Circuit Design Engineer Jobs in California
Circuit Design Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and consumer electronics across a wide band of seniority from junior hardware designer through principal engineer. The largest hiring activity clusters in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where established employers such as Qualcomm, Intel, and Northrop Grumman maintain major engineering campuses. The most in-demand specialties right now are mixed-signal IC design, RF and analog circuit design, and low-power embedded hardware for mobile and automotive applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.
L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Job Title: Lead, Electrical Engineer (Printed Circuit Board Design)
Job Code: 44859
Job Location: San Diego, California
Job Schedule: 9/80 (employee's work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off)
Job Description:
The PCB Designer will effectively utilize design software deployed at L3Harris to create, modify, review, and validate PCB designs for rigid, flexible, and rigid-flex printed circuit boards. You’ll utilize the latest board technologies: fine line and spaces, microvias, stacked microvias, via-in-pad, etc.
Essential Functions:
- Utilize Mentor PADS / Expedition layout software to incorporate schematic, mechanical, and manufacturing inputs into new and revised HDI PCB designs.
- Collaborate with the cross-functional design team to resolve fabrication, assembly, and test issues identified through Valor NPI fabrication and manufacturing checks.
- Create PCB stack ups and model-controlled impedance.
- Create highly complex PCB layouts leveraging design methodologies by board technology, e.g., RF, digital, analog, power supply and mixed technologies.
- Perform peer reviews of complex PCB layout designs.
- Create and maintain PCB layout design guidelines.
- Lead the assessment and implementation of new and upgraded PCB design software.
- Develop and document best practices related to the PCB design process. Create and update templates, checklists, and procedures.
- Mentor less experienced PCB Designers.
- Respond to supplier support requests when technical questions arise related to the requirements associated with specific PCB part numbers.
- Once hired will obtain Secret security clearance.
Required Qualifications (one of the following):
- Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
Preferred Additional Skills:
- Knowledge of the PCB design value chain: schematics, materials, fabrication, assembly, and related design and simulation software tools.
- Knowledge of the PCB design elements: schematic, BOM, mechanical, fabrication, assembly, components, and all related files and documentation.
- Experience mentoring and onboarding less experienced and early career PCB Designers.
- Experience with peer reviews of PCB layout designs.
- Experience evaluating and upgrading PCB design related software.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, is $127,500 - 236,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.
Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.
L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.
See All 26 Circuit Design Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Circuit Design Engineer JobsCircuit Design Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Circuit Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Telecommunications
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in circuit design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
- Proficiency with industry-standard EDA tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics
- Hands-on experience with analog, digital, or mixed-signal circuit design and simulation
- Familiarity with PCB layout, signal integrity analysis, and design-for-manufacturability principles
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional hardware and firmware teams in product development
- Strong documentation skills for schematics, design reviews, and verification test plans
Circuit Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a circuit design engineer in California?
The most direct path is a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an accredited program, which is the baseline qualification California employers require. California does not mandate a state-issued professional license for most circuit design engineering roles in private industry, though engineers who sign off on public-works projects may pursue licensure through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Building a portfolio of real hardware projects and gaining internship experience at one of California's many semiconductor or defense firms significantly strengthens a candidate's profile.
How much do circuit design engineers make in California?
Circuit design engineers in California earn a median of about $160,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,140 for the lowest 10% to over $225,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire circuit design engineers in California?
Employers hiring circuit design engineers in California right now include Apple, Nokia, and Lockheed Martin, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's deep semiconductor and aerospace ecosystem means openings appear consistently at both large OEMs and specialized IC design houses concentrated in the Bay Area and San Diego corridors.
Which California cities have the most circuit design engineer jobs?
San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale account for the largest share of circuit design engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because it is home to the headquarters and major design centers of the global semiconductor industry, San Diego is anchored by Qualcomm and a dense cluster of wireless and defense electronics firms, and Los Angeles draws from its aerospace and defense prime-contractor base including Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
Are there remote circuit design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused roles because circuit design engineering frequently requires access to lab equipment, prototype hardware, and on-site fabrication resources. About 33% of circuit design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to cover the more simulation-heavy and documentation-intensive phases of design rather than bring-up and verification work.
How can I get hired as a circuit design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a structured internship or new-graduate rotational program at one of California's large semiconductor or aerospace employers, several of which run formal early-career hardware programs targeting recent graduates. Companies such as Qualcomm, Intel, and Northrop Grumman regularly post associate hardware engineer and junior analog design roles that treat a strong senior capstone project or university research contribution as equivalent to industry experience. Candidates who can demonstrate hands-on PCB or IC layout work through a personal or academic portfolio, and who hold an EIT designation from the California Board for Professional Engineers, stand out in a competitive new-graduate pool.
Where can I find and apply to circuit design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to circuit design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 26 Circuit Design Engineer Jobs in California
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