Product Design Manager Jobs in California
Product Design Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in consumer electronics, enterprise software, and digital media across a seniority range from associate manager through senior director. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose, where companies like Apple, Google, and Adobe maintain deep product design organizations and hire consistently. The most in-demand specializations are systems design leadership, cross-functional UX management, and hardware-software integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our Electrical Engineering Department in Poway, CA (San Diego). This opportunity involves working within a multidisciplinary team of engineers—including electrical, control, mechanical, and other cross-functional experts - to design and develop bi-directional AC/DC converters for motor drive and power generation applications.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and develop advanced electrical components, equipment, and systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Perform analog, digital, and power conversion circuit design, including testing, analysis, and modeling.
- Develop control schemes, firmware, software, and magnetic designs, as well as simulations and specifications.
- Design solutions addressing EMI/C, electrical isolation, lightning protection, thermal management, shock/vibration, and packaging challenges.
- Create and maintain documentation to support production, including test procedures, records, bills of materials, interface control documents (ICDs), specification control documents (SCDs), engineering change orders (ECOs), and production support materials.
- Provide field support as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required.
Job Qualifications
- Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- Strong understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory, with demonstrated experience applying them across a range of technical challenges.
- Ability to quickly learn and apply new concepts in a dynamic environment, organize and coordinate work phases, and develop solutions for complex problems independently or with guidance.
- Skilled in documenting findings, communicating results to engineering teams, and delivering technical presentations.
- Experience coordinating segments of projects and interacting with customers or internal teams on technical issues.
- Innovative mindset with the ability to develop designs or modifications under general supervision.
- Willingness to travel and work extended hours as required.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with high-voltage power semiconductors in high-voltage (>400V) and high-power (>50kW) applications.
- Familiarity with control algorithms for bi-directional power conversion systems, including techniques such as field-oriented control (FOC) and actual implementations.
- Proficiency in hybrid electric powertrain engineering.
- Experience with thermal management of high-power electronic systems.
- Knowledge of high-voltage, high-capacity lithium-ion battery systems.
- Working experience in aerospace environments with standards such as DO-160, DO-311, MIL-STD-810F, and MIL-STD-704F.
- Experience with simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, SPICE, or similar software for modeling power electronics systems.
Job Category
Engineering
Experience Level
Mid-Level (3-7 years)
Workstyle
Onsite
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full-Time Salary
Pay Range Low
98,100
Pay Range High
171,398
Travel Percentage Required
0% - 25%
Relocation Assistance Provided?
Yes
US Citizenship Required?
Yes
Clearance Required?
Desired
Clearance Level
Secret
Search Jobs at | General Atomics and Affiliated Companies
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our Electrical Engineering Department in Poway, CA (San Diego). This opportunity involves working within a multidisciplinary team of engineers—including electrical, control, mechanical, and other cross-functional experts - to design and develop bi-directional AC/DC converters for motor drive and power generation applications.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and develop advanced electrical components, equipment, and systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Perform analog, digital, and power conversion circuit design, including testing, analysis, and modeling.
- Develop control schemes, firmware, software, and magnetic designs, as well as simulations and specifications.
- Design solutions addressing EMI/C, electrical isolation, lightning protection, thermal management, shock/vibration, and packaging challenges.
- Create and maintain documentation to support production, including test procedures, records, bills of materials, interface control documents (ICDs), specification control documents (SCDs), engineering change orders (ECOs), and production support materials.
- Provide field support as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required.
Job Qualifications
- Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- Strong understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory, with demonstrated experience applying them across a range of technical challenges.
- Ability to quickly learn and apply new concepts in a dynamic environment, organize and coordinate work phases, and develop solutions for complex problems independently or with guidance.
- Skilled in documenting findings, communicating results to engineering teams, and delivering technical presentations.
- Experience coordinating segments of projects and interacting with customers or internal teams on technical issues.
- Innovative mindset with the ability to develop designs or modifications under general supervision.
- Willingness to travel and work extended hours as required.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with high-voltage power semiconductors in high-voltage (>400V) and high-power (>50kW) applications.
- Familiarity with control algorithms for bi-directional power conversion systems, including techniques such as field-oriented control (FOC) and actual implementations.
- Proficiency in hybrid electric powertrain engineering.
- Experience with thermal management of high-power electronic systems.
- Knowledge of high-voltage, high-capacity lithium-ion battery systems.
- Working experience in aerospace environments with standards such as DO-160, DO-311, MIL-STD-810F, and MIL-STD-704F.
- Experience with simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, SPICE, or similar software for modeling power electronics systems.
Job Category
Engineering
Experience Level
Mid-Level (3-7 years)
Workstyle
Onsite
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full-Time Salary
Pay Range Low
98,100
Pay Range High
171,398
Travel Percentage Required
0% - 25%
Relocation Assistance Provided?
Yes
US Citizenship Required?
Yes
Clearance Required?
Desired
Clearance Level
Secret
Search Jobs at | General Atomics and Affiliated Companies
See All 179+ Product Design Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Manager JobsProduct Design Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Product Design Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple41
- TikTok12
- Google8
- Tesla6
- Amazon6
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware34
- Technology & Software21
- Banking & Financial Services6
- Retail3
- Manufacturing3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product design manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in industrial design, UX, or a related design discipline required
- Five or more years of product design experience with at least two years managing designers
- Portfolio demonstrating shipped consumer or enterprise products at scale
- Proficiency in Figma, Sketch, or equivalent prototyping and design system tools
- Experience leading cross-functional collaboration with engineering and product management
- Familiarity with design operations, headcount planning, and design critique frameworks
Product Design Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a product design manager in California?
Most product design managers in California move into the role by building several years of individual contributor experience at a California tech or consumer product company, then stepping into a lead or staff designer position before taking on direct reports. California employers typically expect a portfolio of shipped products alongside demonstrated experience mentoring junior designers. No state-issued license is required, but a degree in industrial design, interaction design, or a closely related field strengthens candidacy significantly with most California hiring teams.
Which companies hire product design managers in California?
Employers hiring product design managers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and Google, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of consumer electronics and enterprise software headquarters means large in-house design organizations drive the majority of consistent openings.
Which California cities have the most product design manager jobs?
The cities with the most product design manager openings in California are San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose. The distribution follows California's major tech and media clusters, with the San Francisco Bay Area leading due to its density of consumer technology headquarters, Los Angeles driven by entertainment and digital product studios, and San Jose anchored by semiconductor and enterprise software firms with established in-house design teams.
Are there remote product design manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 47% of product design manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based and collaboration-tool-driven nature of the work. The parts of the role most likely to remain fully remote are design systems oversight, asynchronous critique, and roadmap planning, while companies doing hardware or physical product work typically require at least some on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a product design manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is stepping into a senior individual contributor role first, then moving into management after demonstrating leadership on a major California product team. Large California employers like Apple, Google, and Salesforce run rotational design programs and associate product design tracks that expose candidates to management responsibilities early. Building a portfolio that documents design decisions and team collaboration, rather than just final output, accelerates the path. Adjacent roles such as design operations coordinator or UX lead at a mid-size California company are common stepping stones.
Where can I find and apply to product design manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to product design manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and seniority levels. Search the listings for roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 179+ Product Design Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Manager Jobs