R D Engineer Jobs in California

R D Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in the semiconductor, aerospace, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing sectors, with openings at every level from junior engineer to principal and staff. The heaviest hiring happens in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Qualcomm, Lockheed Martin, and Applied Materials have deep roots and ongoing development programs. Demand is strongest in specialists with expertise in circuit design, materials science, and product development for defense or life-sciences applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles137+
Top employerBroadcom
Top citySunnyvale, CA
Cities hiring28
Work type93% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 137+ R D Engineer jobs

E Ink Corporation
R&D Engineer
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E Ink Corporation
Added 4d ago
R&D Engineer
E Ink Corporation
Fremont, California
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
$80k - $110k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
51-200

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Abbott
Senior R&D Engineer
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Abbott
Added 4d ago
Senior R&D Engineer
Abbott
Menlo Park, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Biomedical Engineering
$90k - $180k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Broadcom
R&D Engineer
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Broadcom
Added 5d ago
R&D Engineer
Broadcom
San Jose, California
Specialized Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Project Management
$168k - $268k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Abbott
Senior R&D Engineer
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Abbott
Added 6d ago
Senior R&D Engineer
Abbott
Pleasanton, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$90k - $180k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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NVIDIA
Software R&D Engineer
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NVIDIA
Added 1w ago
Software R&D Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Science
Data Analytics
$136k - $219k/yr
On-Site
Master's

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See All 137+ R D Engineer Jobs in California

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R D Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Sunnyvale
23 jobs
San Jose
22 jobs
Irvine
17 jobs
Santa Clara
12 jobs
Los Angeles
11 jobs
Alameda
6 jobs
Campbell
6 jobs
Santa Rosa
5 jobs
Fremont
4 jobs

R D Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Broadcom
    Broadcom22
  • Synopsys
    Synopsys14
  • Keysight Technologies
    Keysight Technologies10
  • Riot Games
    Riot Games8
  • Imperative Care
    Imperative Care6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software65
  • Electronics & Hardware36
  • Medical Devices22
  • Manufacturing6
  • Consulting & Professional Services5

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in R D engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, materials science, or a closely related field
  • Hands-on experience with laboratory testing, prototype development, or engineering design tools
  • Proficiency with CAD, simulation software, or discipline-specific analysis platforms such as MATLAB or ANSYS
  • Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. government security clearance for defense-sector roles
  • Familiarity with California-relevant regulatory frameworks such as FDA quality systems or AS9100 aerospace standards
  • Strong documentation and technical writing skills for design reports, patents, and cross-functional collaboration

R D Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a r d engineer in California?

Most r d engineer roles in California require at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, materials science, physics, or a related technical field, with a master's degree preferred for senior or specialized positions. California does not impose a single statewide license specifically for r d engineers, but engineers who sign off on public-facing designs may need a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Industry certifications in areas like quality systems or product safety add a practical edge.

Which companies hire r d engineers in California?

Employers hiring r d engineers in California right now include Broadcom, Synopsys, and Keysight Technologies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor, aerospace, and biotech firms means demand is consistent across both large defense primes and well-funded startups in the Bay Area and San Diego corridors.

Which California cities have the most r d engineer jobs?

Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Irvine account for the largest share of r d engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense concentration of semiconductor and clean-energy firms, San Diego draws heavily from defense contractors and biotech campuses anchored around the Torrey Pines corridor, and Los Angeles reflects the long-standing aerospace and advanced manufacturing base that includes major facilities in El Segundo and the South Bay.

Are there remote r d engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. R d engineer work is largely hands-on, involving lab equipment, prototypes, and physical testing environments that require an on-site presence most of the time. About 7% of r d engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to be limited to the data analysis, modeling, or documentation phases of a project rather than core experimental or fabrication work.

How can I get hired as a r d engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate or associate engineer role at a large California employer, many of which run structured programs for recent graduates. Companies like Qualcomm in San Diego and defense contractors in the Los Angeles area hire entry-level engineers into rotational or junior R&D positions. A capstone project, internship, or published undergraduate research strengthens a first application considerably. Adjacent roles like lab technician, test engineer, or quality engineer at California manufacturing or biotech firms are also common stepping stones into full r d engineer positions.

Where can I find and apply to r d engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to r d engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the listings for roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 137+ R D Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find R D Engineer Jobs