Product Development Engineer Jobs in California
Product Development Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in consumer electronics, medical devices, clean energy, and semiconductor manufacturing, with openings ranging from entry-level associates through principal and staff engineers. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Apple, Medtronic, and Broadcom maintain deep engineering organizations. The most in-demand specializations include hardware prototyping, systems integration, and new product introduction. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 47+ Product Development Engineer jobs
INTRODUCTION
This is a Hybrid role in Fremont office, 3 days a week work from office.
TOP SKILLS:
- Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Chemistry, or related field with 8+ years of experience; or a PhD with 5+ years’ experience; or equivalent experience.
- Exceptional analytical and experimental design skills.
- Experience with failure analysis using a diverse toolset of materials characterization techniques (microscopy, thermal and mechanical analysis, spectroscopy, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Chemistry, or related field with 8+ years of experience; or a PhD with 5+ years’ experience; or equivalent experience.
- Exceptional analytical and experimental design skills.
- Experience with failure analysis using a diverse toolset of materials characterization techniques (microscopy, thermal and mechanical analysis, spectroscopy, etc).
- Demonstrated creative thinking, problem solving, troubleshooting capabilities, and resiliency.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams comprised of internal and external stakeholders in product engineering and design, manufacturing, field support, quality, and supplier engineering.
- Experience in plastics fabrication and new product introduction including machining, welding, injection molding, thermoforming, and additive manufacturing.
- Knowledge of statistical analysis and relevant software packages (JMP, Minitab), Gage R&R, and Process Capability Analysis (Cpk/Ppk).
- Comfortable traveling up to 25% of the times.
Responsibilities:
- Drive part development, production qualification, and implement quality plans at suppliers across the global supplier network.
- Lead product development projects from product prototyping, development, deployment/product release, and initial field support.
- Independently design and conduct experiments, tests, and prototypes to resolve complex technical problems. Coach and provide guidance to suppliers to implement recommended experiments.
- Present analysis and support technical recommendations clearly and concisely.
- Collaborate with cross-functional and cross-cultural teams to guide the specification and development of products.
- Provide technical support for installation and/or diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing, and debugging complex product issues.
INTRODUCTION
This is a Hybrid role in Fremont office, 3 days a week work from office.
TOP SKILLS:
- Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Chemistry, or related field with 8+ years of experience; or a PhD with 5+ years’ experience; or equivalent experience.
- Exceptional analytical and experimental design skills.
- Experience with failure analysis using a diverse toolset of materials characterization techniques (microscopy, thermal and mechanical analysis, spectroscopy, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Chemistry, or related field with 8+ years of experience; or a PhD with 5+ years’ experience; or equivalent experience.
- Exceptional analytical and experimental design skills.
- Experience with failure analysis using a diverse toolset of materials characterization techniques (microscopy, thermal and mechanical analysis, spectroscopy, etc).
- Demonstrated creative thinking, problem solving, troubleshooting capabilities, and resiliency.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams comprised of internal and external stakeholders in product engineering and design, manufacturing, field support, quality, and supplier engineering.
- Experience in plastics fabrication and new product introduction including machining, welding, injection molding, thermoforming, and additive manufacturing.
- Knowledge of statistical analysis and relevant software packages (JMP, Minitab), Gage R&R, and Process Capability Analysis (Cpk/Ppk).
- Comfortable traveling up to 25% of the times.
Responsibilities:
- Drive part development, production qualification, and implement quality plans at suppliers across the global supplier network.
- Lead product development projects from product prototyping, development, deployment/product release, and initial field support.
- Independently design and conduct experiments, tests, and prototypes to resolve complex technical problems. Coach and provide guidance to suppliers to implement recommended experiments.
- Present analysis and support technical recommendations clearly and concisely.
- Collaborate with cross-functional and cross-cultural teams to guide the specification and development of products.
- Provide technical support for installation and/or diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing, and debugging complex product issues.
See All 47 Product Development Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsProduct Development Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Product Development Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Technology & Software
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Medical Devices
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product development engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering from an accredited program
- Hands-on experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo
- Familiarity with design for manufacturing and design for assembly principles
- Experience managing product development lifecycle from concept through production release
- Knowledge of ISO, FDA, or IEC standards relevant to California's medical device or consumer electronics sectors
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills working with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams
Product Development Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a product development engineer in California?
Most product development engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, biomedical, or industrial engineering from an accredited program. California does not require a state license for most private-sector engineering roles, though pursuing a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists strengthens your candidacy for senior positions. Employers in medical devices and aerospace often expect familiarity with regulated development frameworks such as ISO or FDA quality systems.
Which companies hire product development engineers in California?
Employers hiring product development engineers in California right now include KLA, Amazon, and Applied Medical, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of medical device companies in San Diego and consumer electronics firms in the Bay Area means hiring tends to be especially consistent in those corridors.
Which California cities have the most product development engineer jobs?
Milpitas, Irvine, and Cupertino have the most product development engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its density of semiconductor, consumer electronics, and cleantech companies, while San Diego's strong medical device cluster and Los Angeles's aerospace and entertainment technology firms drive hiring in those metros.
Are there remote product development engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Product development engineering involves hands-on prototyping, lab work, and collaboration with manufacturing teams, making most roles at least partly on-site. About 22% of product development engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and the portions most likely to be done off-site are systems-level design, documentation, and cross-functional coordination.
How can I get hired as a product development engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for new graduate or associate engineer roles at California's large medical device, semiconductor, or consumer electronics companies, many of which run structured rotational programs for candidates without professional experience. Companies like those in San Diego's medical device corridor and the Bay Area's hardware ecosystem regularly bring on new grads into new product introduction or test engineering roles. Building a portfolio of CAD projects and pursuing a Professional Engineer-in-Training designation through California's licensing board also strengthens early applications.
Where can I find and apply to product development engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to product development engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 47 Product Development Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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