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Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Browserbase

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $190/hr

About the Role We are excited to hire a Design Engineer to architect the surfaces and interfaces that our developers touch every day. This is a hands‑on, high-impact role that blends creative ...

ACCO Engineered Systems

Design Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

This position is responsible for the delivery of engineering services, from conceptual design through construction completion ofHVAC, Plumbing, and other contract services offered by the business.

EnCore

Design Engineer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

With in-house design, engineering, and certification, we stay clearly ahead and deliver high-quality cabin components. We also support aftermarket upgrades with certified modification kits and ...

Authorium, Inc.

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

What a Design Engineer is at Authorium A Design Engineer at Authorium designs and ships. You take an idea from a rough concept to a polished, production interface running in front of real government ...

EnCore

Design Engineer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

With in-house design, engineering, and certification, we stay clearly ahead and deliver high-quality cabin components. We also support aftermarket upgrades with certified modification kits and ...

SupportFinity™

Design Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$90 - $110/hr

Design Engineer (Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc.; Torrance, California): Design, develop, integrate, and verify structures, components, mechanical systems, and assemblies through the product ...

Roblox

Design Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

As a Design Engineer on the Design Acceleration team, you'll be an individual contributor focused on evolving the systems and processes which power Roblox's design organization through scalable ...

Image Engineering

Mechanical Design Engineer

Valencia, CA · On-site

$77K - $104K/yr

Description Image Engineering was founded as a company that pushes boundaries, develops new ideas through design, engineering and fabrication, and is a leader in the visual display and special ...

Image Engineering

Mechanical Design Engineer

Valencia, CA · On-site

$77K - $104K/yr

Image Engineering was founded as a company that pushes boundaries, develops new ideas through design, engineering and fabrication, and is a leader in the visual display and special effects industry.

Dedalus Labs, Inc.

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Design Engineer @ Dedalus Labs Mission Dedalus Labs is an AI research neolab building infrastructure for AI agents. We are looking for a design engineer who wants to build the UI for the platform ...

Orthofix Holdings, Inc.

Design Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$78 - $90/hr

Job Purpose As a Design Engineer on our Product Development Team, you'll collaborate with other engineers and work cross‑functionally with Marketing, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to ...

Console Systems, Inc

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $350K/yr

The Role As a Design Engineer at Console, you'll be responsible for the touches that make our product feel like magic. You will work closely with the product and design, and build out the front-end ...

Chipton Ross

Design Engineer

Del Rey, CA · On-site

$71.92/hr

Job #219388 Chipton-Ross is seeking a Design Engineer for a contract opportunity in Grand Prairie, TX. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE) * Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree ...

Chipton Ross

Design Engineer

Del Rey, CA · On-site

$68.51/hr

Job #219361 Chipton-Ross is seeking a Design Engineer for a contract opportunity in Littleton/Waterton, CO. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE) * Experience supporting the technical ...

Infotech Sourcing

Design Engineer V

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Core Engineering - Design Engineer V Duration:6 months with possible extension Location: US - CA - Sunnyvale Hybrid Role: ASIC Power Engineer DUTIES ASIC Power Engineer to perform power analysis and ...

Celigo, Inc.

Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Celigo is looking for a Design Engineer to close the gap between design intent and production reality, and to build the systems that make that gap permanently smaller. This is the first Design ...

Infotech Sourcing

Design Engineer V

Sunnyvale, CA · Hybrid

Core Engineering - Design Engineer V Duration:6 months with possible extension Location: US - CA - Sunnyvale Hybrid Role: ASIC Power Engineer DUTIES ASIC Power Engineer to perform power analysis and ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsDesign Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Jobs in California

Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$40K

$87K

$156.4K

How much do design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for design engineer in California is $86,995.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design engineer?

Design engineers develop ideas for new products and determine ways to improve existing products. As a design engineer, you put a creative perspective on your technical engineering knowledge to perform your job duties, which include creating sketches of design ideas and using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to generate plans for prototypes. To ensure the product is viable, you also evaluate other aspects of the product design, such as safety, cost, sustainability, aesthetics, and user experience. You collaborate with a team of technicians and other engineers to run tests, troubleshoot problems, and ultimately produce a newly designed product.

What does a design engineer do?

A Design Engineer is responsible for creating and developing new products, systems, or structures by combining engineering principles with creative design. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce detailed drawings and specifications, working closely with other engineers and teams to ensure functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Design Engineers are involved in every stage of product development, from initial concept through prototyping, testing, and final production. Their work often requires problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly.

