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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Overview

Open roles39+
Top employerNVIDIA
Top citySanta Clara, CA
Cities hiring14
Work type90% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 39+ Test Engineering Manager jobs

Honeywell
RF Test Engineering Manager
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Honeywell
Added 1mo ago
RF Test Engineering Manager
Honeywell
San Jose, California
Project & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Project Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Flextronics Automotive Usa, Inc.
Test Engineering Manager
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Flextronics Automotive Usa, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
Test Engineering Manager
Flextronics Automotive Usa, Inc.
Fontana, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Associate's

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Sanmina
Production Test Engineering Manager
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Sanmina
Added 3mo ago
Production Test Engineering Manager
Sanmina
San Jose, California
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
Project & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Sanmina
Production Test Engineering Manager
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Sanmina
Added 3mo ago
Production Test Engineering Manager
Sanmina
San Jose, California
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$100k - $120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Sterling Engineering
Electrical Test Engineering Manager
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Sterling Engineering
Added 5mo ago
Electrical Test Engineering Manager
Sterling Engineering
Fontana, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
$130k/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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See All 39 Test Engineering Manager Jobs in California

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Test Engineering Manager Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Clara
11 jobs
Cupertino
7 jobs
Sunnyvale
4 jobs
Fontana
3 jobs
San Jose
3 jobs
Alameda
2 jobs
Palo Alto
2 jobs
Brisbane
1 jobs
Fremont
1 jobs

Test Engineering Manager Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA9
  • Apple
    Apple6
  • Coherent
    Coherent4
  • OSI Engineering
    OSI Engineering2
  • PsiQuantum
    PsiQuantum2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software16
  • Electronics & Hardware15
  • Manufacturing6
  • Artificial Intelligence3
  • Automotive2

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 NVIDIA, Apple, and Coherent, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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?

Santa Clara, Cupertino, and Sunnyvale 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 10% of test engineering manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 39 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 Jobs