Design Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

Design Engineer jobs in Palo Alto are concentrated in the Stanford Research Park, downtown Palo Alto, and the East Meadow Drive corridor, with strong demand across semiconductor, medical device, and clean energy hardware companies. Employers actively hiring include Tesla, Rivian, and Intuitive Machines. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles959+
Top employerTesla
Work type60% Hybrid
Top credentialBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
Companies hiring12

Showing 5 of 959+ Design Engineer jobs

HW Design Engineer
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Added 2d ago
HW Design Engineer
ALTEN
Palo Alto, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$130k - $150k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Staff Electronic Design Engineer
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Added 2d ago
Staff Electronic Design Engineer
Rivian
Palo Alto, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project & Program Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus Battery, Battery Engineering
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Added 4d ago
Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus Battery, Battery Engineering
Tesla
Palo Alto, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$110k - $196k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Staff Opto Mechanical Design Engineer
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Added 6d ago
Staff Opto Mechanical Design Engineer
Tesla
Palo Alto, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
$100k - $282k/yr
10,000+

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Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Plastics & Exteriors, Optimus
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Added 1w ago
Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Plastics & Exteriors, Optimus
Tesla
Palo Alto, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Robotics Engineering
$108k - $360k/yr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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See All 959+ Design Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto

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

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Design Engineer Job Market in Palo Alto

Who's Hiring

  • Tesla639
  • Rivian69
  • Intuitive Machines46
  • Also23
  • ALTEN23

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software

Design Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a design engineer job in Palo Alto?

The most direct path is targeting Palo Alto's hardware-heavy employer base: semiconductor firms in the Stanford Research Park, medical device companies along the El Camino Real corridor, and deep-tech startups east of downtown. Candidates with hands-on CAD experience, exposure to ASIC or PCB design, or a portfolio showing physical product work stand out. Networking through Stanford-affiliated events and local IEEE chapter meetings also opens doors that cold applications rarely do.

Which companies hire design engineers in Palo Alto?

Companies currently hiring design engineers in Palo Alto include Tesla, Rivian, and Intuitive Machines, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Palo Alto's employer mix leans toward established technology hardware firms, venture-backed deep-tech startups, and research-adjacent companies spun out of nearby university programs.

Are there remote design engineer jobs in Palo Alto?

Yes, though remote availability is limited for roles that require hands-on lab work, prototype testing, or hardware iteration. About 80% of design engineer openings tied to Palo Alto are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most flexibility found in digital design, VLSI, and verification roles rather than mechanical or hardware-integration positions.

How can I get a design engineer job in Palo Alto with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path in Palo Alto is targeting hardware startups and mid-size semiconductor firms that regularly bring on junior engineers for defined project roles. Contract-to-hire positions at Palo Alto-area electronics companies are common and often convert to full-time. Internship programs tied to Stanford's engineering departments feed directly into local hiring pipelines, and entry-level roles in verification, test engineering, or CAD drafting frequently serve as the first step toward a full design engineer title.

Which industries hire the most design engineers in Palo Alto?

The sectors hiring the most design engineers in Palo Alto are Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Palo Alto's concentration of semiconductor companies, medical hardware developers, and clean energy technology firms drives sustained local demand for design engineering talent across product and R&D functions.

See All 959+ Design Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto

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