Design Engineer Jobs in California
Design engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor and consumer electronics, medical devices, and automotive systems, with openings at every level from entry-level drafters to principal engineers. The largest hiring metros are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Lockheed Martin, Apple, and Qualcomm maintain large engineering workforces and hire design engineers across mechanical, electrical, and systems disciplines. California's density of hardware startups and defense contractors keeps demand for CAD proficiency, systems integration, and product development experience consistently high. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Design Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 959+ Design Engineer jobs
Date posted 11/08/2026
Category Engineering
Hire Type Employee
Job ID 18967
Base Salary Range $193200-$289800
Remote Eligible No
Date Posted 11/08/2026
We Are
Synopsys is a leader in silicon-to-systems engineering solutions, helping customers accelerate innovation in AI-driven products through industry-leading EDA, IP, and design solutions.
You Are
As a Principal Front-End Design Engineer, you will lead methodology, subsystem architecture, and AI-enabled design innovation across IP and SoC development. You will build scalable design solutions, improve engineering productivity, and drive best practices across global teams.
What You'll Be Doing
- Develop and deploy AI-driven solutions for verification, synthesis, constraints, and DFT workflows.
- Architect reusable subsystem reference designs for Synopsys IP.
- Debug and optimize front-end design methodologies and automation flows.
- Drive adoption of best practices across design and verification teams.
- Collaborate with EDA, IP, and customer-facing engineers to solve complex design challenges.
- Mentor engineers through technical leadership and knowledge sharing.
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of ASIC, SoC, or IP design and verification experience.
- Expertise in verification, synthesis, timing constraints, DFT, CDC/RDC, or lint methodologies.
- Strong experience with Synopsys tools such as VCS, VC SpyGlass, Fusion Compiler, Design Compiler, and TestMAX.
- Proficient in SystemVerilog, UVM, Tcl, Python, or similar languages.
- Demonstrated technical leadership and influence across cross-functional engineering teams.
What Sets You Apart
- Deep understanding of IP reuse, subsystem integration, and SoC development.
- Passion for using AI to improve design productivity and quality.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and mentoring skills.
- Ability to translate complex technical challenges into scalable, practical solutions.
The Team You'll Be Part Of
You will be a member of the Digital Methodology Interop Engineering team, a team of engineers dedicated to advancing IP and subsystem design excellence at Synopsys. The team collaborates across global sites, driving innovation in methodology, tool integration, and best practices. You will help shape the future of SoC design with Synopsys IP.
Rewards and Benefits
We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.
At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.
In addition to the base salary, this role may be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses. Synopsys offers comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package. The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of job-related factors, including location, skills, experience, and education. Your recruiter can...
Date posted 11/08/2026
Category Engineering
Hire Type Employee
Job ID 18967
Base Salary Range $193200-$289800
Remote Eligible No
Date Posted 11/08/2026
We Are
Synopsys is a leader in silicon-to-systems engineering solutions, helping customers accelerate innovation in AI-driven products through industry-leading EDA, IP, and design solutions.
You Are
As a Principal Front-End Design Engineer, you will lead methodology, subsystem architecture, and AI-enabled design innovation across IP and SoC development. You will build scalable design solutions, improve engineering productivity, and drive best practices across global teams.
What You'll Be Doing
- Develop and deploy AI-driven solutions for verification, synthesis, constraints, and DFT workflows.
- Architect reusable subsystem reference designs for Synopsys IP.
- Debug and optimize front-end design methodologies and automation flows.
- Drive adoption of best practices across design and verification teams.
- Collaborate with EDA, IP, and customer-facing engineers to solve complex design challenges.
- Mentor engineers through technical leadership and knowledge sharing.
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of ASIC, SoC, or IP design and verification experience.
- Expertise in verification, synthesis, timing constraints, DFT, CDC/RDC, or lint methodologies.
- Strong experience with Synopsys tools such as VCS, VC SpyGlass, Fusion Compiler, Design Compiler, and TestMAX.
- Proficient in SystemVerilog, UVM, Tcl, Python, or similar languages.
- Demonstrated technical leadership and influence across cross-functional engineering teams.
What Sets You Apart
- Deep understanding of IP reuse, subsystem integration, and SoC development.
- Passion for using AI to improve design productivity and quality.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and mentoring skills.
- Ability to translate complex technical challenges into scalable, practical solutions.
The Team You'll Be Part Of
You will be a member of the Digital Methodology Interop Engineering team, a team of engineers dedicated to advancing IP and subsystem design excellence at Synopsys. The team collaborates across global sites, driving innovation in methodology, tool integration, and best practices. You will help shape the future of SoC design with Synopsys IP.
Rewards and Benefits
We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.
At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.
In addition to the base salary, this role may be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses. Synopsys offers comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package. The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of job-related factors, including location, skills, experience, and education. Your recruiter can...
See All 959+ Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple217
- Tesla41
- AMD27
- NVIDIA24
- Google21
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware44
- Technology & Software17
- Consulting & Professional Services10
- Manufacturing5
- Construction & Real Estate2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or related engineering discipline required
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA
- Experience with GD&T, engineering drawings, and tolerance analysis
- Familiarity with product lifecycle management and design-for-manufacturing principles
- Knowledge of industry standards relevant to aerospace, medical devices, or consumer electronics
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with manufacturing, test, and systems teams
Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design engineer in California?
Most design engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an ABET-accredited program. While no single state license is required to work as a design engineer, engineers who sign off on public-works or infrastructure documents must hold a Professional Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. For product and hardware roles in private industry, employers prioritize CAD skills and relevant internship or co-op experience.
Which companies hire design engineers in California?
Employers hiring design engineers in California right now include Apple, Tesla, and AMD, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor firms, and medical device manufacturers means design engineer demand is spread across both large corporations and well-funded hardware startups.
Which California cities have the most design engineer jobs?
The cities with the most design engineer openings in California are San Jose, San Diego, and Santa Clara. The Bay Area leads because of its dense hardware and semiconductor ecosystem anchored by companies like Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA, while Los Angeles and San Diego draw heavily from aerospace and defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, which maintain large engineering campuses in both metros.
Are there remote design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused fields, since design engineering typically involves lab work, prototyping, and hands-on collaboration with manufacturing teams. About 42% of design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and these tend to concentrate in systems engineering, CAD review, and documentation roles where physical presence is not required daily.
How can I get hired as a design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate or associate engineer programs at California's large aerospace and defense employers, including Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and L3Harris, all of which run structured rotational or early-career programs in Southern California. Entry-level roles with titles like junior mechanical engineer, CAD technician, or product development associate are common stepping stones. A strong portfolio of SolidWorks or CATIA projects from university coursework, an internship with a Bay Area hardware company or San Diego defense contractor, and progress toward an EIT certification through the California Board for Professional Engineers all give candidates a measurable edge.
Where can I find and apply to design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers hiring now. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 959+ Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Engineer Jobs