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Contract Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California

3B Staffing LLC

Electrical Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Successfully completing engineering work in electrical design remediation, product design refinement, preparation of specifications, test method validation, and report preparation. * Assessing the ...

TekWissen LLC

Electrical Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$30 - $40/hr

Position :      Electrical Design Engineer Location :      Santa Clara, CA 95054 Duration :      6 Months Job Type :       Temporary Assignment  Work Type ...

3B Staffing LLC

Electrical Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Successfully completing engineering work in electrical design remediation, product design refinement, preparation of specifications, test method validation, and report preparation. * Assessing the ...

Vast

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$137K - $195K/yr

Vast is looking for a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics, reporting to the Director, Avionics, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of ...

Charge Robotics

Electrical Design Engineer

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$165K - $220K/yr

As an Electrical Design Engineer at Charge Robotics, you'll be designing and implementing the electrical systems that power our robotic factory, playing a direct role in deploying gigawatts of clean ...

Amca

Electrical Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

... test engineers to bring your products to life. Responsibilities: * Own design and prototyping of new electrical hardware * Work with customers to understand end-use applications and challenge ...

Matic

Electrical Design Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

We're looking for a Electrical Design Engineer to join us on the ground floor, with runway for huge ... Supply chain management and PCBA contract manufacturing experience * Comfort with fast-paced ...

Apple

Display Electrical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

As a Display Electrical Design Engineer, you'll create cutting-edge mobile display modules, setting new standards for performance, quality, and reliability. Your contributions will directly shape the ...

Lightmatter

Electrical Design Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$149K - $206K/yr

Work with component vendors, contract manufacturers, and other partners * Research new components ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and 5+ years of related experience; or Master's Degree ...

Apple

Display Electrical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

As a Display Electrical Design Engineer, you will drive projects, from concept phase, all the way through engineering builds, and into volume manufacturing. You will work with internal and external ...

KLA Corporation

Electrical Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline. * 3+ years of hands-on electrical engineering experience. * Strong foundation in analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power circuit design.

Orbotech

Electrical Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline. * 3+ years of experience designing and developing electronic hardware products. * Experience with mixed-signal circuit design ...

KLA Corporation

Electrical Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline. * 3+ years of hands-on electrical engineering experience. * Strong foundation in analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power circuit design.

Apple

Display Electrical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

As a Display Electrical Design Engineer, you will drive projects, from concept phase, all the way through engineering builds, and into volume manufacturing. You will work with internal and external ...

Amca

Electrical Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$105K - $135K/yr

Mentor early career mechanical engineers * Assist with recruiting mechanical engineers and building the mechanical engineering team at Amca Qualifications: * Experience with electrical design ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsContract Electrical Design Engineer JobsContract Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California

Contract Electrical Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$55.5K

$105.9K

$159.2K

How much do contract electrical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract electrical design engineer in California is $105,901.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,100.00 and $122,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by contract electrical design engineers, and how can they be managed effectively?

Contract electrical design engineers often face challenges such as rapidly adapting to new project requirements, learning unfamiliar software or standards, and integrating into existing teams. To manage these effectively, it's important to maintain strong communication with project managers and team members, proactively seek clarification on project specifications, and stay updated on industry standards. Being adaptable and having a structured approach to documentation and design reviews can also help ensure smooth project delivery and successful collaboration.

What is the difference between Contract Electrical Design Engineer vs Electrical Project Engineer?

AspectContract Electrical Design EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, relevant certifications (e.g., PE)Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, project management certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, client sites, freelance or contract basisConstruction sites, project offices, company-employed
Industry UsageConsulting firms, engineering contractors, freelance projectsConstruction firms, industrial plants, infrastructure projects
Job FocusDesign, drafting, specifications, and technical calculationsProject planning, coordination, execution, and oversight

The Contract Electrical Design Engineer primarily focuses on designing electrical systems and specifications, often working on a contractual basis. In contrast, the Electrical Project Engineer manages project execution, coordination, and delivery. Both roles require electrical engineering credentials but differ in scope and work environment.

What is a contract electrical design engineer?

Contract Electrical Design Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test electrical systems and components for various projects, typically on a temporary or project-based contract. They often work for engineering firms, manufacturers, or directly with clients, providing expertise in circuit design, schematics, and compliance with relevant regulations. These engineers may be involved in sectors like construction, automotive, aerospace, or electronics, and their contract status allows companies to hire specialized talent as needed for specific projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract electrical design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Electrical Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering principles, experience with circuit design, and typically a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD or Altium Designer, as well as familiarity with industry standards and possibly a Professional Engineer (PE) license, is often required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication make candidates stand out in this project-based role. These skills ensure precise, efficient designs that meet client specifications and industry regulations, which is critical for project success and client satisfaction.

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Contract Electrical Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Contract Electrical Design Engineer job openings:

Contract Electrical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Electrical Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,901 per year, or $50.9 per hour.

Electrical Design Engineer

Lightmatter

Mountain View, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

About this Role

In this role, you will contribute to the development of board and system solutions that leverage Lightmatter's technology to enable advanced machine learning, artificial intelligence, and large-scale interconnect platforms. You will collaborate closely with teams across hardware and software to design, bring up, and validate system-level products.

Responsibilities
  • Design and develop power, control, mixed-signal, and high-speed interconnect circuits to meet system requirements
  • Apply SI/PI, DfX, and industry best practices to meet performance and quality needs
  • Perform board bring-up, verification, integration, and troubleshooting
  • Develop and execute test plans to characterize and validate board and system performance
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams from concept design through integration and production
  • Work with component vendors, contract manufacturers, and other partners
  • Research new components, processes, and technologies to meet product goals
  • Contribute to design reviews and maintain documentation including design notes, test reports, and specifications
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and 5+ years of related experience; or Master's Degree with 3+ years of related experience
  • Proficient in schematic design using Altium or equivalent (Altium preferred)
  • Experience performing lab experiments, board bring-up, tests, and analysis
  • Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management processes and tools (Arena preferred)
Preferred Qualifications
  • Familiarity with electrical systems in the networking or similar industries
  • Experience with common design, manufacturing, and test processes
  • Experience with cross-functional development and troubleshooting
  • Familiarity with signal integrity (SI), power integrity (PI), and DfX considerations
  • Experience with high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, or SerDes
  • Experience with Python or scripting languages for test automation and lab tooling

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