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Audio Test Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Qualcomm

#Systems SoC Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Test Engineering General Summary: *** This position ... Audio, Video, Storage, Display, Connectivity, Peripherals, Memory, Interconnects, and AI ...

HME

Test Engineer III, Temporary, 5 months

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$94K - $126K/yr

HME has been creating innovative products for the drive-thru and pro-audio industries since 1971 ... We are currently recruiting for a temporary Test Engineer III, Temporary, 5 months . What you will ...

Qualcomm

Sr. Staff Systems Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Test Engineering General Summary: As an engineer you ... Multimedia (Audio, Video, Display) * AI/ML and Compute technologies * Strong software development ...

Qualcomm

Sr. Staff Systems Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$157.50 - $236.30/hr

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Test Engineering General Summary: As an engineer you ... Multimedia (Audio, Video, Display) * AI/ML and Compute technologies * Strong software development ...

Qualcomm

#Systems SoC Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$89 - $133.60/hr

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Test Engineering General Summary: This position is ... Audio, and AI/DSP processors. * Develop and execute AI model integration and validation tests using ...

Motorola

Senior Electronics Test Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$105K - $140K/yr

Audio testing and characterization experience. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills ... Engineering or related field. * Minimum 4 years of relevant hardware test experience. * Hands-on ...

Sesame

Hardware Test Automation Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $260K/yr

... Test Automation Engineer to build the automation backbone for the program. You'll design and own an ... You'll establish nightly stability runs, weekly stress runs, and long-duration audio sessions, and ...

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Audio Test Engineer information

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How much do audio test engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for audio test engineer in California is $43.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32.98 and $51.73 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an audio test engineer do?

An Audio Test Engineer is responsible for evaluating and ensuring the quality and performance of audio equipment and systems, such as speakers, microphones, headphones, and sound software. They design and execute tests, analyze results, and identify issues related to sound quality, distortion, or signal processing. Their work is essential in the development and production of audio products, making sure they meet industry standards and user expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an audio test engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Audio Test Engineer, you need a solid understanding of acoustics, signal processing, and audio engineering, typically supported by a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with audio analysis tools, test measurement systems like Audio Precision, and scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you interpret data and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure accurate assessment of audio product performance and contribute to delivering high-quality audio experiences.

What are some common challenges faced by audio test engineers when working on new audio devices?

Audio Test Engineers often encounter challenges such as isolating subtle audio defects, managing interference in complex hardware environments, and ensuring compatibility across different platforms. Testing must be both rigorous and creative, as audio issues can be subjective and context-dependent. Collaboration with hardware designers, software developers, and quality assurance teams is crucial to thoroughly validate new devices and deliver a high-quality user experience.

What is the difference between Audio Test Engineer vs Audio Quality Assurance Tester?

AspectAudio Test EngineerAudio Quality Assurance Tester
CredentialsDegree in audio engineering, electronics, or related field; certifications like CTS or CQTSimilar credentials; often holds degrees or certifications in audio or quality assurance
Work EnvironmentAudio labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsQuality assurance departments, testing labs, production lines
Industry UsageElectronics, entertainment, consumer electronics, automotiveElectronics, consumer products, software testing in audio devices
Job FocusTesting audio hardware/software, troubleshooting, ensuring audio qualityVerifying audio quality, identifying defects, ensuring product standards

Both roles focus on audio quality but differ slightly in scope. Audio Test Engineers often work on developing and troubleshooting audio systems, while Audio Quality Assurance Testers primarily verify and validate audio performance before product release.

What are popular job titles related to Audio Test Engineer jobs in California?

For Audio Test Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Audio Test Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Audio Test Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Audio Test Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Audio Test Engineer job openings:

Audio Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Audio Test Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,822 per year, or $43.7 per hour.

