Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Systems Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, enterprise software, and clean energy, with openings at every level from associate systems engineer through principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Qualcomm maintain deep and consistent demand. The most in-demand specialties include embedded systems, systems integration, and model-based systems engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
Help teach our self‑driving vehicles how to see and understand the world! The Data Labeling Engineering team designs, builds, and operates high‑quality hybrid human/machine labeling tools and pipelines that power autonomous vehicle machine learning models across General Motors. We sit at the intersection of software engineering, data engineering, and ML, defining labeling strategies, tooling, and quality controls that create reliable training data at scale. Our team builds the mission‑critical products that let people and machines add “ground truth” labels to roads, objects, and complex driving scenarios in sensor data from self‑driving cars. These tools are used by thousands of labelers and dozens of ML teams to train and evaluate the models behind advanced driver assistance and autonomous features. We own a modern full‑stack architecture including TypeScript, React, GraphQL, Python, Golang, and ML model services, leveraging cloud platforms and workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow) to power data‑annotation pipelines and ML‑led labeling solutions at foundation‑model scale. We partner closely with ML engineers, Operations, Product Management, Data Science, and other ML Platform groups. This role is ideal for an engineer who wants to own meaningful pieces of the stack, grow toward technical leadership, and work directly on systems that unblock the next generation of AV models.
What You’ll Do
- Build high‑impact labeling experiences. Design, implement, and test scalable, high‑performance user experiences and services using modern full‑stack and/or frontend technologies. You’ll ship features that directly affect how quickly and accurately we can label data for new models and cities.
- Level up how ML teams work with data. Develop automation and tooling that give ML engineers deep insight into labeling workflows and data quality (e.g., efficiency dashboards, auto‑QA, autolabel review tools), reducing iteration time from idea to trained model.
- Apply ML to labeling itself. Collaborate with ML engineers to design and integrate ML‑driven data annotation (pre‑labeling, autolabeling, active learning loops), helping us move from human‑only to machine‑in‑the‑loop labeling at scale.
- Own projects end‑to‑end. Take ownership of technical projects from problem framing through design, implementation, and rollout. Drive code reviews, design discussions, and technical decisions.
- Collaborate across the AV stack. Work with partner teams (ML, Ops, Product, Data Science, other platform teams) to translate abstract requirements into concrete workflows, APIs, and UIs that hit quality, cost, and latency goals.
- Champion AI‑assisted engineering. Use and advocate for modern AI‑powered development workflows (code assistants, automated documentation, test generation, etc.) to increase velocity while maintaining quality.
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
General
- Passionate about self‑driving technology and its potential to transform safety, mobility, and the driving experience.
- Driven to learn new technologies and deepen your expertise across frontend, backend, and data/ML‑adjacent systems.
- Proven experience shipping and operating end‑to‑end products or features in production.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills; you can explain tradeoffs, influence peers, and work through ambiguity with cross‑functional partners.
- Empathetic to user challenges (from labelers to ML engineers to Ops) and excited to turn messy workflows into simple, intuitive tools.
Technical
- 2+ years of experience building robust web applications.
- Bachelors degree or higher in Computer Science or related field. Or relevant work experience.
- Hands‑on experience leveraging AI tools (agentic coding, search, documentation generators) to accelerate understanding, implementation, and delivery of customer value.
- Proficiency in writing high‑quality, scalable, and performant code using TypeScript, React, Redux, GraphQL, WebGL, or similar frontend technologies.
- Solid understanding of relational databases, data modeling, and API design.
- Strong fundamentals in object‑oriented design, data structures, algorithms, and engineering best practices (testing, code review, observability, CI/CD).
- Experience developing and operating cloud‑based applications.
- Experience with A/B testing and telemetry/observability systems to measure impact and reliability.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (preferred qualifications):
- 4+ years of experience in the software.
- Experience using modern web APIs (Service Workers, Cache Storage, IndexedDB, etc.) in data‑intensive or visualization‑heavy applications.
- A track record of close collaboration with customers, product managers, designers, and user experience researchers.
- Experience with computer vision, machine learning, or data‑centric AI projects — especially where labeled data, data quality, or autolabeling loops were central to the work.
- Familiarity with data labeling platforms or tools used by large labeling workforces (e.g., annotation UIs, workflow engines, quality systems).
Compensation:
The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.
- The salary range for this role: is $90,100 to $191,800. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
- Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
- Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well‑being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non‑Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers. All employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws. We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role‑related assessment(s) and/or a pre‑employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
See All 727+ Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Engineer JobsSystems Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman95

- Apple23

- Tesla17

- Anduril16

- Booz Allen Hamilton14

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software18
- Electronics & Hardware12
- Manufacturing6
- Automotive3
- Medical Devices3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Experience with systems integration, verification, and validation across complex hardware-software systems
- Proficiency in model-based systems engineering tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or SysML
- Familiarity with requirements management tools including DOORS, JAMA, or equivalent platforms
- Active DoD security clearance or eligibility to obtain one, required by many California defense contractors
- Strong documentation and cross-functional collaboration skills for multi-disciplinary California program teams
Systems Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems engineer in California?
Most systems engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. California does not require a state-issued license specific to the systems engineering title, though engineers who sign off on public-works designs may need a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Certifications such as INCOSE's Certified Systems Engineering Professional strengthen candidacy, particularly for defense and aerospace roles.
Which companies hire systems engineers in California?
Employers hiring systems engineers in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Apple, and Tesla, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor firms, and defense contractors means demand is consistent across both established corporations and funded growth-stage companies in the Bay Area and Southern California.
Which California cities have the most systems engineer jobs?
San Diego, El Segundo, and San Francisco have the most systems engineer openings in California. The Bay Area's density reflects the region's semiconductor, enterprise software, and hardware industries, while Los Angeles and San Diego are driven by the large aerospace and defense contractors, naval research facilities, and defense electronics firms that anchor both metro areas.
Are there remote systems engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused roles, since systems engineering often involves hands-on hardware integration and lab work. About 41% of systems engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting that some program management, requirements analysis, and modeling work can be done off-site. Roles focused on software-defined systems or digital engineering tend to offer the most remote flexibility.
How can I get hired as a systems engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to associate or junior systems engineer roles at California's major defense and aerospace employers, which run formal new-graduate programs, including Northrop Grumman's Engineering Development Program and Lockheed Martin's early-career rotational tracks at their California sites. Lateral moves from roles like test engineer, quality assurance engineer, or systems analyst are common entry points. Completing an INCOSE student membership, building a portfolio in SysML or MATLAB, and targeting university hiring programs at UC San Diego or Cal Poly accelerates consideration.
Where can I find and apply to systems engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to systems engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and enterprise technology employers. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly.
See All 727+ Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Engineer Jobs