Product Design Engineer Jobs in California
Product Design Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in consumer electronics, medical devices, aerospace, and automotive technology, with openings at every level from new-grad mechanical designer to senior systems engineer. The largest hiring activity is in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Apple, Medtronic, and Northrop Grumman maintain significant engineering workforces. The most in-demand specialties right now are electromechanical systems design, DFM-focused product development, and human-centered hardware design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Tesla’s AI datacenter infrastructure is the backbone for the models that power Full Self Driving and Optimus, deploying Tesla’s custom high-performance silicon at rack and cluster scale. These systems push the limits of power density, silicon-to-package-level thermal and heat dissipation (liquid and air cooling), high speed electrical and optical data transfer, and structural design, while maintaining a focus on total cost of ownership, uptime, and manufacturing and deployment speed. Tesla’s fast-paced development environment creates opportunities to deliver novel, often patented rack and cooling technologies from prototype into large-scale deployment, with a direct line from hardware decisions to efficiency and quality of inference. As a Mechanical Design Engineer on this team, you will own the design of high-density compute racks, trays, and cooling hardware from the PCBA and module interface through full rack integration in the datacenter (optimizing for both scale-up and scale-out). You will collaborate deeply with electrical, thermal, facilities, manufacturing, and operations teams to deliver vertically integrated products built for density, cost, and service at scales of millions of units. We are seeking creative and self-motivated engineers with strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and first-principles thinking to take products through the design, prototype, manufacturing, test, and deployment ramp cycle.
Roles are available at multiple seniority levels i.e. Sr, Staff, etc. depending on experience level.
What You'll Do
- Own mechanical design of datacenter racks & trays, as well as in-rack power & communications delivery methods, for AI compute platforms
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to define product requirements, rack and tray architectures, and part-level specifications
- Design liquid- and air-cooled interfaces, manifolds, coldplates, blind-mate connections, and thermal load paths for high-power boards and modules, including thermo-mechanical silicon stackups, and including development of 3D CAD and 2D drawings
- Perform tolerance analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and other simulations and analyses before releasing designs for production
- Conduct Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews with suppliers and support tooling bring up
- Provide hands-on support for validation with prototypes and rack-level builds, including DOEs
- Support development of engineering and reliability test plans, test data analysis, and troubleshooting of design issues
What You'll Bring
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Demonstrated successful experience in datacenter product development, including part design for high volume manufacturing and serviceability, and deployments at scale
- Knowledge of high-volume manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die casting, stamping, brazing, etc.
- Strong mechanical engineering fundamental knowledge including materials stress/strain, mechanics & statics, and heat transfer
- Self-motivated and detail oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills
- Proficiency in tolerance analysis, quality control, data and statistical analysis, failure analysis, and GD&T
- Proficiency in CAD modeling and analysis; CATIA and ANSYS experience highly valued but not required
- Background working with JDM (Joint Design Manufacturing) partners on custom rack platform development
- Familiarity with latest cable and connector solutions for high-speed interconnects
- 5-10% of travel is expected
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
- Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
- Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
- Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
- Tesla Babies program
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.
Tesla’s AI datacenter infrastructure is the backbone for the models that power Full Self Driving and Optimus, deploying Tesla’s custom high-performance silicon at rack and cluster scale. These systems push the limits of power density, silicon-to-package-level thermal and heat dissipation (liquid and air cooling), high speed electrical and optical data transfer, and structural design, while maintaining a focus on total cost of ownership, uptime, and manufacturing and deployment speed. Tesla’s fast-paced development environment creates opportunities to deliver novel, often patented rack and cooling technologies from prototype into large-scale deployment, with a direct line from hardware decisions to efficiency and quality of inference. As a Mechanical Design Engineer on this team, you will own the design of high-density compute racks, trays, and cooling hardware from the PCBA and module interface through full rack integration in the datacenter (optimizing for both scale-up and scale-out). You will collaborate deeply with electrical, thermal, facilities, manufacturing, and operations teams to deliver vertically integrated products built for density, cost, and service at scales of millions of units. We are seeking creative and self-motivated engineers with strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and first-principles thinking to take products through the design, prototype, manufacturing, test, and deployment ramp cycle.
