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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Overview

Open roles647+
Top employerApple
Top citySan Jose, CA
Cities hiring60
Work type93% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 647+ Electrical Systems Engineer jobs

Rivian
Staff Electrical Systems Engineer
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Rivian
Added 2w ago
Staff Electrical Systems Engineer
Rivian
Palo Alto, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$167k - $209k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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EMED Technologies Corporation
Electrical & Systems Engineer
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EMED Technologies Corporation
Added 1mo ago
Electrical & Systems Engineer
EMED Technologies Corporation
El Dorado Hills, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Bachelor's
11-50

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Rivian
Electrical System Engineer II
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Rivian
Added 3mo ago
Electrical System Engineer II
Rivian
Torrance, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Mainspring Energy
Staff Electrical Systems & Sustaining Engineer
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Mainspring Energy
Added 3d ago
Staff Electrical Systems & Sustaining Engineer
Mainspring Energy
Menlo Park, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$157k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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Mainspring Energy
Senior Electrical Systems & Sustaining Engineer
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Mainspring Energy
Added 3d ago
Senior Electrical Systems & Sustaining Engineer
Mainspring Energy
Menlo Park, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$130k - $153k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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See All 647+ Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Electrical Systems Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Jose
90 jobs
Cupertino
69 jobs
Sunnyvale
67 jobs
Santa Clara
63 jobs
San Diego
52 jobs
Irvine
41 jobs
San Francisco Bay Area
35 jobs
Fremont
21 jobs
Mountain View
20 jobs

Electrical Systems Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Apple
    Apple198
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA35
  • Qualcomm
    Qualcomm28
  • Monolithic Power Systems
    Monolithic Power Systems26
  • Rivian
    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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