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Computer Networking Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

China Telecom Americas

Network Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Network Engineer provides support for conducting maintenance operations and ensure the upholding of ... Solid knowledge of computer networking, telecommunications and data center environment requirements.

KORE1 Technologies

Network Engineer

Oxnard, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Computer Networking, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent work experience). * 5+ years of hands-on experience in enterprise network engineering or ...

KORE1 Technologies

Network Engineer

Oxnard, CA · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Networking, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent work experience). * 5+ years of hands-on experience in enterprise network engineering or ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsComputer Networking Engineer JobsComputer Networking Engineer Jobs in California

Computer Networking Engineer information

See California salary details

$47.9K

$119.9K

$135.7K

How much do computer networking engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for computer networking engineer in California is $119,924.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $129,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior computer networking engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in network architecture, security, and certifications like CCIE or CISSP can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or within large corporations. Such roles often involve leadership, complex system design, and 24/7 operational responsibilities.

What does a computer network engineer do?

A computer network engineer designs, implements, manages, and maintains computer networks such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. They troubleshoot network issues, optimize performance, and ensure security using tools like routers, switches, and firewalls, often holding certifications like Cisco CCNA or CompTIA Network+.

Are network engineers highly paid?

Network engineers typically earn competitive salaries due to their specialized skills in designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. Salaries vary based on experience, certifications, and location, but they are generally above average compared to many other IT roles.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior computer networking engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in network architecture, and industry certifications such as CCIE can earn $300,000 or more annually. These roles often involve managing large-scale networks, working in high-demand environments, and may include leadership responsibilities.

What is the difference between Computer Networking Engineer vs Network Administrator?

AspectComputer Networking EngineerNetwork Administrator
CertificationsCCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Network+CCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentDesigning, implementing, and testing network solutionsManaging and maintaining existing network infrastructure
ResponsibilitiesDeveloping network architecture, troubleshooting complex issuesMonitoring network performance, configuring devices, user support

While both roles involve working with networks, Computer Networking Engineers focus on designing and building network systems, whereas Network Administrators manage and maintain those networks on a daily basis. The roles often overlap, but the engineer's role is more project-based and technical, while the administrator handles ongoing operations.

What cities in California are hiring for Computer Networking Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Computer Networking Engineer job openings:
Computer Networking Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Computer Networking Engineer job openings in California as of June 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 $119,924 per year, or $57.7 per hour.

