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Automotive Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Banks Power

Mechanical Design Engineer

Azusa, CA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Design automotive aftermarket high-performance components and systems. Create 3D models and 2D ... Collaborate with the rest of the Engineering team in the fabrication of test apparatus and ...

Sanmina

Mechanical Design Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$90K - $122K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • PTO

Fremont supports the critical infrastructure driving the semiconductor, automotive, defense ... The Mechanical Design Engineer is responsible for mechanical design and development of ...

KYOCERA International, Inc.

Senior Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... automotive, Medical applications, and semiconductor processing. Our innovative materials are found ... Senior Design Engineer (ENG5113) Exempt: Yes Safety Sensitive: No GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION A ...

Kyocera

Senior Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... automotive, Medical applications, and semiconductor processing. Our innovative materials are found ... Senior Design Engineer (ENG5113) Exempt: Yes Safety Sensitive: No GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION A ...

Kyocera

Senior Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... automotive, Medical applications, and semiconductor processing. Our innovative materials are found ... Senior Design Engineer (ENG5113) Exempt: Yes Safety Sensitive: No GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION A ...

Ford Motor Company

EDS Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • PTO

As an EDS Design Engineer, you will be at the forefront of defining the "nervous system" for our ... Proven track record of building and launching automotive products, vehicle prototyping, and ...

XDIN

Alias Modeler

Los Angeles, CA

$59 - $76.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Minimum 3 years working in or for an OEM or Tier I automotive design studio * Portfolio is a MUST. * BS, BA or MFA degree in design, engineering or transportation related * High proficiency in Alias ...

Mythic

RTL Design Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$120K - $225K/yr

We're hiring experienced RTL Design Engineers from junior to senior levels to play a key role in ... automotive, aerospace, and defense. We've raised over $100M from world-class investors including ...

Mythic

RTL Design Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$120K - $225K/yr

We're hiring experienced RTL Design Engineers from junior to senior levels to play a key role in ... automotive, aerospace, and defense. We've raised over $100M from world-class investors including ...

Mythic

RTL Design Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$120K - $225K/yr

We're hiring experienced RTL Design Engineers from junior to senior levels to play a key role in ... automotive, aerospace, and defense. We've raised over $100M from world-class investors including ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAutomotive Design Engineer JobsAutomotive Design Engineer Jobs in California

Automotive Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$40K

$87K

$156.4K

How much do automotive design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive design engineer in California is $86,995.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an automotive design engineer do?

An Automotive Design Engineer is responsible for developing and improving vehicle designs, focusing on aesthetics, functionality, and safety. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create blueprints and collaborate with engineers to refine concepts. Their work includes designing body structures, interiors, and aerodynamics while ensuring compliance with industry standards. They also test prototypes and analyze performance to enhance efficiency and durability.

What does a typical day look like for an automotive design engineer?

As an Automotive Design Engineer, your days often involve collaborating with other engineers and designers to create and refine vehicle components using CAD tools, participating in design reviews, and ensuring that your solutions meet safety and regulatory standards. You might analyze prototypes, troubleshoot design challenges, and incorporate feedback from cross-functional partners such as manufacturing or testing teams. It's common to split time between computer-based design work and hands-on activities like inspecting prototypes or components. This role offers a dynamic mix of creative problem-solving, technical analysis, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an automotive design engineer?

To thrive as an Automotive Design Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering, proficiency in CAD software, and a strong understanding of automotive systems and materials. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like CATIA, SolidWorks, and relevant certifications such as FE or PE are highly valued. Creativity, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork skills help set candidates apart in this field. These skills and qualities enable engineers to develop innovative vehicle designs that meet safety, performance, and manufacturing requirements within cross-functional teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California?

For Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Automotive Design Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Automotive Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Automotive Design Engineer job openings:

Automotive Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Automotive Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,995 per year, or $41.8 per hour.

CAE Modeling - Irvine, CA(onsite)

VeridianTech

Irvine, CA • On-site

Other

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

CAE Modeling Role

Irvine, CA(onsite)

Contract(C2C/W2)

Job Description:

THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL DO:

  • Battery Structural Analyst will perform durability analysis of vehicle structures using finite element tools including Optistruct, Abaqus, and Hyperview/META.
  • Use LS-Dyna to analyze CAD data and perform battery system and component crash analysis.
  • Cooperate with design engineers and suppliers to collect material properties and connection information.
  • Post process and report CAE results to design engineers and suggest feasible design changes for design optimization.
  • Use analysis results to determine component or material performance requirements and design boundaries.
  • Use analyses to guide physical test plans for validation.
  • Lead the development of processes and strategies for robust analysis, optimization, and delivery of battery systems.

THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

  • Minimum BS with 7+ years, MS with 5+ years or PhD with 3+ years in mechanical engineering or similar field.
  • Experience in Optistruct, Abaqus, Hyperview/META, and LS-Dyna, with application to automotive structures.
  • Strong academic background in solid mechanics, materials, and structural analysis.
  • Experience with CATIA, experience with FEA model building from CAD data.
  • Design and development of component and sub-system tests.
  • Experience of preparing formal reports summarizing analysis results.
  • Knowledge of material properties associated with automotive structures.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
  • A strong understanding of the first-principal physics of automotive body structures and energy management.
  • Knowledge of automotive design, development processes, and system requirements.

Apply