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 roles92
Top employerApple
Top citySunnyvale, CA
Cities hiring18
Work type68% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 92+ CAD Engineer jobs

CAD Automation and ML Engineer
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New 2h ago
CAD Automation and ML Engineer
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Data Analytics
Data Science
$129k - $195k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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CAD and Methodology Engineer, Silicon
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New 2h ago
CAD and Methodology Engineer, Silicon
Meta
Sunnyvale, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$178k - $250k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Sr Staff CAD Engineer
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Added 2d ago
Sr Staff CAD Engineer
Marvell Technology
Santa Clara, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$128k - $191k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
5,001-10,000

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Staff CAD Engineer, Silicon Design, Google Cloud
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Added 3d ago
Staff CAD Engineer, Silicon Design, Google Cloud
Google
Sunnyvale, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
IT Support
$192k - $278k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Principal CAD Software Engineer
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Added 3d ago
Principal CAD Software Engineer
Microsoft
California
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$143k - $304k/yr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

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See All 92 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.

Sunnyvale
25 jobs
San Jose
10 jobs
San Diego
9 jobs
Cupertino
5 jobs
San Francisco
5 jobs
Fremont
4 jobs
San Francisco Bay Area
3 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs

CAD Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Apple35
  • Qualcomm7
  • Tesla4
  • NVIDIA4
  • Astranis4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware12
  • Technology & Software6
  • Telecommunications2
  • Consulting & Professional Services1

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 Apple, Qualcomm, and Tesla, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, 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 32% of cad engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 92 CAD Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find CAD Engineer Jobs