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Application Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Chef Robotics

Application Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$130K - $180K/yr

About the Role We are hiring an Application Engineer to serve as the vital link between our customers and our engineering teams. This role spans the full customer journey, from early technical ...

Allient Incorporated

Application Engineer

Loomis, CA · On-site

$75K - $120K/yr

... the application of products. Keeps informed of new developments in relation to engineering fields as they relate to the division's products. • Trains in-house to gain a thorough understanding of ...

Super Micro Computer

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$88K - $95K/yr

Supermicro is looking for talented and passionate Application Engineer who has in-depth knowledge in computer / server architecture. You will be responsible in validating/troubleshooting the cutting ...

Supermicro

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$88K - $95K/yr

Supermicro is looking for talented and passionate Application Engineer who has in-depth knowledge in computer / server architecture. You will be responsible in validating/troubleshooting the cutting ...

Super Micro Computer

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Supermicro is looking for talented and passionate Application Engineer who has in-depth knowledge in computer / server architecture, You will be responsible in providing technical supports to our ...

Moffitt

APPLICATION ENGINEER III

Long Beach, CA · Hybrid

Summary The Application Engineer III is responsible for maintaining and enhancing existing custom-built and low-code applications across the enterprise. This hybrid role ensures stable day-to-day ...

Supermicro

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Supermicro is looking for talented and passionate Application Engineer who has in-depth knowledge in computer / server architecture, You will be responsible in providing technical supports to our ...

Supermicro

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Located in San Jose, CA, the Application Engineer will be responsible for delivering technical support for computer servers and workstations, working independently with sales, FAEs, service teams ...

VAT Group AG

Field Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Contribute to the VAT application engineering global network. * Monitor competitor landscape, run competition analyses, and identify VAT's competitive advantage. Your profile * Experience in vacuum ...

Super Micro Computer

Application Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Located in San Jose, CA, the Application Engineer will be responsible for delivering technical support for computer servers and workstations, working independently with sales, FAEs, service teams ...

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All JobsApplication Engineer JobsApplication Engineer Jobs in California

Application Engineer information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$109.2K

$150K

How much do application engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for application engineer in California is $109,249.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior application engineers, especially those with specialized skills in software development, cloud computing, or cybersecurity, can earn $200,000 or more annually. Achieving this level often requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, and working in high-demand industries or companies with competitive compensation packages.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior application engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in software development, and often working in high-demand industries or companies can earn $300,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires advanced certifications, leadership roles, or expertise in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, or complex system integration.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced application engineers working in specialized fields such as software development, cloud computing, or cybersecurity can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and stock options. Such compensation typically requires advanced skills, certifications, and leadership roles in large organizations or tech companies.

What do application engineers do?

Application engineers design, develop, and implement software applications or systems to meet client needs. They often collaborate with technical teams, troubleshoot issues, and may use tools like programming languages and testing software to ensure functionality and performance.

What are some common challenges Application Engineers face when balancing customer requirements with technical feasibility?

Application Engineers often serve as the bridge between customers and the technical teams, which means they regularly encounter situations where client requests may not align perfectly with existing product capabilities. A key challenge is clearly communicating technical limitations while offering alternative solutions that address the customer’s core needs. Successful Application Engineers proactively manage expectations, coordinate with development teams, and stay updated on product roadmaps to suggest realistic enhancements. Developing strong relationships with both customers and internal teams is essential to navigate these challenges effectively.

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

To thrive as an Application Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, software development, and problem-solving, often backed by a degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with programming languages, CAD tools, and platforms like MATLAB or AutoCAD, as well as certifications in relevant software, is typically required. Strong communication, customer service orientation, and project management skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities ensure effective solution delivery, seamless client interactions, and the successful implementation of technical projects.

What does an Application Engineer do?

An Application Engineer acts as a bridge between customers and engineering teams, helping to design, develop, and implement technical solutions that meet client needs. They often customize software or hardware products, provide technical support, and assist with product demonstrations or training. Application Engineers also analyze customer requirements, troubleshoot issues, and help improve products based on user feedback. Their role requires strong technical knowledge, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities.

What is the difference between Application Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectApplication EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; technical certificationsBachelor's or higher in mechanical engineering; professional licensure often preferred
Work EnvironmentCustomer-facing, technical support, product customizationDesign, analysis, manufacturing, and testing in labs or factories
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, manufacturing, industrial equipmentAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Application Engineers focus on supporting clients with product implementation and technical solutions, often working closely with sales and engineering teams. Mechanical Engineers primarily design, analyze, and develop mechanical systems and components. While both roles require engineering degrees, Application Engineers emphasize customer interaction and technical support, whereas Mechanical Engineers concentrate on design and manufacturing processes.

