CAD Engineer Jobs in California

CAD Engineer jobs in California are in strong demand, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, medical device development, and architecture and civil infrastructure, with openings at every level from entry-level drafters to senior design engineers. The most active hiring metros are the Los Angeles basin, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where companies like Northrop Grumman, Applied Materials, and Medtronic maintain major California operations. The most sought-after specialties in California listings are mechanical CAD for aerospace assemblies, PCB and chip-level layout, and building information modeling for large infrastructure projects. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles96+
Top employerBKF Engineers
Top citySanta Clara, CA
Cities hiring34
Work type92% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 96+ CAD Engineer jobs

Micron Technology
Principal CAD Engineer/Manager
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Micron Technology
Added 4d ago
Principal CAD Engineer/Manager
Micron Technology
San Jose, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$177k - $301k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Hitachi Energy
CAD Engineer
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Hitachi Energy
Added 1w ago
CAD Engineer
Hitachi Energy
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Drafting & CAD
$27 - $30/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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NVIDIA
Senior CAD Engineer
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NVIDIA
Added 1w ago
Senior CAD Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$168k - $265k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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NVIDIA
CAD Engineer
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NVIDIA
Added 1w ago
CAD Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Software Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$116k - $219k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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NVIDIA
Senior Calibre CAD Engineer
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NVIDIA
Added 1w ago
Senior Calibre CAD Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$136k - $265k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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See All 96 CAD Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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CAD Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Clara
12 jobs
San Diego
9 jobs
San Jose
9 jobs
Sunnyvale
8 jobs
Los Angeles
5 jobs
Emeryville
4 jobs
Irvine
4 jobs
San Francisco Bay Area
4 jobs
Oakland
3 jobs

CAD Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • BKF Engineers
    BKF Engineers12
  • Apple
    Apple7
  • Pse Consulting Engineers
    Pse Consulting Engineers7
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA6
  • Google
    Google5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software25
  • Consulting & Professional Services23
  • Electronics & Hardware22
  • Construction & Real Estate7
  • Manufacturing6

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in CAD engineer jobs across California.

  • Proficiency in industry-standard CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA
  • Associate or bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, drafting technology, or a related field
  • Experience producing engineering drawings to GD&T and ASME Y14.5 standards
  • Familiarity with PDM or PLM systems such as Windchill, Teamcenter, or Vault
  • Ability to read and interpret complex assembly and manufacturing drawings independently
  • Strong collaboration skills for working across engineering, manufacturing, and design teams

CAD Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a cad engineer in California?

Most California employers hire cad engineers with an associate degree in drafting and design technology or a bachelor's degree in mechanical or civil engineering. California does not require a state license specifically for cad engineers, but earning a Certified SolidWorks Associate credential or an Autodesk certification strengthens candidacy significantly. Community colleges across the state, including those in the California Community Colleges system, offer accredited CAD technology programs that lead directly into entry-level roles.

How much do CAD engineers make in California?

CAD engineers in California earn a median of about $130,850 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $74,950 for the lowest 10% to over $212,130 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire cad engineers in California?

Employers hiring cad engineers in California right now include BKF Engineers, Apple, and Pse Consulting Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, medical device manufacturers, and semiconductor equipment firms means consistent demand across a range of industries throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most cad engineer jobs?

The cities with the most cad engineer openings in California are Santa Clara, San Diego, and San Jose. The distribution reflects California's major industrial clusters: the Los Angeles basin anchors aerospace and defense work with large contractors nearby, the Bay Area drives semiconductor and tech hardware demand, and San Diego's life sciences and defense corridor generates steady openings for both mechanical and electrical CAD roles.

Are there remote cad engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're limited. CAD engineering often requires access to physical prototypes, lab equipment, or secure on-site systems, which keeps most roles on-site or hybrid. About 8% of cad engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. The roles most likely to offer remote flexibility are those focused on 2D documentation, standards writing, or design review rather than hands-on model development or manufacturing support.

How can I get hired as a cad engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is completing a CAD drafting or engineering technology program at a California Community College and building a project portfolio before applying. Large California defense and aerospace employers often post associate or junior drafter roles that accept new graduates, and some run structured engineering rotation programs. Transitioning from a CNC machinist, manufacturing technician, or architecture intern role is also common. Earning a software-specific certification such as a Certified SolidWorks Associate credential gives candidates without work history a concrete credential to lead with.

Where can I find and apply to cad engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to cad engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across aerospace, medical devices, semiconductors, civil infrastructure, and more. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to the employer through each listing.

See All 96 CAD Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find CAD Engineer Jobs