Roles are available at multiple seniority levels i.e. Sr, Staff, etc. depending on experience level.
What You'll Do
- Own mechanical design of datacenter racks & trays, as well as in-rack power & communications delivery methods, for AI compute platforms
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to define product requirements, rack and tray architectures, and part-level specifications
- Design liquid- and air-cooled interfaces, manifolds, coldplates, blind-mate connections, and thermal load paths for high-power boards and modules, including thermo-mechanical silicon stackups, and including development of 3D CAD and 2D drawings
- Perform tolerance analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and other simulations and analyses before releasing designs for production
- Conduct Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews with suppliers and support tooling bring up
- Provide hands-on support for validation with prototypes and rack-level builds, including DOEs
- Support development of engineering and reliability test plans, test data analysis, and troubleshooting of design issues
What You'll Bring
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Demonstrated successful experience in datacenter product development, including part design for high volume manufacturing and serviceability, and deployments at scale
- Knowledge of high-volume manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die casting, stamping, brazing, etc.
- Strong mechanical engineering fundamental knowledge including materials stress/strain, mechanics & statics, and heat transfer
- Self-motivated and detail oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills
- Proficiency in tolerance analysis, quality control, data and statistical analysis, failure analysis, and GD&T
- Proficiency in CAD modeling and analysis; CATIA and ANSYS experience highly valued but not required
- Background working with JDM (Joint Design Manufacturing) partners on custom rack platform development
- Familiarity with latest cable and connector solutions for high-speed interconnects
- 5-10% of travel is expected
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
- Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
- Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
- Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
- Tesla Babies program
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.
See All 150+ Product Design Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Product Design Engineer JobsProduct Design Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Product Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple39
- TikTok9
- Adobe5
- Tesla5
- Google5
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware37
- Technology & Software31
- Banking & Financial Services5
- Retail3
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or product design engineering required
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo for 3D modeling
- Experience with design for manufacturability and tolerance analysis on physical products
- Demonstrated portfolio of physical products taken from concept through production
- Familiarity with prototyping methods including CNC machining, injection molding, and 3D printing
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with manufacturing, electrical, and UX teams
Product Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a product design engineer in California?
Most product design engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, industrial design, or a closely related field. The role does not carry a state-issued license, but engineers who progress into signing off on public-safety systems often pursue California licensure through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Building a portfolio of physical product work and gaining hands-on prototyping experience are what California employers weigh most heavily.
Which companies hire product design engineers in California?
Employers hiring product design engineers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and Adobe, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of consumer electronics, medical device, and aerospace firms means demand is spread across both large multinationals and well-funded hardware startups.
Which California cities have the most product design engineer jobs?
San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose have the most product design engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense cluster of consumer electronics and hardware companies, while San Diego draws heavily from the medical device and defense sectors, and Los Angeles reflects demand from aerospace, entertainment technology, and automotive design studios based in the region.
Are there remote product design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Product design engineering is inherently hands-on, with regular lab access, prototype reviews, and manufacturing coordination required. About 42% of product design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those roles tend to be in early-stage concept work, CAD-heavy system design, or vendor coordination rather than physical prototyping or testing.
How can I get hired as a product design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an associate product design or mechanical design role at a California hardware company, where you support senior engineers on CAD modeling, tolerance analysis, and prototype builds. Large California employers such as medical device manufacturers in San Diego and Bay Area consumer electronics firms regularly hire new graduates into rotational engineering programs. A portfolio showing physical products you have designed and built, even from coursework or personal projects, carries more weight than years of experience at this stage.
Where can I find and apply to product design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to product design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the California market. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 150+ Product Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Engineer Jobs