Hardware Engineer Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Hardware Engineer jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in SoMa, Mission Bay, and the Financial District across semiconductor design, consumer electronics, and deep tech hardware startups. Employers hiring right now include OpenAI, Astranis, and Wing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity's reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.
With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.
Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world's best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
Hardware Test Engineer
As a Hardware Test Engineer, you'll work across engineering disciplines to make sure our hardware meets the highest bar for quality and reliability. You'll own testing from concept through high-rate production. That means building the test plans and systems that prove out designs, running the labs that generate the evidence, presenting results that drive key decisions, and following failures through to corrective action. The ideal candidate is self-driven and has built test systems and software from the ground up.
Role
- Work cross-functionally to define test requirements and choose test methods that cover the stresses hardware sees in its operating environment.
- Write and run qualification and validation test plans, including functional, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, TVAC, accelerated life, and HALT/HASS testing.
- Design, build, and automate test equipment, fixtures, and instrumentation end to end in Python, maximizing throughput to keep up with fast design cycles.
- Select, operate, and maintain environmental chambers, data acquisition systems, custom test racks, and measurement equipment.
- Write test procedures and reports, and present results clearly to stakeholders and leadership.
- Lead failure investigations and see corrective actions through to closure.
Requirements
- B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- 2+ years testing power electronics, avionics, or other high-reliability electronic hardware.
- A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design and development
- Comfort with ambiguity and turning high-level requirements into clear design/test objectives
- Experience with environmental chambers, automated test equipment, and test fixtures.
- Strong ability to read schematics and understand circuits.
- Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, DMMs, DAQs, power supplies, electronic loads, and SMUs.
- Experience with digital interfaces and protocols, such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and Ethernet.
- Proficiency in Python for test automation and data analysis.
- Strong technical writing, including test plans, reports, requirements, and specifications.
Bonus
- High voltage testing experience.
- Vacuum or TVAC testing experience.
- Knowledge of electronics reliability and failure mechanisms.
- Familiarity with ASTM, JEDEC, IEEE, ISO, and MIL test standards.
- Familiarity with HITL/SITL testing, Linux, and SQL.
Astranis SMS Terms of Service
Recruiting Updates: By opting in, you agree to receive SMS updates, interview coordination, and recruiting communications from Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
Opt-Out: You can cancel this service at any time by replying STOP. We will send one final text confirming your unsubscription.
Opt-In Again: To resume receiving messages, reply START or YES.
Support & Rates: For assistance, reply HELP or contact us at +16504498097. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies; carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Privacy: For details on how we protect your data, view our Privacy Policy.
Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity's reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.
With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.
Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world's best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
Hardware Test Engineer
As a Hardware Test Engineer, you'll work across engineering disciplines to make sure our hardware meets the highest bar for quality and reliability. You'll own testing from concept through high-rate production. That means building the test plans and systems that prove out designs, running the labs that generate the evidence, presenting results that drive key decisions, and following failures through to corrective action. The ideal candidate is self-driven and has built test systems and software from the ground up.
Role
- Work cross-functionally to define test requirements and choose test methods that cover the stresses hardware sees in its operating environment.
- Write and run qualification and validation test plans, including functional, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, TVAC, accelerated life, and HALT/HASS testing.
- Design, build, and automate test equipment, fixtures, and instrumentation end to end in Python, maximizing throughput to keep up with fast design cycles.
- Select, operate, and maintain environmental chambers, data acquisition systems, custom test racks, and measurement equipment.
- Write test procedures and reports, and present results clearly to stakeholders and leadership.
- Lead failure investigations and see corrective actions through to closure.
Requirements
- B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- 2+ years testing power electronics, avionics, or other high-reliability electronic hardware.
- A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design and development
- Comfort with ambiguity and turning high-level requirements into clear design/test objectives
- Experience with environmental chambers, automated test equipment, and test fixtures.
- Strong ability to read schematics and understand circuits.
- Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, DMMs, DAQs, power supplies, electronic loads, and SMUs.
- Experience with digital interfaces and protocols, such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and Ethernet.
- Proficiency in Python for test automation and data analysis.
- Strong technical writing, including test plans, reports, requirements, and specifications.
Bonus
- High voltage testing experience.
- Vacuum or TVAC testing experience.
- Knowledge of electronics reliability and failure mechanisms.
- Familiarity with ASTM, JEDEC, IEEE, ISO, and MIL test standards.
- Familiarity with HITL/SITL testing, Linux, and SQL.
Astranis SMS Terms of Service
Recruiting Updates: By opting in, you agree to receive SMS updates, interview coordination, and recruiting communications from Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
Opt-Out: You can cancel this service at any time by replying STOP. We will send one final text confirming your unsubscription.
Opt-In Again: To resume receiving messages, reply START or YES.
Support & Rates: For assistance, reply HELP or contact us at +16504498097. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies; carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Privacy: For details on how we protect your data, view our Privacy Policy.
See All 558+ Hardware Engineer Jobs in San Francisco
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Find Hardware Engineer JobsHardware Engineer Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- OpenAI70
- Astranis42
- Wing28
- oura28
- 219 Design28
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research28
- Aerospace & Defense14
- Technology & Software14
Hardware Engineer Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hardware engineer job in San Francisco?
San Francisco's hardware market centers on consumer electronics, semiconductor IP, and deep tech startups, with most roles concentrated in SoMa, Mission Bay, and Dogpatch. Targeting early-stage hardware companies and established chipmakers in those districts gives you the strongest pipeline. Candidates with hands-on experience in FPGA design, embedded systems, or PCB layout stand out, and a portfolio of shipped hardware products carries significant weight with San Francisco hiring teams.
Which companies hire hardware engineers in San Francisco?
Companies currently hiring hardware engineers in San Francisco include OpenAI, Astranis, and Wing, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Francisco draws a mix of consumer electronics firms, semiconductor startups, and robotics companies, giving hardware engineers a broad range of employer types to target.
Are there remote hardware engineer jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though remote work is less common for hardware engineers than for purely software-focused roles, since many positions require hands-on lab work, prototype testing, or access to specialized equipment. About 60% of hardware engineer openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be firmware, verification, or hardware architecture roles that rely more on digital tooling than physical bench work.
How can I get a hardware engineer job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Francisco is through hardware-focused startups in SoMa and Mission Bay, which often hire junior engineers for prototype and bring-up work that larger companies outsource. Entry-level roles in PCB bring-up, hardware test engineering, or embedded firmware give you direct exposure to full product cycles. Building a project portfolio, contributing to open-source hardware projects, and connecting with San Francisco's dense network of hardware-focused incubators and meetups all improve your chances noticeably.
Which industries hire the most hardware engineers in San Francisco?
San Francisco hardware engineer roles concentrate in Science & Research, Aerospace & Defense, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Francisco's density of consumer electronics companies, semiconductor IP firms, and robotics startups drives consistent hardware hiring across those sectors throughout the year.
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