Test Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Test Engineering Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, consumer electronics, and enterprise software across a seniority range from first-time managers through principal-level engineering leaders. The heaviest hiring is in the San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where employers like Apple, Qualcomm, and Northrop Grumman maintain large engineering organizations that depend on test infrastructure at scale. The most in-demand specialties are hardware validation, automated test equipment, and software quality engineering for embedded and real-time systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world's first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads.
Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter!
If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders.
Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!
About this job
Are you ready to do meaningful internship work on technology that is changing how AI systems are built? The System Level Test team owns the final at-speed test of our silicon photonics products. These are cutting-edge high-speed optical interconnects built to move data between the processors that power AI datacenters, where copper is running out of reach and light is taking over. We build the test methods, the automation, and the data behind the pass vs fail decision. This summer's project is a hands-on optical characterization and correlation study aimed at improving how our products are tested in production. You will work on real optical hardware in the lab, build the measurement automation, generate the data, and write the recommendation that decides whether the approach moves forward. The result will directly influence how our next products are tested.
Responsibilities:
- Characterize a set of silicon photonics units on bench optical instrumentation, measuring output power, modulation amplitude, extinction ratio, and wavelength.
- Build automation to run measurements, control the lab setup, and log results in a consistent, reusable data format.
- Correlate unit measurements against a calibrated laboratory reference and quantify per-unit offsets and population spread.
- Measure unit stability across time, temperature, and repeated re-insertion, and analyze repeatability and drift.
- Deliver a feasibility and gap assessment with a clear recommendation, including the calibration and maintenance scheme needed for production deployment.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in at least one of: integrated circuit design, device or circuit characterization, or electrical or optical testing.
- Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, or optical power meters, from coursework, research, or a prior internship.
- Programming experience in Python or a similar language, including reading and plotting measurement data.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research, lab, or prior internship experience in photonics or semiconductors.
- Experience automating lab instruments (PyVISA, SCPI, or similar).
- Familiarity with basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, repeatability, and gauge or measurement uncertainty.
- Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to the role.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Savings Matching Program
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Paid Family Leave
- Short Term & Long Term Disability
- Training & Development
- Commuter Benefits
- Flexible, hybrid workplace model
- Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)
Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
Export Control
Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world's first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads.
Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter!
If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders.
Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!
About this job
Are you ready to do meaningful internship work on technology that is changing how AI systems are built? The System Level Test team owns the final at-speed test of our silicon photonics products. These are cutting-edge high-speed optical interconnects built to move data between the processors that power AI datacenters, where copper is running out of reach and light is taking over. We build the test methods, the automation, and the data behind the pass vs fail decision. This summer's project is a hands-on optical characterization and correlation study aimed at improving how our products are tested in production. You will work on real optical hardware in the lab, build the measurement automation, generate the data, and write the recommendation that decides whether the approach moves forward. The result will directly influence how our next products are tested.
Responsibilities:
- Characterize a set of silicon photonics units on bench optical instrumentation, measuring output power, modulation amplitude, extinction ratio, and wavelength.
- Build automation to run measurements, control the lab setup, and log results in a consistent, reusable data format.
- Correlate unit measurements against a calibrated laboratory reference and quantify per-unit offsets and population spread.
- Measure unit stability across time, temperature, and repeated re-insertion, and analyze repeatability and drift.
- Deliver a feasibility and gap assessment with a clear recommendation, including the calibration and maintenance scheme needed for production deployment.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in at least one of: integrated circuit design, device or circuit characterization, or electrical or optical testing.
- Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, or optical power meters, from coursework, research, or a prior internship.
- Programming experience in Python or a similar language, including reading and plotting measurement data.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research, lab, or prior internship experience in photonics or semiconductors.
- Experience automating lab instruments (PyVISA, SCPI, or similar).
- Familiarity with basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, repeatability, and gauge or measurement uncertainty.
- Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to the role.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Savings Matching Program
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Paid Family Leave
- Short Term & Long Term Disability
- Training & Development
- Commuter Benefits
- Flexible, hybrid workplace model
- Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)
Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
Export Control
Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
See All 129+ Test Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Test Engineering Manager JobsTest Engineering Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Test Engineering Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Tesla24
- Apple6
- Anduril6
- Northrop Grumman5
- Marvell Technology5
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in test engineering manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Three or more years managing test engineering teams in a production or development environment
- Hands-on experience designing or overseeing automated test equipment and validation frameworks
- Demonstrated ability to own product quality metrics, defect escape rates, and release readiness decisions
- Proficiency with at least one test automation platform such as LabVIEW, Python-based pytest, or NI TestStand
- Experience collaborating with hardware, firmware, and software teams in an Agile or hardware development lifecycle
Test Engineering Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a test engineering manager in California?
The most direct path is several years of hands-on test engineering work followed by a move into team leadership, typically in California's semiconductor, aerospace, or consumer electronics sectors. California does not require a state-issued license for this role, but a Professional Engineer registration from the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists strengthens candidacy for defense and regulated industries. A bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering is the standard entry credential.
Which companies hire test engineering managers in California?
Employers hiring test engineering managers in California right now include Tesla, Apple, and Anduril, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor fabs, defense primes, and consumer electronics headquarters means demand is spread across large established engineering organizations with dedicated hardware and software validation teams.
Which California cities have the most test engineering manager jobs?
Sunnyvale, Fremont, and Palo Alto have the most test engineering manager openings in California. The Bay Area dominates because of its density of semiconductor and enterprise software companies, San Diego draws heavily from defense contractors and wireless chip firms like Qualcomm, and Los Angeles reflects demand from aerospace and media technology employers anchored in that region.
Are there remote test engineering manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Test engineering management often requires physical access to hardware, lab equipment, and manufacturing lines, which limits full-remote arrangements. About 39% of test engineering manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and when remote work does appear it tends to cover the team management, planning, and software quality portions of the role rather than hands-on validation work.
How can I get hired as a test engineering manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up from a senior test engineer or quality engineer role within a California company rather than applying to manager positions from outside. Large Bay Area and San Diego employers in semiconductors and defense regularly promote from within and post associate or senior individual-contributor roles as stepping stones. Building a portfolio of test framework projects, earning a Certified Software Test Professional credential, and targeting rotational engineering programs at companies like Broadcom or L3Harris gives candidates without direct management experience a concrete way to close the gap.
Where can I find and apply to test engineering manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to test engineering manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 129+ Test Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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