systems Engineer is more hands-on technically.

What are the most commonly searched types of Systems Engineering jobs in California?

The most popular types of Systems Engineering jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Vp Systems Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Vp Systems Engineering job openings:

Infographic showing various Vp Systems Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $220,165 per year, or $105.8 per hour.

VP of Engineering Applications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Required, Work From Home

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

Next Step Systems
IT Services • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Next Step Systemsexternal

$212K - $273K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Job Description
VP of Engineering Applications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Required, Work From Home
As the VP of Engineering Applications, you will turn intelligence into a real product. The VP of Engineering Applications is responsible for the engineering systems, teams, and execution that turn Machine Learning (ML) capability into reliable, fast, and intuitive user experiences across backend, mobile, and desktop platforms. The VP of Engineering Applications role is a senior engineering leader who stays close to the product, makes hard technical decisions, and holds a high bar for quality and delivery. This position is 100% Remote.
VP of Engineering Applications Responsibilities:
- Own the application engineering strategy and execution across backend, mobile, and desktop.
- Lead and grow a small, senior applications team, including backend, mobile, and desktop engineers.
- Set the architectural direction for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered product workflows, APIs, and client integrations.
- Ensure AI capabilities are integrated into the product with clear abstractions, predictable behavior, and graceful failure modes.
- Partner closely with Machine Learning leadership to translate model capability into shippable product features.
- Make high-impact decisions across latency, cost, reliability, security, and user experience.
- Establish clear ownership boundaries across backend, mobile, and desktop to prevent architectural drift.
- Ensure production readiness: observability, monitoring, retries, fallbacks, privacy, and cost controls.
- Balance speed and discipline shipping quickly without compromising long-term system quality.
VP of Engineering Applications Outcomes:
- Reliable, low-latency Artificial Intelligence (AI) user experiences across backend, mobile, and desktop
- Clear architectural boundaries that allow teams to move fast without constant rewrites.
- Measurable improvements in system performance, stability, and production reliability.
- Strong observability and operational discipline across all application systems.
- A small, senior team that ships frequently, owns what they build, and raises the technical bar.
- Team members are empowered, growing in their roles, and able to make high-impact contributions.
Qualifications
VP of Engineering Applications Qualifications:
- Significant experience leading application or product engineering for complex systems.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) experience required.
- Strong hands-on background building and shipping backend systems used in production.
- Experience delivering Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered products, with a deep understanding of model integration trade-offs.
- Excellent system design skills across services, APIs, clients, and data flows.
- Comfort operating across platforms (backend, mobile, desktop), even if your depth is in one.
- Proven ability to make high-impact technical decisions under ambiguity.
- A strong bias toward shipping, iteration, and learning from real-world usage.
- Low ego, strong judgment, and the ability to raise the technical bar for the entire applications organization.
Benefits include medical insurance, Dental, Vision, Savings Plan Options, PTO, etc.
Keywords: San Francisco CA Jobs, VP of Engineering Applications, AI, Artificial Intelligence, APIs, Application Engineering, Backend, Desktop, Low Latency, ML, Machine Learning, Product Engineering, Work From Home, Remote, California Recruiters, IT Jobs, California Recruiting
Looking to hire a VP of Engineering Applications in San Francisco, CA or in other cities? Our IT recruiting agencies and staffing companies can help.
We help companies that are looking to hire VPs of Engineering Applications for jobs in San Francisco, California and in other cities too. Please contact our IT recruiting agencies and IT staffing companies today!
Additional Information
Please check out all of our jobs at www.nextstepsystems.com.

Apply