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Automotive Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Insilico

Linux Automotive Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Linux Automotive Engineer Location: San Diego, CA Duration: 6+ Months You will be joining Automotive Applications Engineering team, working on triaging, debugging, reproducing software failures on ...

Insilico

Linux Automotive Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Linux Automotive Engineer Location: San Diego, CA Duration: 6+ Months You will be joining Automotive Applications Engineering team, working on triaging, debugging, reproducing software failures on ...

Rocklin Automotive

Automotive Technician

Rocklin, CA · On-site

$38 - $45/hr

Automotive Service Excellence/ASE certification or Society of Automotive Engineers/SAE certification is preferred * Strong customer service and communications skills are required

Rocklin Automotive

Automotive Technician

Rocklin, CA · On-site

$38 - $45/hr

Automotive Service Excellence/ASE certification or Society of Automotive Engineers/SAE certification is preferred * Strong customer service and communications skills are required

Rocklin Automotive

Automotive Technician

Rocklin, CA · On-site

$38 - $45/hr

Automotive Service Excellence/ASE certification or Society of Automotive Engineers/SAE certification is preferred * Strong customer service and communications skills are required

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All JobsAutomotive Engineer JobsAutomotive Engineer Jobs in California

Automotive Engineer information

See California salary details

$28

$34

$50

How much do automotive engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for automotive engineer in California is $34.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.62 and $34.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Automotive Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering principles, problem-solving skills, and a relevant degree in automotive or mechanical engineering. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and knowledge of industry standards such as ISO and SAE, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), are typically required. Strong teamwork, effective communication, and adaptability help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and respond to rapidly changing technologies. These skills ensure successful vehicle design, compliance with safety standards, and innovation in a competitive automotive market.

What does an automotive engineer do?

Automotive engineers design, develop, and test the mechanical components and subsystems of vehicles. As an automotive engineer, you may be asked to create engineering specifications, conduct design reviews, provide technical direction to other staff, modify existing parts in a lab, or perform various analyses. In some cases, automotive engineers perform emergency tests and checks to search for manufacturing defects and decide whether or not a recall should be ordered.

What does an automotive engineer do?

An automotive engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing vehicles and their subsystems. They work on improving the performance, safety, and efficiency of cars, trucks, and other automobiles. Their work often involves collaborating with other engineers to create new technologies, address regulatory requirements, and solve engineering challenges in vehicle production. Automotive engineers may specialize in areas such as structural design, electronics, or powertrain systems.

What are some common challenges automotive engineers face when working on new vehicle models?

Automotive engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing innovative design with strict safety and regulatory standards. They must also work within tight project timelines and budget constraints, all while ensuring that new technologies are both reliable and manufacturable at scale. Collaboration across multidisciplinary teams—including designers, software specialists, and manufacturing engineers—is essential to address issues such as integration of electronics, fuel efficiency, and sustainability. Navigating these complexities requires strong problem-solving skills and adaptability.

What is the difference between Automotive Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectAutomotive EngineerMechanical Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Automotive, or related fields; possibly certifications like SAE or ASEBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; professional engineer (PE) license optional
Work EnvironmentAutomotive manufacturing plants, R&D labs, design studiosFactories, design offices, research labs across various industries
Industry UsageAutomotive industry focus on vehicle design, testing, and productionBroad industry application including aerospace, manufacturing, energy, and more

Automotive Engineers specialize in vehicle design, testing, and manufacturing within the automotive industry, often requiring specific automotive certifications. Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope, working across multiple industries with similar foundational skills. Both roles share core engineering principles but differ in industry focus and application.

More about Automotive Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Automotive Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Automotive Engineer jobs in California? For Automotive Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Automotive Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Automotive Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Automotive Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Automotive Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Automotive Engineer jobs in CA? For Automotive Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Automotive Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Automotive Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,471 per year, or $34.4 per hour.

Linux Automotive Engineer

Insilico

San Diego, CA • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Insilico is an End-to-End specialized VLSI, Embedded Design & Software services and solutions company. It operates in the "Compute" & "Connectivity" space.
Insilico is founded by industry veterans, who are strong leaders and practitioners with diverse experience in all the relevant aspects of technology and execution. The management and its entire team, handpicked from among the best talents in the industry, can adapt to the evolving technologies and growing market challenges internationally. Insilico has very flexible business models to suit a plethora of client needs.
With a current clientele of top semiconductor companies, Insilico has a wide and diversified spectrum of service offerings in expansive domains within the ambit of Embedded Design & Software, and in almost all areas of VLSI design, from Spec-to-Silicon, on a wide range of ASICs & CPUs/GPUs in all the latest technologies, including 7nm.
Being an integral part of a larger business eco-system, Insilico has the foundation of strong financials, validated processes, robust infrastructure and a global network of reputable clientele.
Insilico's service portfolio caters to products that empower the world of Communication, Networking, CPU/Servers, Automobile, Bio-Medicals, Consumer Electronics and a wide range of IOTs.
Headquartered in the US, it has operations in India & APAC.
Job Description
Job Role: Linux Automotive Engineer
Location: San Diego, CA
Duration: 6+ Months
Job Description:
You will be joining Automotive Applications Engineering team, working on triaging, debugging, reproducing software failures on Android on the chipset family. - Triaging software failures reported by Customers on the Android software stack - Documenting application notes for Customers on key features, design -Measure, Verify KPI benchmarks for Automotive features - Identifying, verifying and delivering fixes for the software failures
Qualifications
  • Linux and android exp is a must
  • Proven ability and interest in debugging complex embedded software systems
  • Strong background in Computer Science and fundamentals of debugging embedded software
  • Working knowledge of C, C++ and Java
  • Strong ability to solve problems in a non-linear fashion
  • Prior experience with Android and/or MSM software platforms
  • Proven ability to develop and debug Android applications
  • Experience with git and build systems (like Android, Portage, etc)
  • Experience with Multimedia sub systems like Graphics,Display,Audio,Video is a plus
  • Experience in bootloaders,Linux kernel and driver architecture is a plus
  • Experience in Multimedia Frameworks,OpenGL,OpenMax is a plus

Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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