Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California
Electrical Design Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense and aerospace, semiconductors, utilities, and advanced manufacturing, with openings at every level from entry-level to senior principal. The largest hiring centers are the Los Angeles metro, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where employers like Northrop Grumman, Qualcomm, and Pacific Gas and Electric have long-established engineering workforces. The most in-demand specialties include power systems design, PCB and circuit design, and embedded systems engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 152+ Electrical Design Engineer jobs
Imagine the world without Apple devices! Does it feel strange? Apple products might even be one of the reasons you wanted to BE a Hardware Design Engineer. Now, imagine yourself designing future Apple products. Designing hardware for iPhone means learning how to build high-performance electronics where every cubic millimeter matters. It is a masterclass in modern hardware engineering—blending high-speed digital buses, ultra-low-noise power rails, and flexible circuits into an integrated system built at unprecedented quality and scale. The iPhone Hardware System Design team is looking for a driven Electrical Engineer who is passionate about circuit design, board-level bring-up, and hands-on problem solving. You will own the design, validation, and integration of critical rigid-board and flexible-circuit modules, working side-by-side with world-class engineers. If you are eager to dive deep into schematics, spend time in the lab probing waveforms, and see your designs ship in products used by millions, join us.
Description
In this role, you will be an active contributor to the hardware design and validation cycle of future iPhone hardware: Circuit Design & Integration: Own schematics, component selection and collaborate closely with CAD layout engineers for dedicated rigid boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and system interconnect modules. Hands-On Lab Bring-Up: Lead the first-time power-on and functional bring-up of your hardware blocks in the lab; debug hardware bugs down to component level using high-speed scopes and digital analyzers. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with mechanical engineering (Product Design), firmware, thermal, silicon, and factory teams to ensure smooth mechanical and electrical integration. There will be opportunities for international travel.
Minimum Qualifications
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of experience in board-level electrical hardware design and verification.
- Strong grasp of core EE fundamentals: circuit theory, analog fundamentals, digital logic, and basic power regulation.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab experience bringing up and debugging prototype hardware.
Preferred Qualifications
- High speed digital design
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Hands-on lab experience with hardware bring-up and debug
- Fundamentals of signal and power integrity
- Understanding of low voltage power regulation solutions
- Integration of hardware into multi-functional systems
- Use of scripting languages to assist with hardware development
- Familiarity with the challenges of taking a product from design through to production
- Excellent Verbal, written and presentation skills
- Experience working with dynamic multi-functional teams
- Automation: Proficiency with tools to enable automation (AI usage to develop tools and for other efficiency improvements is a plus)
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
Imagine the world without Apple devices! Does it feel strange? Apple products might even be one of the reasons you wanted to BE a Hardware Design Engineer. Now, imagine yourself designing future Apple products. Designing hardware for iPhone means learning how to build high-performance electronics where every cubic millimeter matters. It is a masterclass in modern hardware engineering—blending high-speed digital buses, ultra-low-noise power rails, and flexible circuits into an integrated system built at unprecedented quality and scale. The iPhone Hardware System Design team is looking for a driven Electrical Engineer who is passionate about circuit design, board-level bring-up, and hands-on problem solving. You will own the design, validation, and integration of critical rigid-board and flexible-circuit modules, working side-by-side with world-class engineers. If you are eager to dive deep into schematics, spend time in the lab probing waveforms, and see your designs ship in products used by millions, join us.
Description
In this role, you will be an active contributor to the hardware design and validation cycle of future iPhone hardware: Circuit Design & Integration: Own schematics, component selection and collaborate closely with CAD layout engineers for dedicated rigid boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and system interconnect modules. Hands-On Lab Bring-Up: Lead the first-time power-on and functional bring-up of your hardware blocks in the lab; debug hardware bugs down to component level using high-speed scopes and digital analyzers. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with mechanical engineering (Product Design), firmware, thermal, silicon, and factory teams to ensure smooth mechanical and electrical integration. There will be opportunities for international travel.
Minimum Qualifications
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of experience in board-level electrical hardware design and verification.
- Strong grasp of core EE fundamentals: circuit theory, analog fundamentals, digital logic, and basic power regulation.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab experience bringing up and debugging prototype hardware.
Preferred Qualifications
- High speed digital design
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Hands-on lab experience with hardware bring-up and debug
- Fundamentals of signal and power integrity
- Understanding of low voltage power regulation solutions
- Integration of hardware into multi-functional systems
- Use of scripting languages to assist with hardware development
- Familiarity with the challenges of taking a product from design through to production
- Excellent Verbal, written and presentation skills
- Experience working with dynamic multi-functional teams
- Automation: Proficiency with tools to enable automation (AI usage to develop tools and for other efficiency improvements is a plus)
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See All 152+ Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsElectrical Design Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Electrical Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Tesla13
- General Atomics13
- KLA9
- Apple9
- Anduril6
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Automotive
- Electronics & Hardware
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in electrical design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or closely related field required
- Professional Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers preferred for senior roles
- Proficiency in CAD tools such as AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN for schematic and layout work
- Experience with power distribution, circuit design, or embedded systems relevant to California industries
- Familiarity with NEC, IEEE standards, and California Title 24 electrical code requirements
- Strong written communication skills for producing specifications, reports, and design documentation
Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a electrical design engineer in California?
The concrete path in California starts with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program, followed by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam administered through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. After gaining qualifying work experience, you can sit for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam to earn your Professional Engineer license, which is required on many public infrastructure and utility projects in California.
How much do electrical design engineers make in California?
Electrical design engineers in California earn a median of about $144,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,840 for the lowest 10% to over $217,760 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire electrical design engineers in California?
Employers hiring electrical design engineers in California right now include Tesla, General Atomics, and KLA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors, semiconductor firms, and investor-owned utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric means the employer base is unusually broad compared with most other states.
Which California cities have the most electrical design engineer jobs?
San Diego, Milpitas, and Palo Alto have the most electrical design engineer openings in California right now. The Los Angeles metro drives volume through its dense cluster of aerospace and defense contractors, the Bay Area through semiconductor and technology companies, and San Diego through defense systems and clean-energy firms with large local engineering headcounts.
Are there remote electrical design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely software-focused roles because electrical design engineers frequently need access to lab equipment, prototypes, and manufacturing floors. About 41% of electrical design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in the design-review, documentation, and simulation stages of a project rather than build and test phases.
How can I get hired as a electrical design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate engineering role at one of California's large defense or utility employers, many of which run structured rotational programs for early-career engineers. Companies like Northrop Grumman and Pacific Gas and Electric recruit directly from California State University and UC campuses. Adjacent roles such as electrical technician or test engineer are common lateral moves, and holding an EIT certificate from the California Board for Professional Engineers gives candidates a measurable credential edge during screening.
Where can I find and apply to electrical design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to electrical design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 152+ Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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