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Concept Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms ...

... engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms ...

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll: sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Senior Packaging Engineer Direct Reports: None Role Objectives: Working with cross functional ... from concept and costing through to manufacturing. The role will require you to ensure product ...

Senior Packaging Engineer Direct Reports: None Role Objectives: Working with cross functional ... from concept and costing through to manufacturing. The role will require you to ensure product ...

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Cross-functional engineering collaboration from concept through production * Customer technical support and design reviews Essential Functions Product Design & Engineering * Design composite ...

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Cross-functional engineering collaboration from concept through production * Customer technical support and design reviews Essential Functions Product Design & Engineering * Design composite ...

Sr. Project Engineer

Orange, CA · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Lead engineering projects from concept through production, ensuring successful execution across cost, schedule, and technical objectives * Manage new product development and customer-driven product ...

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Cross-functional engineering collaboration from concept through production * Customer technical support and design reviews Essential Functions Product Design & Engineering * Design composite ...

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Showing results 1-20

Concept Engineer information

See California salary details

$37.5K

$114.3K

$189K

How much do concept engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept engineer in California is $114,347.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $149,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Concept Engineer?

As a Concept Engineer, your daily responsibilities often include brainstorming and developing new product concepts, creating CAD models and prototypes, and evaluating the feasibility of design ideas in collaboration with R&D, marketing, and manufacturing teams. You'll conduct research to stay up-to-date with industry trends and materials, participate in regular design review meetings, and document your concepts to guide subsequent engineering stages. The work environment is usually project-based and highly collaborative, offering plenty of opportunities to innovate and see your ideas evolve into real-world products. This role is ideal for those who enjoy both hands-on technical tasks and creative problem-solving within a team setting.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial positions, or possessing rare expertise and certifications.

What is a Concept Engineer job?

A Concept Engineer is responsible for developing, evaluating, and refining early-stage product or system concepts. They bridge the gap between initial ideas and detailed engineering, focusing on feasibility, innovation, and design optimization. Their role often involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, conducting research, and utilizing simulations or prototypes to validate concepts. Concept Engineers work in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing to create innovative solutions before full-scale development begins.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software, petroleum, aerospace, and electrical engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Roles requiring specialized knowledge, leadership, or management responsibilities tend to have higher compensation levels.

What does a concept engineer do?

A concept engineer develops and evaluates innovative ideas and designs for new products or systems, focusing on feasibility and functionality. They often use modeling tools, collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, and ensure concepts meet technical and customer requirements during early development stages.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. High-level roles typically require extensive experience, advanced skills, and sometimes leadership responsibilities or working in high-paying industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Concept Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Concept Engineer, you need strong problem-solving abilities, a background in engineering or industrial design, and a solid grasp of product development processes. Familiarity with CAD software, rapid prototyping tools, and project management systems is typically required, and certifications like Six Sigma or PMP can be beneficial. Effective collaboration, creativity, and communication skills help Concept Engineers excel in cross-functional teams and translate abstract ideas into actionable solutions. These skills are crucial for successfully taking innovative concepts from the drawing board to market-ready designs within fast-paced product development environments.

What are popular job titles related to Concept Engineer jobs in California? For Concept Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Concept Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Concept Engineer jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Concept Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,347 per year, or $55 per hour.
Concept Prototyping Engineer

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 675 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Next Gen Computing (NGC) develops new concepts and capabilities for Apple products. The team brings expertise in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms distributed to dozens of internal users for longer durations, we can take an exploration as far as needed to enable our colleagues and stakeholders to get a hands-on feel for an experience instead of just an idea. We work across a variety of product lines and work regularly with engineering, design, and human factors functions to realize our work as clearly as possible. Our team offers a unique opportunity to inform the future of Apple products.
Description
Next Gen Computing team is looking for a highly motivated, creative, and design-sensitive product prototyping engineer to join our team to help build functional prototypes. In this role, you will be building functional, integrated prototypes and platforms that bring new concepts to life and generating the knowledge that helps Apple make informed decisions about what to build next.
You will help the team to move from a sketched concept to a hands-on integrated prototype with an eye for experience quality and reliability. These prototypes are meant to be used and shared among Apple stakeholders, so a relentless attention to user-facing functionality is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Strong foundation in product design with sensitivity to industrial design, experience working with 3D and 2D CAD
Experience with fabrication tools and processes
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a technically equivalent field
3+ years of product design/prototyping experience
Preferred Qualifications
A portfolio demonstrating earlier work/ideas
5+ years of product design/prototyping experience
MS/PhD in a related field
Ability to evolve demonstration prototypes into stable platforms for extended testing and evaluation
Ability to work with a variety of disciplines including industrial designers, experience designers, and software, hardware, and product development engineers
A passion for doing the best possible work, with the ability to balance speed with fidelity
Independent, self-starter, with good interpersonal skills.
Excellent storytelling and communication skills

What Apple employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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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