Optical Networking Engineer

Mesh Optical Technologies

Gardena, CA • On-site

$132K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Location: Gardena, CA
Mesh Optical Technologies was founded on the belief that optical photons will be at the center of advanced technologies in the coming century. Making advanced technology ubiquitous means building at scale, and that's exactly what we're doing at Mesh.
We're seeking an Optical Networking Engineer to lead the network-level design of our optical interconnect solutions - trading network architectures, evaluating routing and switching hardware, and engineering signal performance across customer fabrics, then carrying those designs through validation and deployment. This is a role for an engineer who can reason from the topology down to the link, weigh hardware trade-offs across switch, NIC, and optical platforms, and translate a design into the documentation that makes it deployable at scale.
Responsibilities
  • Trade and evaluate network architectures and interconnect topologies to guide how Mesh optical hardware is designed into and optimized across customer networks
  • Design end-to-end optical interconnect solutions at the network level, specifying transceivers, fiber plant, cabling, and link configurations to meet reach, bandwidth, latency, and performance targets
  • Conduct routing and switching hardware trade studies, evaluating switch, router, and NIC platforms across radix, port speed, and fabric scaling to inform interconnect design decisions
  • Own network-level signal and optical performance, including link budgets, modulation-format trade-offs (NRZ, PAM4), BER/OSNR/OMA, receiver sensitivity, and FEC margin across the deployed link
  • Model and analyze link and channel performance to predict behavior across topologies and operating conditions, and use those results to drive design and deployment choices
  • Develop comprehensive deployment documentation - interconnect design guides, commissioning checklists, integration and application notes, and field service procedures that enable repeatable, high-quality deployments as the customer base scales
  • Define and execute characterization, interoperability, and qualification test plans validating optical link performance within Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other high-speed interconnect architectures, including switch and NIC platforms from major vendors
  • Lead bring-up, link validation, and acceptance testing of Mesh optical hardware in the lab and on-site within customer network environments
  • Diagnose and resolve hardware, firmware, software, and link-level issues across optical, electrical, and firmware boundaries, including optical power and signal-quality troubleshooting, module register debug, host interface bring-up, and system-level fault isolation
  • Support module management interface bring-up and debug, including CMIS configuration, diagnostics page interpretation, and firmware update workflows
  • Support pre-deployment site readiness assessments, including review of customer network topology, infrastructure requirements, and interface specifications
  • Capture field issues, failure modes, and customer feedback with sufficient technical detail to enable root-cause investigation, and feed lessons learned back into design and process improvements
  • Develop diagnostic tools, scripts, and utilities that accelerate troubleshooting and reduce time-to-resolution
  • Collaborate with optical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams to drive resolution of field-discovered issues and feed learnings into product and process improvements
  • Support product qualification, early field trials, and interoperability testing for new products
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in electrical engineering, optical engineering, photonics, computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline
  • 2+ years of experience in optical networking, network or interconnect design, system integration, test, or a closely related hands-on role
  • Working knowledge of network architectures and high-speed interconnect fabrics, including topology trade-offs and scaling considerations across Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other high-speed protocols
  • Working knowledge of optical networking and link design fundamentals, including transceiver operation, link budgets, modulation formats (NRZ, PAM4), and common optical performance metrics (BER, OSNR, OMA, receiver sensitivity)
  • Familiarity with routing and switching hardware - switches, routers, and NICs - and how radix, port speed, and fabric design affect interconnect choices
  • Familiarity with optical module management interfaces and standards, including CMIS and associated diagnostic and configuration workflows
  • Software and scripting proficiency sufficient to model link performance, write diagnostic tools, parse logs, automate test sequences, and interface with hardware
  • Strong lab and debugging skills, including comfort with instrumentation (oscilloscopes, optical power meters, BERTs, optical spectrum analyzers) and the ability to trace issues across optical, electrical, and firmware boundaries
  • Ability to develop clear, repeatable technical documentation that enables deployment at scale
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently in unstructured environments, triage problems under time pressure, and drive issues to resolution with limited resources
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document technical issues clearly and communicate effectively with both engineering peers and customer network operations teams
  • Willingness to travel for deployments and field trials (estimated 25%), with occasional extended hours as deployments require
Preferred Experience
  • Experience designing data center or HPC network fabrics, including topology trade studies and fabric scaling analysis
  • Experience conducting hardware trade studies across switch, router, NIC, and optical platforms
  • Experience with link-budget modeling, channel modeling, or optical/RF simulation tools
  • Familiarity with PAM4 DSP, FEC, and signal-integrity considerations at high data rates
  • Experience designing or characterizing optical transceivers, optical engines, or optical interconnects
  • Deep familiarity with pluggable optical module standards and form factors
  • Experience with CMIS implementation, module firmware development or debug, and diagnostic monitoring (DDM/DOM)
  • Experience validating optical transceiver interoperability across switch, NIC, and host platforms from major vendors
  • Familiarity with data center network topologies, fabric architectures, and high-radix switch deployments
  • Experience with embedded systems debug, including firmware flashing and serial console troubleshooting (JTAG, UART, I2C, SPI)
  • Experience with optical test equipment and methods, including tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, receiver sensitivity testing, and OTDRs for fiber plant characterization
  • Familiarity with relevant IEEE and OIF standards (e.g., 802.3, OIF CEI, CAUI)
  • Experience with Linux system administration, command-line troubleshooting, and network configuration and diagnostics
  • Experience in a field engineering, field applications, or customer-facing technical role supporting optical networking hardware
Compensation and Benefits
Pay range - Optical Networking Engineer: $110,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Title and base salary are determined on a case-by-case basis commensurate with experience and merit.
In addition to base salary, compensation for this role includes:
  • Eligibility for long-term incentives including company stock options and discretionary bonuses awarded for exceptional achievements
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance with significant cost covered by the company for yourself and dependents
  • Paid parental leave and flexible PTO (3 weeks accrued vacation and 10 company holidays per year)
  • 401(k) retirement plan access
  • Relocation assistance to sunny Los Angeles

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