Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Test Development Engineer jobs in California are among the most actively hired in the country, concentrated in semiconductor, aerospace and defense, medical device, and consumer electronics manufacturing. The largest hiring hubs are San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Qualcomm, Northrop Grumman, and Broadcom have deep engineering roots and consistent headcount at every level from associate through senior. The most in-demand specialties in California are hardware validation, automated test equipment design, and embedded systems verification. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles107+
Top employerApple
Top citySanta Clara, CA
Cities hiring26
Work type64% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 107+ Senior Test Development Engineer jobs

Everpure
MFG Test Development Software Engineer
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Everpure
Added 1d ago
MFG Test Development Software Engineer
Everpure
Santa Clara, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$170k - $255k/yr
5,001-10,000

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SpaceX
Development Test Engineer (Starshield)
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SpaceX
Added 1d ago
Development Test Engineer (Starshield)
SpaceX
Hawthorne, California
Aerospace Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Form Energy
Senior Electronics Test Development Engineer
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Form Energy
Added 2d ago
Senior Electronics Test Development Engineer
Form Energy
Berkeley, California
Creative & Design
Product Management
UI/UX Design
$129k - $161k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
501-1,000

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SpaceX
Development Test Technician (Starship Mechanisms) - Level 4/5
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SpaceX
Added 3d ago
Development Test Technician (Starship Mechanisms) - Level 4/5
SpaceX
Hawthorne, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
$36 - $51/hr
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

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Apple
OS Power and Performance - Software Development Engineer in Test
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Apple
Added 4d ago
OS Power and Performance - Software Development Engineer in Test
Apple
San Diego, California
Automation QA
Cloud & DevOps
DevOps
$123k - $214k/yr
10,000+

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See All 107+ Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs in California

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Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Clara
18 jobs
Sunnyvale
14 jobs
San Jose
13 jobs
San Francisco
8 jobs
Cupertino
6 jobs
Los Angeles
6 jobs
San Mateo
5 jobs
Irvine
4 jobs
Concord
3 jobs

Senior Test Development Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Apple
Apple7 open roles
TikTok
TikTok7 open roles
Nokia
Nokia5 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software12
  • Electronics & Hardware11
  • Manufacturing5
  • Telecommunications5
  • Automotive2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior test development engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • Five or more years of experience designing and developing automated test systems or test equipment
  • Proficiency with test platforms such as NI TestStand, LabVIEW, or Python-based frameworks
  • Hands-on experience testing hardware at the board, system, or integrated circuit level
  • Demonstrated ability to write and maintain test plans, test cases, and validation documentation
  • Familiarity with JTAG, boundary scan, ATE platforms, or semiconductor characterization methods

Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior test development engineer in California?

The standard path is a bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering, followed by several years in test, validation, or hardware engineering roles. California does not require a state-issued license for this position, though a Professional Engineer license from the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists can strengthen candidacy for some defense and government-contract roles. Most employers in California's semiconductor and aerospace sectors promote from within, so starting in a test or quality engineering role at a large California firm is the most direct route.

How much do senior test development engineers make in California?

Senior test development engineers in California earn a median of about $128,740 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,890 for the lowest 10% to over $201,070 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire senior test development engineers in California?

Employers hiring senior test development engineers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and Nokia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's dense concentration of semiconductor fabs, defense contractors, and medical device manufacturers means demand is distributed across the state rather than tied to a single industry.

Which California cities have the most senior test development engineer jobs?

Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and San Jose have the most senior test development engineer openings in California. San Jose leads because of the Silicon Valley semiconductor and systems-on-chip ecosystem, San Diego is driven by Qualcomm's large hardware validation organization and the region's defense electronics base, and Los Angeles reflects the aerospace and defense prime contractors headquartered along the South Bay corridor.

Are there remote senior test development engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Senior test development engineers typically work with physical hardware, lab equipment, and production test fixtures that require on-site presence. About 36% of senior test development engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those tend to concentrate on the software-side functions such as test script development, framework architecture, or test data analysis rather than hands-on bench work.

How can I get hired as a senior test development engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior test engineer role at a California semiconductor, defense, or medical device company, where structured rotation and mentorship programs exist at firms like Broadcom, Raytheon, and Medtronic's California facilities. A degree in electrical or computer engineering combined with a personal or academic hardware project, LabVIEW certification, or experience with test automation in a university lab gives candidates a clear edge. Adjacent roles in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, or FPGA design are common lateral moves that lead directly into test development.

Where can I find and apply to senior test development engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to senior test development engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 107+ Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs in California

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