System Design Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
System design engineer jobs in California sit at the heart of the state's technology industry, with major employers like Apple, Google, Meta, and Salesforce filing visa sponsorship applications for these roles across Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and San Diego. Companies here regularly sponsor H-1B visa and other work visas for engineers with expertise in distributed systems, scalable architecture, and infrastructure design.
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Imagine the world without Apple devices! Does it feel strange? Apple products might even be one of the reasons you wanted to BE a Hardware Design Engineer. Now, imagine yourself designing future Apple products. Designing hardware for iPhone means learning how to build high-performance electronics where every cubic millimeter matters. It is a masterclass in modern hardware engineering—blending high-speed digital buses, ultra-low-noise power rails, and flexible circuits into an integrated system built at unprecedented quality and scale. The iPhone Hardware System Design team is looking for a driven Electrical Engineer who is passionate about circuit design, board-level bring-up, and hands-on problem solving. You will own the design, validation, and integration of critical rigid-board and flexible-circuit modules, working side-by-side with world-class engineers. If you are eager to dive deep into schematics, spend time in the lab probing waveforms, and see your designs ship in products used by millions, join us.
DESCRIPTION
In this role, you will be an active contributor to the hardware design and validation cycle of future iPhone hardware:
Circuit Design & Integration: Own schematics, component selection and collaborate closely with CAD layout engineers for dedicated rigid boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and system interconnect modules.
Hands-On Lab Bring-Up: Lead the first-time power-on and functional bring-up of your hardware blocks in the lab; debug hardware bugs down to component level using high-speed scopes and digital analyzers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with mechanical engineering (Product Design), firmware, thermal, silicon, and factory teams to ensure smooth mechanical and electrical integration. There will be opportunities for international travel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of experience in board-level electrical hardware design and verification.
- Strong grasp of core EE fundamentals: circuit theory, analog fundamentals, digital logic, and basic power regulation.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab experience bringing up and debugging prototype hardware.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- High speed digital design
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Hands-on lab experience with hardware bring-up and debug
- Fundamentals of signal and power integrity
- Understanding of low voltage power regulation solutions
- Integration of hardware into multi-functional systems
- Use of scripting languages to assist with hardware development
- Familiarity with the challenges of taking a product from design through to production
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
- Experience working with dynamic multi-functional teams
- Automation: Proficiency with tools to enable automation (AI usage to develop tools and for other efficiency improvements is a plus)
COMPENSATION
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
Imagine the world without Apple devices! Does it feel strange? Apple products might even be one of the reasons you wanted to BE a Hardware Design Engineer. Now, imagine yourself designing future Apple products. Designing hardware for iPhone means learning how to build high-performance electronics where every cubic millimeter matters. It is a masterclass in modern hardware engineering—blending high-speed digital buses, ultra-low-noise power rails, and flexible circuits into an integrated system built at unprecedented quality and scale. The iPhone Hardware System Design team is looking for a driven Electrical Engineer who is passionate about circuit design, board-level bring-up, and hands-on problem solving. You will own the design, validation, and integration of critical rigid-board and flexible-circuit modules, working side-by-side with world-class engineers. If you are eager to dive deep into schematics, spend time in the lab probing waveforms, and see your designs ship in products used by millions, join us.
DESCRIPTION
In this role, you will be an active contributor to the hardware design and validation cycle of future iPhone hardware:
Circuit Design & Integration: Own schematics, component selection and collaborate closely with CAD layout engineers for dedicated rigid boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and system interconnect modules.
Hands-On Lab Bring-Up: Lead the first-time power-on and functional bring-up of your hardware blocks in the lab; debug hardware bugs down to component level using high-speed scopes and digital analyzers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with mechanical engineering (Product Design), firmware, thermal, silicon, and factory teams to ensure smooth mechanical and electrical integration. There will be opportunities for international travel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of experience in board-level electrical hardware design and verification.
- Strong grasp of core EE fundamentals: circuit theory, analog fundamentals, digital logic, and basic power regulation.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab experience bringing up and debugging prototype hardware.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- High speed digital design
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Hands-on lab experience with hardware bring-up and debug
- Fundamentals of signal and power integrity
- Understanding of low voltage power regulation solutions
- Integration of hardware into multi-functional systems
- Use of scripting languages to assist with hardware development
- Familiarity with the challenges of taking a product from design through to production
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
- Experience working with dynamic multi-functional teams
- Automation: Proficiency with tools to enable automation (AI usage to develop tools and for other efficiency improvements is a plus)
COMPENSATION
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
System Design Engineer Job Roles in California
See all System Design Engineer Jobs in California
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Search System Design Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaSystem Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for system design engineers in California?
Large technology employers including Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce have consistent H-1B Labor Condition Application filing histories for system design and systems engineering roles in California. Mid-size companies in cloud infrastructure, semiconductor design, and enterprise software also sponsor regularly. Reviewing OFLC public disclosure data by employer and job title gives the clearest picture of which California companies file most actively.
Which visa types realistically fit system design engineer roles in California?
System design engineer is a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree, so the H-1B is the most common path. Australian nationals can use the E-3 visa, and Chilean and Singaporean nationals have access to the H-1B1 visa. Canadian and Mexican nationals with an engineering degree may qualify under TN visa. F-1 students can work via OPT or STEM OPT if their degree is STEM-designated. EB-2 and EB-3 green cards are available for longer-term permanent residence.
How to find system design engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified visa sponsorship histories for system design engineer roles, searchable by city and role type. Because the platform draws on LCA filing data, you can see which companies have actively sponsored system design positions rather than relying on job descriptions that may not reflect actual sponsorship practice. This is particularly useful given how competitive the California technology market is for sponsored engineering roles.
Which cities in California have the most system design engineer sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and Menlo Park, concentrates the highest volume of sponsored system design engineer positions due to the density of major technology firms and venture-backed startups. Los Angeles is a growing hub, particularly for media technology, cloud platforms, and aerospace software. San Diego has a strong presence in wireless systems, defense technology, and semiconductor engineering, with companies like Qualcomm filing regularly.
Are there California-specific considerations for system design engineers seeking visa sponsorship?
California's technology industry draws heavily from university pipelines at UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, and UC San Diego, which means many sponsored system design roles are filled through those networks. The state's concentration of cap-exempt research institutions also creates pathways outside the standard H-1B lottery. Roles in defense-adjacent companies may require security clearances that limit eligibility for non-citizens, so it is worth confirming clearance requirements before applying to those positions.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored system design engineer jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.