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Application Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Scadea Solutions Inc

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$144K - $148K/yr

PHYSICAL DESIGN Engineer Work Location -San Diego , CA Duration: 6+ Months Experience: 8-10Yrs ... Performs highly complex application programming/systems development and support Performs highly ...

Airtable

Design Technologist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$224K - $317K/yr

Airtable has a design system with real foundations and a community of designers and engineers who ... You have a portfolio that shows both polished design work in application and production-quality ...

Airtable

Design Technologist

San Francisco, CA

Airtable has a design system with real foundations and a community of designers and engineers who ... You have a portfolio that shows both polished design work in application and production-quality ...

Apple

EMC Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

As an EMC Design Engineer, you will evaluate, design, and optimize EMC solutions forApple products. You will be responsible for ensuring that products meet EMCrequirements and regulations. In this ...

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All JobsApplication Design Engineer JobsApplication Design Engineer Jobs in California

Application Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$20

$56

$85

How much do application design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for application design engineer in California is $56.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.54 and $72.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Application Design Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectApplication Design EngineerSoftware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, CAD or design certificationsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field, coding certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, manufacturing settings, client sitesOffices, development labs, remote work
Industry UsageElectronics, automotive, industrial equipmentIT, software development, tech companies
Primary FocusDesigning and testing physical products and systemsWriting, testing, and maintaining software applications

Application Design Engineers focus on creating and testing physical product designs, often working with hardware and systems integration. Software Engineers primarily develop and maintain software applications. While both roles require technical skills and collaboration, their core responsibilities and work environments differ significantly, making this comparison useful for those exploring career options or job opportunities in engineering fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Application Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Application Design Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, software development, and system design, usually supported by a degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and programming languages such as Python or C++ is typically required, along with certifications like Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) being advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective communication are essential soft skills for translating client needs into technical solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure that complex applications are designed efficiently, meet user requirements, and function reliably in real-world environments.

What are some common challenges faced by Application Design Engineers when working on custom solutions for clients?

Application Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing client requirements with technical feasibility, managing tight deadlines, and ensuring seamless integration with existing systems. They must frequently adapt to evolving project scopes and navigate communication between cross-functional teams, including sales, development, and support. Strong problem-solving and collaboration skills are essential, as is the ability to clearly translate client needs into practical design specifications.

What are Application Design Engineers?

Application Design Engineers are professionals who develop, customize, and optimize technical solutions or products to meet specific client or industry needs. They work closely with customers, sales teams, and product development teams to ensure that applications perform efficiently and address user requirements. Their role often involves both engineering design tasks and application support, requiring a strong understanding of both product capabilities and customer use cases. They may also assist in troubleshooting, prototyping, and modifying existing systems to improve functionality.
What cities in California are hiring for Application Design Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Application Design Engineer job openings:
Application Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Application Design Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,490 per year, or $57 per hour.
Sr Application Engineer - SerDes Design IP

Sr Application Engineer - SerDes Design IP

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

San Jose, CA

$102K - $191K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Title: Senior Applications Engineer, SerDes Design IP
San Jose, CA/Hybrid
Job Description
The Cadence IP team develops industry leading IPs that enable customers in a variety of markets - from the endpoint to the edge to the cloud. At Cadence we're helping set the standard on IP products that get integrated in SoCs that power the world's Data Centers, Automobiles, Cloud and Wireless Systems. We offer amazing opportunities to grow, no matter where you are in your career.
We are growing our Serdes Applications team and we are looking for smart, energetic, collaborative and creative people to help us lead the industry with our IP products. At Cadence, we believe in embracing diverse ideas and striving for
excellence in all that we do. Do you want to make a difference and be challenged? Join the High-Performance Culture at Cadence.

As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will use your knowledge of different high-speed interface standards such as PCIe, CXL, Ethernet and USB to provide technical pre-sales support to win design IP business. Showcase the performance of the IP through demos at industry events. This role offers the benefit of both technical growth and business skill development.
You will be part of the Technical Field Organization helping educate customers and providing solutions to them using our Serdes IP portfolio. As you grow into more senior roles, you will use your knowledge of different high-speed interface
standards to architect solutions for customers using Cadence IPs. Our serial interface PHY and controller IPs are used in data centers, mobile devices, automobiles and consumer devices. Cadence offers great benefits and has a friendly hybrid work policy.


Responsibilities include:

  • Technical pre-sales of High-Speed Interface IP, including PCIe, CXL and Ethernet PHY and Controllers
  • Present Cadence's IP portfolio and capabilities to prospective customers
  • Work closely with IP Sales staff, marketing and R&D teams to win opportunities
  • Provide quick-turn product specific technical support to customers, field teams, architects and designers
  • Write application notes and articles for internal and/or external publication
  • Travel to customer sites may be required occasionally

Qualifications:

  • 2+ years of industry experience on high-speed interface controller and/or PHY design/verification
  • 2+ years of industry experience on one or more high speed interface protocols - PCIe, CXL, UCIe, Ethernet, USB, MIPI, 112G, 56G
  • Working knowledge of high-speed interface PHY
  • Lab validation or demo setup experience
  • BS in EE, CE or related equivalent with 2+ years of relevant work experience or MS in EE, CE or equivalent
  • Individual leadership and initiative to manage pre-sales accounts
  • Excellent presentation skills and verbal/written communication skills is a must

The annual salary range for California is $102,900 to $191,100. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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