Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Electrical systems engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, and advanced transportation across seniority levels from entry-level associate engineer through principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where employers such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Tesla maintain significant engineering workforces. The most in-demand specialties in California include power systems design, embedded systems, and systems integration for both defense platforms and electric vehicle programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About us:
Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.
As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.
ROLE SUMMARY:
This role will lead the electrical systems definition and analysis for Rivian’s next-generation electrical system platform. You will support the electrical system from early-stage development through final manufacturing validation. You will develop electrical system requirements and establish traceability through multiple layers of hardware and software. This is a hands-on and wide-ranging role that will work across the entire vehicle design. Extreme curiosity, excellent communication, proactive problem solving, and “white-box” engineering principles are critical to success in this role.
Responsibilities:
- Interface with product management teams to define customer user stories and derive high-level system requirements
- Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to incorporate high-rate process requirements into the system design
- Own and maintain essential technical documentation, including schematics, manuals, specifications, and test reports
- Decompose the electrical system design into subsystem requirements. Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate the subsystems together with the electrical system.
- Perform and document Failure Mode and Effects Analyses and incorporate mitigations into the electrical system design
- Analyze the electrical system to ensure it meets safety-critical design requirements
- Collaborate with systems test engineers to develop a validation test program and review test reports to verify design conformance
- Investigate hardware and software issues to identify their root cause and develop corrective actions to prevent issue recurrence
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Aerospace, or similar field
- 5+ years of experience with systems development and analysis of integrated hardware & software systems, including HARA and/or DFMEA
- Excellent electrical engineering fundamentals
- Familiarity with ISO 26262 or similar functional safety standards (e.g. ARP4754)
- Familiarity with autonomous vehicle sensor and sensor cleaning technologies
- Experience leading multidisciplinary trade studies to conclusion
- Experience with planning, writing, and executing test procedures
- Ability to read wiring schematics and interact with CAD software
PAY DISCLOSURE:
The salary range for this role is $167,400 - $209,300 for Palo Alto, CA-based applicants. This is the lowest-to-highest salary we, in good faith, believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
CANDIDATE DATA PRIVACY
Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.
See All 647+ Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsElectrical Systems Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Electrical Systems Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple198

- NVIDIA35

- Qualcomm28

- Monolithic Power Systems26

- Rivian15

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware330
- Technology & Software153
- Manufacturing51
- Consulting & Professional Services34
- Aerospace & Defense21
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in electrical systems engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or closely related field from an accredited program
- Experience with systems engineering lifecycle including requirements, design, and verification
- Proficiency in tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or equivalent electrical modeling software
- Familiarity with DO-178, MIL-STD, or IEEE standards relevant to California defense and aerospace work
- Professional Engineer license from the California Board for Professional Engineers preferred for senior roles
- Ability to obtain or hold a U.S. security clearance for defense and government contract positions
Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a electrical systems engineer in California?
The standard path begins 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 experience, engineers can pursue the Professional Engineer license in California, which is required or strongly preferred for senior and lead roles, particularly on public infrastructure and defense contracts.
How much do electrical systems engineers make in California?
Electrical systems 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 systems engineers in California?
Employers hiring electrical systems engineers in California right now include Apple, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor firms, and clean energy companies makes it one of the deepest markets nationally for this role.
Which California cities have the most electrical systems engineer jobs?
The cities with the most electrical systems engineer openings in California are San Jose, Cupertino, and Sunnyvale. Los Angeles and San Diego drive volume through large defense and aerospace contractors headquartered there, while the Bay Area's concentration of semiconductor, clean energy, and electric vehicle companies accounts for a significant share of the remaining openings.
Are there remote electrical systems engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're limited, since most electrical systems engineering work involves hands-on lab testing, hardware integration, and on-site collaboration. About 7% of electrical systems engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to cover model-based systems engineering, documentation, and requirements analysis rather than hardware-facing roles.
How can I get hired as a electrical systems engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate rotational programs at California aerospace and defense employers such as Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and L3Harris, which regularly recruit ABET-accredited graduates with no prior industry experience. Adjacent roles like electrical engineering technician or test engineer at contract manufacturers in Southern California can also serve as a bridge. Completing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam early and building a senior capstone project around systems integration gives candidates a concrete edge in California hiring.
Where can I find and apply to electrical systems engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to electrical systems engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings for this role. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
See All 647+ Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs in California
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