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Automotive Electrical Engineer Jobs in California

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Sonoma, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

Piper Maddox

Electrical Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Background in automotive, aerospace, or EV power electronics, with a strong understanding of electrical engineering principles applied to vehicle systems. * Hands-on experience designing and ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsAutomotive Electrical Engineer JobsAutomotive Electrical Engineer Jobs in California

Automotive Electrical Engineer information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$109.6K

$165.8K

How much do automotive electrical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive electrical engineer in California is $109,636.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $130,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an automotive electrical engineer do?

An Automotive Electrical Engineer designs, develops, and tests electrical systems in vehicles, including wiring, lighting, batteries, sensors, and infotainment systems. They work to improve vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency by integrating advanced electrical and electronic technologies. Their role may also involve troubleshooting electrical issues, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and collaborating with other engineers to enhance vehicle functionality.

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

To thrive as an Automotive Electrical Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and vehicle electronics, typically accompanied by a relevant degree. Familiarity with industry-standard CAD software, diagnostic tools, and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) or ISO standards is highly beneficial. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication are standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities enable engineers to design reliable systems, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and address complex challenges in modern automotive development.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Automotive Electrical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Automotive Electrical Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,636 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Electrical Characterization Engineer - Automotive ECU

Aptino, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired 3 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Electrical Characterization Engineer – Automotive ECU

Location: Irvine, CA – Onsite

Duration: 12 Months

Job Type: Contract / C2C


About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Electrical Characterization Engineer to support the design verification and validation of automotive electronic control units (ECUs). This position will focus primarily on Zonal and Battery ECUs, with responsibility for developing test strategies, performing hands-on electrical characterization, analyzing test results, and supporting root-cause investigations.

The ideal candidate will have strong electrical engineering fundamentals, extensive experience with electronics characterization and validation, and hands-on experience using laboratory test equipment. Experience with automotive electrical systems, communication buses, Python scripting, and data analysis is highly desirable.


Key Responsibilities

  • Develop comprehensive design verification and characterization test plans for automotive ECU programs.
  • Plan and execute characterization testing according to project schedules and milestones.
  • Perform hands-on bench-level characterization and validation at the IC and PCBA levels.
  • Analyze test results and maintain test coverage reports to identify potential design or performance issues.
  • Work closely with electrical, hardware, firmware, reliability, and software engineers to improve product quality and testability.
  • Provide technical feedback to design teams regarding design decisions and Design for Testability (DFT).
  • Prepare and present DFT and characterization results to technical and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Manage characterization schedules and communicate testing progress, results, and risks to project leadership.
  • Develop basic Python scripts and instrumentation drivers to automate testing and improve laboratory efficiency.
  • Work with software and firmware teams to flash, test, and troubleshoot ECU firmware.
  • Investigate test failures and lead root-cause analysis of non-compliant results using electrical measurements and data analysis.
  • Document test procedures, results, issues, and recommendations in accordance with project and quality requirements.


Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 10+ years of experience in electronics characterization, validation, or design verification testing.
  • Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals and electronic circuits.
  • Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation such as:
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Digital multimeters (DMM)
  • Power supplies
  • Electronic loads
  • Other electrical measurement and test equipment
  • Working knowledge of automotive electrical systems and vehicle communication buses.
  • Experience with Python scripting and data analysis.
  • Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work effectively with hardware, firmware, software, reliability, and cross-functional engineering teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical findings clearly.


Preferred Experience

  • Experience with automotive ECUs, particularly Zonal or Battery Management System (BMS) ECUs.
  • Experience with PCBA-level testing and electrical characterization.
  • Familiarity with CAN, CANoe, CANalyzer, or other automotive communication tools.
  • Experience developing automated test setups and instrumentation interfaces.
  • Knowledge of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) or other automotive validation environments.

Apply