ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Associate Engineer I Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Vector Atomic

Associate Engineer - Firmware

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$107K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As an Associate Firmware Engineer, you'll work alongside world-class physicists and hardware ... S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Vector Atomic

Associate Engineer - Firmware

Pleasanton, CA

$107K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As an Associate Firmware Engineer, you'll work alongside world-class physicists and hardware ... S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Vector Atomic

Associate Engineer - Firmware

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$107K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As an Associate Firmware Engineer, you'll work alongside world-class physicists and hardware ... S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Integrated Resources INC

Quality Engineer I

Pleasanton, CA

$80K - $103K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

Job title: Quality Engineer I Location: Pleasanton, CA Duration: 7+ months (Possibility of ... EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE Bachelors' degree or relevant experience with an Associate's degree in ...

Ross

Engineer I

Dublin, CA · On-site

$99K - $163K/yr

The MDM Engineer I is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of ... associates, while working with the integration, architecture, and business teams to deliver MDM ...

Ross Stores, Inc

Engineer I

Dublin, CA · On-site

$99K - $163K/yr

The MDM Engineer I is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of ... associates, while working with the integration, architecture, and business teams to deliver MDM ...

Ross Stores

Engineer I

Dublin, CA · On-site

$99K - $163K/yr

The MDM Engineer I is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of ... associates, while working with the integration, architecture, and business teams to deliver MDM ...

GE HealthCare

X-Ray/Mammography Field Engineer I

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$78K - $117K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; OR equivalent military education; OR participant in the formal GEHC ...

GE

X-Ray/Mammography Field Engineer I

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$78K - $117K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; OR equivalent military education; OR participant in the formal GEHC ...

Ross Stores

Engineer I

Dublin, CA

$99K - $163K/yr

The MDM Engineer I is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of ... associates, while working with the integration, architecture, and business teams to deliver MDM ...

Ross Stores

Engineer I

Dublin, CA

$99K - $163K/yr

The MDM Engineer I is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of ... associates, while working with the integration, architecture, and business teams to deliver MDM ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAssociate Engineer I JobsAssociate Engineer I Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Associate Engineer I information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$50.8K

$101.2K

$161.6K

How much do associate engineer i jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate engineer i in Berkeley, CA is $101,183.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,200.00 and $116,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Associate Engineer I?

An Associate Engineer I is an entry-level engineering professional who assists with the planning, design, development, and implementation of engineering projects. Typically, this role involves working under the supervision of more experienced engineers, performing technical tasks, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Associate Engineer I positions are common across various fields such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those with limited professional experience, providing a foundation for career growth and development within the engineering sector.

What are some common challenges an Associate Engineer I might encounter when transitioning from academia to a professional engineering team?

As an Associate Engineer I, you may find that adapting to real-world project timelines and the collaborative nature of engineering teams differs significantly from academic work. You'll often need to balance multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively with senior engineers, project managers, and other departments. Learning company-specific tools and adhering to established processes can also be challenging at first, but these skills develop quickly with experience and mentorship. Embracing feedback and proactively seeking guidance can help smooth this transition and accelerate your professional growth.

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

To thrive as an Associate Engineer I, you typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and foundational knowledge of engineering principles. Familiarity with technical tools such as CAD software, engineering modeling systems, and relevant industry standards or certifications is often required. Strong teamwork, effective communication, and attention to detail are standout soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure accurate project execution, effective collaboration, and adherence to safety and quality standards in engineering environments.

What is the difference between Associate Engineer I vs Mechanical Engineer?

CriteriaAssociate Engineer IMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related field; entry-level certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering; professional licensure often preferred
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and support roles in engineering teams; often in office or lab settingsDesign, analysis, and manufacturing in industrial or corporate settings; fieldwork less common
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in engineering firms, manufacturing, and tech companies for entry-level rolesCommon in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors

The main difference is that Associate Engineer I is an entry-level position requiring a bachelor's degree and basic certifications, focusing on supporting engineering projects. Mechanical Engineer typically requires more experience or advanced degrees, with responsibilities including design, analysis, and project management. Both roles are common in manufacturing and engineering industries, but Mechanical Engineers often have greater responsibilities and specialization.

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Associate Engineer I jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Associate Engineer I job openings:

Associate Engineer I jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Engineer I job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,183 per year, or $48.6 per hour.

Associate Engineer - Firmware

Vector Atomic

Pleasanton, CA • On-site

$107K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Location: This role is based onsite at our office in Pleasanton, CA.
Travel: Up to 5%, domestic or international.
The Role:
We're looking for exceptional early-career engineers to grow with us. As an Associate Firmware Engineer, you'll work alongside world-class physicists and hardware engineers to build embedded software for next-generation quantum sensing instruments. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where your code directly enables precision measurement at the frontier of quantum technology.
If you've just completed a degree from a top engineering program and want to do work that matters, not CRUD apps, but real-time control systems running inside instruments that measure the universe, this is your role.
Responsibilities:
  • Write and verify embedded firmware for ST microcontrollers, including COTS devices and MCUs integrated into custom ASICs
  • Implement control algorithms critical to the operation of high-precision quantum sensing instruments
  • Develop peripheral drivers for mixed-signal devices, working directly from electronic schematics
  • Partner with hardware engineers on board testing and bring-up activities
  • Contribute to a rigorous engineering culture through code reviews, GitHub task tickets, and retrospectives
  • Clearly document and communicate your work in a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment

Requirements
Requirements:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science from an accredited program, we're targeting graduates from highly rated programs with strong fundamentals
  • Demonstrated ability to write production-quality C/C++ for small embedded processors
  • Experience writing interrupt service routines, peripheral drivers, and multi-threaded firmware using RTOSs and/or bare-metal environments
  • Scripting experience in Python, Perl, or similar languages
  • Hands-on experience with lab test equipment (oscilloscopes, function generators, voltmeters)
  • Strong debugging instincts, able to isolate and resolve bugs using debuggers and simulation tools
  • Comfort working in a laboratory setting
  • To comply with the US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience designing PID or other control algorithms
  • Familiarity with fixed-point arithmetic and digital filter design
  • Experience with communication protocols: TCP, UDP, UART, SPI, I2C, or similar
  • Assembly language programming for embedded targets
  • Experience with lightweight Ethernet stacks (e.g., lwIP)
  • Background with SoC or FPGA devices

Benefits
Vector Atomic values teamwork, open and honest discourse, and work-life balance. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including:
  • Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
  • Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Employer 401(k) contributions
  • 20 days of paid time off / 11 paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Fully stocked kitchen

Pay Range
The approximate base salary range for this position is $107,458 to $140,690 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience level.
Vector Atomic is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law.
Vector Atomic does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or HR team.

Apply