Senior Electronics Engineer Jobs in California
Senior Electronics Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor design, consumer electronics, and advanced communications across a market that ranges from associate to principal engineer levels. The heaviest hiring is in the San Jose and broader Bay Area corridor, Los Angeles and the South Bay aerospace belt, and San Diego, where companies like Northrop Grumman, Qualcomm, and Apple maintain large engineering operations. The most in-demand specializations include RF and mixed-signal circuit design, embedded systems development, and PCB layout for high-reliability applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Sr. Principal Payloads Electronics Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals as a Supplier Management Team (SMT) Lead. This position will be located in San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA. or Palmdale, CA.
The Supplier Management Team (SMT) reports to the Payloads IPT Lead and is the IPT’s and Global Supply Chain’s (GSC’s) primary interface to the supplier for the associated subsystem(s).
The SMT Engineer will be responsible for:
Coordinating the efforts of the SMT, including engineers, the subcontracts administrator, supplier quality assurance representatives, logistics engineers, cost account manager, scheduler, and material planner.
Coordinating and managing the execution of all phases of supplier performance including planning, proposals, new capability development, production, testing, deliveries, and sustainment.
Conducting or coordinating review of supplier documentation (e.g., technical evaluations of proposals, acceptance test procedures, cost and schedule reports, software version description documents).
Reporting supplier status to Program Managers, GSC managers, and IPT Management.
The selected candidate should thrive working in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, engaged in significantly diverse assignments, within a collaborative/team setting across all levels of the organization.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is NO remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 25% may be required.
Basic Qualifications
T04: Bachelor of Science in STEM related Degree and 8 or more years of related experience; or Masters with 6 or more years of experience; or PhD and 4 or more years of experience.
Must have Supplier Management Experience.
Familiarity with product lifecycles and government acquisition process related to selling, development, LRIP/production, sustainment.
Ability to establish a solid working relationship with technical staff, IWO partners, and customers.
Familiarity with Project Management principles and Control Account Management techniques
Must have an active US Government Top-Secret Clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
Ability to obtain and maintain US Government SCI clearance
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
Degree in Electronics Engineering
Experience with electro-optical, sensors and/or communications systems, including development, test, production, integration and/or operations.
Program Management experience / completion of Project Management Professional course.
CAM/EV training.
Experience with Managing suppliers as part of a government/DoD contract.
Experience with T&M, CPFF, FFP contract types.
Experience with Supplier statement of work (SSOW) generation.
Experience with Requirements development/flow down.
Experience with Contract negotiations.
Experience with Technical evaluations of proposals.
Repair management, DMSMS evaluations, MRP requirements.
See All 58 Senior Electronics Engineer Jobs in California
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Find JobsSenior Electronics Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Electronics Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman14

- Rivian7

- Space Kinetic3

- Tesla2

- MKS1

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior electronics engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or closely related field required
- Minimum five years of hands-on electronics design and development experience
- Proficiency in PCB design tools such as Altium Designer or Cadence Allegro
- Experience with RF, analog, or mixed-signal circuit design and verification
- Familiarity with DO-254, IPC-A-610, or MIL-STD hardware design standards
- Active or eligibility for U.S. security clearance preferred by California defense contractors
Senior Electronics Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior electronics engineer in California?
The standard path begins with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering or electronics engineering from an accredited California institution, followed by several years of progressively responsible design experience. California does not require a state license to work as an electronics engineer in private industry, but engineers who stamp public-works drawings may need a Professional Electrical Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. A professional engineering license, a relevant IEEE certification, or a security clearance meaningfully strengthens candidacy at the senior level.
How much do senior electronics engineers make in California?
Senior electronics engineers in California earn a median of about $160,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,140 for the lowest 10% to over $225,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior electronics engineers in California?
Employers hiring senior electronics engineers in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Rivian, and Space Kinetic, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor foundries, and consumer electronics headquarters makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for this role.
Which California cities have the most senior electronics engineer jobs?
San Diego, Torrance, and Irvine currently have the most senior electronics engineer openings in California. The Bay Area and San Jose lead because of the dense cluster of semiconductor and consumer electronics companies headquartered there, while Los Angeles and San Diego draw heavily from aerospace and defense contractors with large Southern California footprints.
Are there remote senior electronics engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Hardware design, lab testing, and prototype validation require physical access to equipment, so most senior electronics engineer roles are on-site or hybrid. About 22% of senior electronics engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in systems-level review, documentation, and early-stage architecture work rather than hands-on bench roles.
How can I get hired as a senior electronics engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior electronics engineer role at a California defense contractor or semiconductor company, where structured new-graduate programs exist at employers like Northrop Grumman, Broadcom, and Intel's California design centers. Completing a senior capstone project, contributing to an open-source hardware repository, or earning an IEEE certification gives early-career candidates a concrete portfolio to present. Lateral moves from quality engineering, technical sales support, or electronics technician roles at California manufacturers also provide a credible bridge into design positions.
Where can I find and apply to senior electronics engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior electronics engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target location, and apply directly to each employer.
See All 58 Senior Electronics Engineer Jobs in California
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