#Systems SoC Test Engineer

Qualcomm

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 247 rated software companies

Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Test Engineering
General Summary:
*** This position is not eligible for Qualcomm immigration sponsorship.***
We are seeking a Systems Software SoC Test Engineer to develop, deploy, and automate cross-platform system validation solutions for Snapdragon SoCs, ensuring stable, reliable, and high-performance operation across critical subsystems including CPU, Graphics, Audio, Video, Storage, Display, Connectivity, Peripherals, Memory, Interconnects, and AI accelerators.
The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in computer science, software development, and system-level debugging, with proficiency in C/C++. This role combines software engineering, automation, validation, and root-cause analysis to ensure high-quality platform releases across Android, Linux, Windows, QNX, and Qualcomm Hexagon DSP environments.
Working within a system test engineering team, you will define validation strategies, develop scalable automation frameworks, expand test coverage, and validate new hardware and software features from early silicon bring-up through production readiness. You will also help drive quality across software, firmware, and AI SDK ecosystems while enabling robust validation across multiple Snapdragon platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
On-Device Validation and System Testing
  • Validate system functionality, performance, reliability, and robustness across mobile, PC, and automotive platforms.
  • Design, develop, and execute end-to-end validation solutions for critical SoC subsystems including DDR, CPU, PCIe, Storage, NoCs, Power Management, Clocking, GPU, Video, Audio, and AI/DSP processors.
  • Develop and execute AI model integration and validation tests using Qualcomm Hexagon and AI Direct SDKs.
  • Support early silicon bring-up, platform enablement, and full system validation on target hardware.
  • Verify system correctness, performance, low-power operation, reliability, and bit-exact behavior across hardware and software stacks.
  • Evaluate system stability through stress, endurance, performance, and reliability testing.

Test Strategy, Coverage, and Quality
  • Define, expand, and track test coverage across features, subsystems, and platforms.
  • Identify validation gaps and develop new test scenarios to improve product quality.
  • Monitor test metrics, regression trends, pass rates, and quality indicators.
  • Ensure comprehensive logging and diagnostic data collection across Android, Linux, Windows, and QNX environments.
  • Perform root-cause analysis of issues reported by customers, OEMs, and internal teams, spanning BSP through HLOS software layers.

Automation Framework Development
  • Design and develop scalable cross-platform automation frameworks primarily in C/C++.
  • Build automation capable of supporting large-scale device farms with robust recovery, monitoring, and analytics capabilities.
  • Improve validation efficiency through reusable tools, automation best practices, and continuous integration workflows.
  • Develop supporting automation using Python, Shell/Bash, and PowerShell where appropriate.

Debugging and Reliability Engineering
  • Analyze logs, traces, crash dumps, and system telemetry to identify root causes.
  • Debug software, firmware, and hardware-related issues affecting platform stability.
  • Investigate power, thermal, performance, memory, and system-level failures.
  • Collaborate with hardware, firmware, driver, and software teams to drive issue resolution.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
Preferred Qualifications
  • BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
  • Strong programming fundamentals, data structures, and algorithms.
  • Proficiency in C/C++ development and debugging.
  • Experience in software validation, test engineering, embedded systems, or related areas. Exceptional new graduates with relevant internship or project experience from the tech sector are encouraged to apply.
  • Public GitHub projects demonstrating embedded software, DSP, systems programming, or automation development.
  • Experience with Qualcomm Hexagon DSP, AI Direct SDK, Vulkan, OpenCL, or embedded ARM-based platforms.
  • Experience building large-scale automated validation environments.
  • Familiarity with performance profiling, telemetry collection, and system test analytics.
  • Knowledge of AI/ML workloads, edge AI deployment, or accelerator validation.

Technical Skills
  • Strong programming skills in C/C++.
  • Experience with embedded systems, DSP SDKs, or system software development.
  • Ability to debug software issues using debuggers, memory analysis tools, and system diagnostics.
  • Debug System issues : Thermal excursions, Power state problems, CPU Latency issues, ARM ISA familiarity
  • Experience working in Linux environments, including kernel debugging and system-level development.
  • Familiarity with Android, Windows, QNX, or similar operating systems.
  • Experience with scripting and automation using Python, Shell/Bash, or PowerShell.
  • Understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, and hardware-software interactions.

Soft Skills
  • Critical thinking and methodical analytical and problem-solving abilities across complex SoC subsystems or embedded systems
  • Excellent communication and collaboration across time zones with inter-departmental teams (Design teams, Development teams, SOC Leads)
  • Ability to learn quickly and thrive in a fast-paced engineering environment.
  • Self-motivated with a passion for system-level technology and product quality.
  • Periodic updates through presentation and dashboard reporting to senior technical audience is needed.

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$89,000.00 - $133,600.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985

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