What are the most commonly searched types of Application Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Application Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Application Engineer jobs in California? For Application Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Application Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Application Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Application Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Application Engineer job openings:
Application Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Application Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 58% Full Time, and 42% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $109,249 per year, or $52.5 per hour.
Application Engineer

Application Engineer

Chef Robotics

San Francisco, CA

$130K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Chef Robotics is bringing AI into the physical world, starting with one of the world’s largest industries: food manufacturing.

Food production faces one of the most severe labor shortages in the US, with more than 1 million open jobs today and demand continuing to grow. Our robots help manufacturers automate repetitive food-preparation and assembly tasks so they can increase throughput, improve consistency, and keep production onshore.

Today, Chef robots operate in production facilities across North America and Europe, serving customers including Amy’s Kitchen, gategroup, and CookUnity. Our robots have made over 100 million servings in production, creating the world’s largest proprietary dataset for AI-powered manipulation of deformable food. Every meal our robots produce makes the system smarter.

Backed by leading investors including Avataar Ventures, Construct Capital, Bloomberg Beta, Promus Ventures, and Kleiner Perkins, we’re scaling rapidly with a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model and long-term customer partnerships. Our team includes engineers and leaders from Google, Cruise, Tesla, Amazon Robotics, Dexterity, Bear Robotics, Saildrone, and Zoox, united by a mission to build intelligent machines that solve meaningful problems in the real world.

If you’re excited about solving hard problems, creating real customer impact, and shipping systems that operate in production every day, not just in the lab, you’ll feel at home at Chef.


About the Role
 
We are hiring an Application Engineer to serve as the vital link between our customers and our engineering teams. This role spans the full customer journey, from early technical evaluation through deployment, production ramp-up, and long-term success, driving both customer success and product excellence.
 
If you are excited by a mix of customer engagement, hands-on robotics engineering, and real-world deployment, this position offers a unique opportunity to directly shape how robotics is deployed in large-scale food production environments. 
 
You’ll partner with customers to bring robotic systems online, drive continuous improvement, and directly impact Chef’s growth and product roadmap. As a member of our Applications team, you will learn a rare blend of technical, operational, and customer-facing expertise that few roles offer. 
 
Success in this position opens the door to your career growth, whether toward technical leadership, product management, field engineering, or customer success sales leadership.
 
Please note that this is not a software applications engineering role. This is a customer-facing role where you’ll be deployed at our customers’ facilities at least 50% of the time. 
Responsibilities:
  • Partner with Sales and Product teams during early customer engagements to assess customer needs, identify opportunities, and evaluate technical feasibility.
  • Work directly with customers’ engineering and operations teams to understand their processes, challenges and success metrics.
  • Configure, test, and validate Chef’s robotic systems in the lab, working closely with R&D to adapt to each customer’s unique production environment.
  • Lead and project manage deployments, coordinating across Chef’s engineering, manufacturing, and customer teams to ensure smooth installations.
  • Lead on-site deployments, including installation, qualification testing, and production hardening
  • Work hands-on with the systems to test new software, configurations and resolve break fix hardware repairs.
  • Provide post-deployment support to ensure customer satisfaction and identify opportunities for product and feature expansion.
  • Capture customer feedback and translate it into actionable insights for Chef’s product and engineering teams.
  • Serve as the technical face of Chef Robotics representing our engineering rigor, problem-solving mindset and commitment to customer success.
Qualifications:
  • You are energized by seeing technology make a tangible impact in the real world and enjoy the challenge of bringing complex systems to life in customer environments.
  • You thrive in dynamic, fast-paced settings and can manage multiple deployments, customers and competing priorities with professionalism and clarity.
  • You’re an excellent communicator who can translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • You’re self-driven and resourceful, with a bias for action and the ability to work autonomously in the field.
Requirements:
  • BS or MS in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or a related field
  • 2+ years of experience in applications engineering, deployment, solutions engineering, field robotics or a similar customer-facing technical role
  • Prior experience in at least one of the following: robotics, motion planning, perception, controls or automation systems.
  • Willingness to travel up to 75% across North America to support customer deployments and on-site work
  • Familiarity with Linux/Unix, Robot Operating System (ROS), and scripting in Python.
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills - comfortable collaborating across technical and operations teams both internally and with customers
  • Able to work independently and with minimal supervision
  • Must be available to work a flexible schedule to support customers, including some weekend, nights and on-call hours
Why You’ll Love Working Here
  • Be part of a mission-driven team transforming one of the world’s largest industries.
  • Work hands-on with cutting edge robotic systems solving real world problems.
  • Collaborate with a world class, cross functional team of roboticists, engineers and operators.
  • Build rare, multidisciplinary expertise at the intersection of robotics, operations and customer success.
  • Benefit from professional growth with exposure to both leadership and technical career paths.
Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
 
In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.

Chef Robotics is solving one of the hardest problems in AI: bringing intelligence into the physical world.

Our robots are already operating in production facilities every day, generating the real-world data that powers the next generation of embodied AI. If you want to build technology that leaves the lab, ships to customers, and transforms an industry, Chef is the place to do it.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.