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Cellular Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Cellular PHY Systems Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$171K - $302K/yr

Description As a Cellular System Engineer, you will be responsible for the pre- and post-silicon bring up, and validation of end-to-end cellular systems. You will understand and map systems ...

Apple

Cellular DevOps Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$56 - $76.75/hr

This position requires close collaboration with our system engineers, firmware engineers, engineering CAD, and system verification/integration engineers. Minimum requirement of a bachelors degree.

Apple

Cellular Data & Automation Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$120K - $210K/yr

As a Cellular Data & Automation Engineer, you will be at the center of the embedded 5G/4G/multimode cellular firmware effort within a silicon design group responsible for designing and productizing ...

Apple

Cellular Data & Automation Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$120K - $210K/yr

As a Cellular Data & Automation Engineer, you will be at the center of the embedded 5G/4G/multimode cellular firmware effort within a silicon design group responsible for designing and productizing ...

Apple

Cellular DevOps Engineer

San Diego, CA

$120K - $210K/yr

This position requires close collaboration with our system engineers, firmware engineers, engineering CAD, and system verification/integration engineers.","responsibilities":"Responsible for tools ...

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All JobsCellular Engineer JobsCellular Engineer Jobs in California

Cellular Engineer information

See California salary details

$72K

$127.8K

$245.7K

How much do cellular engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for cellular engineer in California is $127,815.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,700.00 and $132,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior-level engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and certain electrical or aerospace engineering roles can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. These positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and leadership responsibilities.

What are Cellular Engineers?

Cellular Engineers are professionals who design, implement, and maintain wireless communication networks, specifically those that use cellular technology such as 4G and 5G. They work on optimizing network performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring reliable coverage for mobile devices. Their responsibilities often include planning cell tower locations, upgrading hardware and software, and collaborating with other engineers to improve network efficiency. Cellular Engineers play a crucial role in enabling the seamless connectivity that supports modern mobile communications.

What is the difference between Cellular Engineer vs Wireless Network Engineer?

AspectCellular EngineerWireless Network Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related field, certifications like Cisco CCNA, LTE certificationsBachelor's in Telecommunications, certifications like CWNA, Cisco CCNA Wireless
Work EnvironmentTelecom companies, network providers, infrastructure sitesIT firms, service providers, enterprise network setups
Industry UsageDesign, optimize, and maintain cellular networks (LTE, 5G)Design, implement, and troubleshoot wireless LANs and Wi-Fi networks

While both roles focus on wireless communication, Cellular Engineers specialize in cellular networks like LTE and 5G, whereas Wireless Network Engineers focus on Wi-Fi and local wireless networks. Both require similar certifications and often work in related environments, but their specific technical expertise and network types differ.

How much do cell engineers get paid?

Cellular engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $110,000, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers or those in high-demand areas can earn higher salaries, often with opportunities for overtime and bonuses.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cellular Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cellular Engineer, you need a strong background in telecommunications engineering, wireless communications, and network optimization, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with tools such as RF planning software, drive test equipment, and certifications like CCNA or 5G-related credentials is typical. Excellent problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective collaboration skills help you address complex network issues and communicate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure reliable cellular network performance, user satisfaction, and successful deployment of evolving wireless technologies.

What are some common challenges Cellular Engineers face when working on network optimization projects?

Cellular Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing coverage and capacity, minimizing dropped calls, and adapting network parameters to fluctuating user demand. They may need to troubleshoot interference issues, integrate new technologies like 5G, and coordinate upgrades with minimal service disruption. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including RF engineers, software developers, and field technicians, is essential to address these challenges efficiently and ensure optimal network performance.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior-level engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and certain aerospace engineering roles can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies with competitive compensation packages.

What does a cellular engineer do?

A cellular engineer designs, develops, and maintains wireless communication systems, including cellular networks and infrastructure. They work with radio frequency technology, network protocols, and equipment to ensure reliable mobile connectivity, often using tools like spectrum analyzers and network simulators. The role typically requires knowledge of telecommunications standards and may involve field testing and troubleshooting.
What are popular job titles related to Cellular Engineer jobs in California? For Cellular Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Cellular Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cellular Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Cellular Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Cellular Engineer job openings:
Cellular Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cellular Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $127,815 per year, or $61.4 per hour.
Cellular RF Receiver Systems Engineer

Cellular RF Receiver Systems Engineer

Apple

Sunnyvale, CA

$181K - $318K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 27 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Apple’s RF System Engineering team is seeking a motivated and talented RF engineer to optimize Cellular RF Receiver architectures. In this role, you will architect and deliver wireless solutions for Apple products, working on today's 5G New Radio and pioneering the path to 6G. You will have a unique opportunity to work on the core technologies that enable an outstanding wireless experience for millions of customers worldwide.
Description
As a key member of our industry-leading team, you will drive the optimization of our RF receiver architectures. You will influence and collaborate with RF circuit design, platform architecture, and software engineering teams to implement performance enhancing concepts that deliver uncompromising performance and quality.","responsibilities":"You will analyze the full RF system and identify RF performance impairment dependencies and crosstalk risks.
You will define requirements for interference suppression performance and drive validation objectives.
You will define and implement interference mitigation strategies and multi-radio performance enhancement tools to leading-edge cellular solutions.
Work with other teams to drive the concept-to-product journey, ensuring successful integration, validation, and optimization of receiver enhancements from the architectural phase through to mass production.
Preferred Qualifications
MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
Minimum 2 years of experience in Radio Receiver design and optimization.
Understanding of Cellular system use cases, transmit/receive interactions, and coexistence challenges in complex consumer electronics.
Experience applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) to enhance multi-objective optimization of RF performance.
Familiarity with modern digital modem architectures.
Familiarity with RFIC design and layout considerations.
Minimum Qualifications
BS and 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
Demonstrated System Engineering experience with complex Cellular RF systems, with expertise in state-of-art receiver architectures.
Demonstrated ability to influence and drive innovation and execution across an organization.
Understanding of RF line-up analysis for modern receiver architectures.
Theoretical and practical understanding of RF system performance metrics and their direct impact on overall system performance.
Understanding of 3GPP standards with focus on RF requirements and physical layer procedures.
Proficiency in using MATLAB and Python for RF system modelling and simulations.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to diverse, cross-functional global teams.
Experience with lab bring-up, system calibration, and debugging RF hardware.
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $181,100 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

What Apple employees say

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Benefits

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Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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