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

To thrive as a Design Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, CAD software proficiency, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and simulation software, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with teams and translating ideas into workable designs. These abilities ensure innovative, efficient, and manufacturable solutions that meet both technical and client requirements.

How does a design engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Design Engineers regularly work alongside teams such as manufacturing, quality assurance, and product management to ensure that designs are both innovative and feasible for production. Collaboration often involves participating in cross-functional meetings, reviewing prototypes, and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders. This teamwork is essential to address technical and practical challenges early in the design process, which ultimately helps in delivering a successful product to market. Strong communication and adaptability are key skills for thriving in this collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Design Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectDesign EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Design certifications often preferredBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license optional
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, CAD software, project planningManufacturing plants, labs, fieldwork, CAD and testing
Employer & Industry UsageProduct design firms, automotive, aerospace, consumer goodsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy sectors

Design Engineers focus on creating and developing product designs using CAD tools, while Mechanical Engineers often work on the broader application, testing, and manufacturing of mechanical systems. Both roles require engineering degrees, but Design Engineers typically emphasize design skills and software proficiency, whereas Mechanical Engineers may engage more in analysis and system integration.

What jobs can a design engineer do?

A design engineer creates and develops new products, systems, or structures across industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing. They use CAD software, perform simulations, and collaborate with teams to ensure functionality and safety. Design engineers often work in research and development, product design, or process improvement roles.
More about Design Engineer jobs

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

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

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For Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Design Engineer jobs in CA?

For Design Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,995 per year, or $41.8 per hour.

Design Engineer

Browserbase

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$150 - $190/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

About Browserbase

Browserbase is the complete platform to build and deploy agents that browse and interact with the web like humans. We provide one API key for agents to search and fetch information, fill out forms, and replicate user actions. We run 35M+ sessions/month for 10,000+ customers including Ramp, Shopify, Lovable, Vercel, and Notion.

We're a Series B startup that's tripled our headcount in 2 years, and are continuing to grow, fast. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, CRV, and Notable Capital, our team is building on our CEO's founding vision to power the world's best AI tools and help everyone automate the web.

About the Role

We are excited to hire a Design Engineer to architect the surfaces and interfaces that our developers touch every day. This is a hands‑on, high-impact role that blends creative design thinking with front‑end engineering.

You’ll partner closely with engineering, product, and our growing design team to define how a category-defining developer platform should look and feel.

What you’ll do

  • Design and ship product experiences. Lead design across our platform product with two other design engineers

  • Build with modern tools: Develop responsive, accessible, and interactive product experiences using React, Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.

  • Bridge design & code: Work in Figma and code to translate visual concepts into high-quality, interactive experiences and prototypes.

  • Elevate quality: Raise the bar on craft and consistency, shipping visible, tasteful work that makes Browserbase feel top‑of‑class.

  • Shape systems: Establish and maintain a reusable design system of components and patterns that scale with the team.

  • Collaborate deeply: Partner with designers, engineers, growth, and product leads to own projects from concept to launch.

What makes us different

  • Ship the best design work of your career. Craft is a first‑class priority. Work next to designers who obsess over the details, and ship work you're truly proud of.

  • Design surfaces that millions of agents hit. From the dashboard to the SDK, your work is the front door for thousands of developers building agents.

  • Small enough that you matter. We are an early‑stage team of ~60 people where your work has a direct and immediate impact on our product.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of product design experience at a high‑growth startup.

  • A portfolio demonstrating strong systems thinking and end‑to‑end ownership, from IA to visual detail.

  • Strong prototyping fluency across interaction, visual detail, and motion.

  • A track record of building internal tooling or systems that leveled up the teams around you.

  • Exceptional sense of visual craft with deep attention to typography, hierarchy, and UI.

  • Low‑ego, high‑ownership mindset with a track record of shipping in tight collaboration with engineering.

  • You enjoy collaborating with a small, ambitious team in a fast‑paced environment.

  • You're excited to work 4 days a week in our San Francisco HQ (or open to relocating).

Bonus Points

  • Experience designing for developer tools, infrastructure products, or technical platforms.

  • Front‑end fluency with React, Next.js, or Tailwind to prototype directly in code.

  • Founder or early‑stage operator experience.

Perks & Benefits

  • Competitive salary + meaningful early‑stage equity

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents

  • Optional 401(k)

  • Daily catered lunches with a fully‑stocked kitchen

  • Beautiful office in downtown San Francisco

  • Unlimited credits for Cursor, Claude, or any AI tool you want

  • Regular team off‑sites and company events

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