Development Engineer Jobs in California

Development Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand in aerospace and defense, semiconductors, clean energy, and enterprise software stretching from entry-level roles through senior principal positions. The largest concentrations of hiring are in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Lockheed Martin, Qualcomm, and Apple maintain significant engineering operations. The most sought-after specializations include product development for mixed-signal hardware, systems integration for defense platforms, and software-defined product development in consumer electronics. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Development Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles1,408+
Top employerBKF Engineers
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring117
Work type77% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 1,408+ Development Engineer jobs

KLA
Applications Development Engineer
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KLA
New 1h ago
Applications Development Engineer
KLA
Milpitas, California
Customer Service & Support
Product Management
$98k - $166k/yr
On-Site
Master's
5,001-10,000

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SanDisk
Principal Engineer, Technology Development Engineering
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SanDisk
New 8h ago
Principal Engineer, Technology Development Engineering
SanDisk
Milpitas, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
On-Site
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

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Amazon.com
Software Development Engineer
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Amazon.com
Added 2d ago
Software Development Engineer
Amazon.com
East Palo Alto, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Data Engineering
$165k - $224k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Amazon.com
System Development Engineer II
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Amazon.com
Added 2d ago
System Development Engineer II
Amazon.com
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
IT Support & Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
Systems Administration
IT Support
$188k - $201k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Apple
Software Development Engineer in Test
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Apple
Added 2d ago
Software Development Engineer in Test
Apple
Culver City, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$140k - $258k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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See All 1,408+ Development Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Development Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
189 jobs
San Jose
158 jobs
Santa Clara
134 jobs
Sunnyvale
93 jobs
Los Angeles
90 jobs
Cupertino
77 jobs
Irvine
77 jobs
San Diego
59 jobs
San Mateo
42 jobs

Development Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • BKF Engineers
    BKF Engineers137
  • Amazon
    Amazon122
  • Apple
    Apple59
  • Adobe
    Adobe48
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA41

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software521
  • Consulting & Professional Services283
  • Electronics & Hardware192
  • Manufacturing58
  • Construction & Real Estate35

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an accredited institution
  • Hands-on experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or equivalent design software
  • Proven ability to lead or support design verification, testing, and validation cycles
  • Familiarity with California-relevant industry standards including MIL-SPEC, IPC, or ITAR compliance
  • Experience collaborating cross-functionally with manufacturing, QA, and product management teams
  • Strong documentation skills for engineering change orders, test plans, and design review records

Development Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a development engineer in California?

Most development engineer roles in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Candidates pursuing roles in civil or structural-adjacent development may benefit from sitting for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam administered through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. For hardware, semiconductor, or software-focused roles, a strong project portfolio and internship experience with a California-based employer typically matters more than licensure.

Which companies hire development engineers in California?

Employers hiring development engineers in California right now include BKF Engineers, Amazon, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of aerospace primes, semiconductor fabs, and consumer electronics headquarters means the hiring pipeline for this role is unusually broad and active compared to most states.

Which California cities have the most development engineer jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Clara account for the largest share of development engineer openings in California. The Bay Area's concentration of semiconductor and software-hardware companies drives volume in that corridor, while Los Angeles and San Diego reflect the strength of aerospace, defense, and biomedical device employers that have long operated major engineering campuses in Southern California.

Are there remote development engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely software roles because development engineering frequently involves lab work, prototyping, and hardware testing that require physical presence. About 23% of development engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, skewing toward systems-level or software-defined development work. Roles centered on firmware, embedded software, or technical program management tend to carry the most scheduling flexibility.

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

The most realistic entry path is securing a rotational new-grad engineering program or co-op with a large California employer. Companies like Northrop Grumman, Apple, and Qualcomm run structured new-graduate programs that place candidates directly into development teams. Adjacent roles such as test engineer, manufacturing engineer, or product validation technician are common lateral entry points. Building a portfolio around a senior capstone project or personal hardware build, and earning the Fundamentals of Engineering credential from the California Board for Professional Engineers, strengthens any entry-level application.

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

You can find and apply to development engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and target location, and apply directly from the listing.

See All 1,408+ Development Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Development Engineer Jobs