Service Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Service Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the Torrey Pines corridor, where defense contractors, medical device manufacturers, and semiconductor firms cluster alongside commercial tech companies. Employers hiring right now include Saalex, Formulatrix, and 626. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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About Quantum Design
For more than 40 years Quantum Design (QD) has been providing technology solutions to researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, biotechnology, materials science, and nanotechnology. Established in 1982, Quantum Design is the leading commercial source for automated materials characterization systems offering a variety of measurement capabilities. QD instruments are found in the world's leading research institutions and have become the reference standard for a variety of magnetic and physical property measurements.
Job Description:
The Opportunity
As Field Service Engineer, you will serve as the on-site Quantum Design technical representative supporting our client in Santa Barbara, CA, providing daily engineering and system support. The position is responsible for the full lifecycle of advanced technical systems, including installation, commissioning, operation, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance. A key focus of the role is leading system commissioning and performance optimization efforts, while diagnosing and resolving complex issues across gas handling, instrumentation, vacuum systems, and control logic. Reporting to the VP of Worldwide Customer Service, the Field Service Engineer will execute preventive, planned, and corrective maintenance, ensure safe and compliant system operation, and maintain high-performance vacuum environments, including helium leak detection and remediation. This is a high impact, hands-on opportunity to work at the forefront of advanced technology, where your expertise directly contributes to the performance and success of cutting-edge systems in a dynamic customer environment.
**Candidates outside the area are highly encouraged to apply. Relocation or commuting support will be provided.
Responsibilities
- Act as the on-site Quantum Design technical representative, providing day-to-day engineering support.
- Install, commission, operate, upgrade, and maintain cryogenic systems throughout their lifecycle.
- Lead commissioning and performance optimization of dilution refrigerator systems.
- Diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues related to gas handling, instrumentation, vacuum systems, and control logic.
- Execute preventive, planned, and corrective maintenance activities.
- Maintain and troubleshoot high-performance vacuum systems, including helium leak detection and remediation.
- Ensure safe system operation in accordance with company and customer procedures.
- Document system status, service actions, and technical findings.
- Coordinate with internal engineering, production, and service teams.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Two years of hands-on experience with advanced technical systems, including installation, commissioning, and maintenance
- Experience troubleshooting across physical systems (e.g., vacuum controls or similar)
- Experience reading and interpreting technical documentation and engineering drawings
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field
- Experience with cryogenic refrigerator systems low-temperature environments (including 4K / mK systems)
- Familiarity with dilution refrigerators, helium leak detection, high vacuum systems, RGAs, turbo-molecular pumps, and cryogenic handling equipment
Additional Information
- This position’s work mode is onsite. The employee will report to Santa Barbara, CA five days a week.
- Ability to work independently in a customer-facing, onsite environment is critical.
- Candidates outside the area are highly encouraged to apply. Relocation or commuting support will be provided.
- Salary Range: $95,000 - $125,000, yearly
Quantum Design is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions, policies and practices are in accordance with applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws. Quantum Design will not tolerate or engage in unlawful discrimination including any form of unlawful harassment, on account of a person's sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual preference or orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap, disability, or membership in any protected group.
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Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Science & Research
Service Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a service engineer job in San Diego?
Target the defense and aerospace firms in Kearny Mesa, the medical device companies in the Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley corridor, and the semiconductor equipment manufacturers in Mira Mesa. Hands-on field experience, familiarity with military-spec equipment, or a background in biomedical or RF systems gives candidates a clear edge in this market. Applying directly through company career portals and keeping certifications current accelerates the process.
Which companies hire service engineers in San Diego?
San Diego service engineer roles are posted by Saalex, Formulatrix, and 626 and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The local employer mix skews heavily toward defense primes, medical device OEMs, and semiconductor capital equipment companies, many of which maintain large field service and depot repair operations in the region.
Are there remote service engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though opportunities are limited since most service engineer roles require hands-on equipment access or on-site customer support. About 0% of service engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with those positions concentrated in technical support, application engineering, and diagnostic roles at software-adjacent or telecom companies rather than in defense or medical device settings.
How can I get a service engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through field service technician roles at medical device distributors or defense subcontractors in Kearny Mesa and Mira Mesa, which often train candidates on proprietary equipment. Associate service engineer and depot repair positions at semiconductor equipment firms also serve as strong lateral moves. Completing an electronics or biomedical technology program at a local community college strengthens a resume for these entry-level openings.
Which industries hire the most service engineers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most service engineers in San Diego are Consulting & Professional Services and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. San Diego's large concentration of defense contractors, life sciences companies, and semiconductor equipment firms sustains consistent demand for service engineers who can support complex, regulated, or mission-critical systems in the field and in depot environments.
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