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Design Quality Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Associate Design Quality Engineer

Temecula, CA ยท On-site

$50K - $101K/yr

Job Title Associate Design Quality Engineer Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You'll ...

Associate Design Quality Engineer

Temecula, CA ยท On-site

$50K - $101K/yr

Job Title Associate Design Quality Engineer Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You'll ...

Senior Design Quality Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$103K - $145K/yr

Job TitleSenior Design Quality Engineer In this role you Will be part of a team that is excited by the unique professional challenges that our Quality Transformation presents, has strong technical ...

Senior Design Quality Engineer - Irvine

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $128K/yr

As a voice of the patient, Design Quality Engineers at Medtronic go well beyond meeting internal and external requirements; they actively integrate into the design team and personally contribute to ...

Senior Design Quality Engineer - Irvine

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $128K/yr

As a voice of the patient, Design Quality Engineers at Medtronic go well beyond meeting internal and external requirements; they actively integrate into the design team and personally contribute to ...

Senior Design Quality Engineer - Irvine

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $128K/yr

As a voice of the patient, Design Quality Engineers at Medtronic go well beyond meeting internal and external requirements; they actively integrate into the design team and personally contribute to ...

Senior Design Quality Engineer

Long Beach, CA ยท On-site

$93K - $120K/yr

The Senior Design Quality Engineer is responsible for research, product development, and sustaining engineering documentation. What you'll do: Primary Responsibilities: * Ensure R&D and other ...

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Design Quality Engineer information

See California salary details

$18

$46

$69

How much do design quality engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for design quality engineer in California is $46.57, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.17 and $55.77 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design quality engineer?

Design Quality Engineers are professionals who ensure that products are developed and manufactured according to quality standards and regulatory requirements. They work closely with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to identify potential risks, implement quality controls, and validate product designs. Their goal is to make sure that products are safe, effective, and meet customer expectations before they are released to the market.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design quality engineer?

To thrive as a Design Quality Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, quality assurance methodologies, and a relevant degree such as mechanical or electrical engineering. Familiarity with standards like ISO 13485 or ISO 9001, proficiency in tools such as FMEA, risk analysis software, and statistical analysis platforms like Minitab are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure that products meet regulatory requirements, maintain high quality standards, and minimize risk throughout the design and development process.

How does a design quality engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during product development?

As a Design Quality Engineer, you work closely with teams such as R&D, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and supply chain throughout the product development lifecycle. Your primary role is to ensure quality standards are integrated from the initial concept through to product launch. This often involves participating in design reviews, facilitating risk assessments like FMEA, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as you'll help bridge gaps between design intent and manufacturability to ensure a smooth transition to production.

What is the difference between Design Quality Engineer vs Manufacturing Quality Engineer?

AspectDesign Quality EngineerManufacturing Quality Engineer
Primary FocusEnsuring product design meets quality standards and specifications during developmentMonitoring and improving quality in manufacturing processes and final products
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, R&D departments, product development teamsProduction lines, manufacturing plants, quality control departments
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Quality certifications (e.g., CQE), knowledge of design standardsBachelor's in Engineering or Manufacturing, Quality certifications, process improvement skills

Design Quality Engineers focus on product design and development to prevent defects early, while Manufacturing Quality Engineers concentrate on maintaining quality during production. Both roles require similar credentials and work within quality assurance but target different stages of the product lifecycle.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Design Quality Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Quality Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Design Quality Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,860 per year, or $46.6 per hour.

Design Quality Engineer II

Vanguard Solutions, Inc

Carlsbad, CA โ€ข On-site

Other

Posted yesterday

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Job description

Role Summary

The Engineer II, Design Quality will support design quality and sustaining engineering activities for medical device products. This role will assist with design controls, design quality documentation, sustaining product changes, design change assessments, DHF updates, risk management documentation, V&V documentation review, and cross-functional support with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Sustaining Engineering teams.

This is a more junior/mid-level role compared to a Senior Design Quality Assurance Engineer. The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience supporting design quality activities in a regulated medical device environment and be comfortable working under the direction of senior quality, engineering, or project leadership.

Key Responsibilities

  • Support sustaining engineering activities for released medical device products.
  • Assist with product design changes, documentation updates, and released product improvements.
  • Support change impact assessments for sustaining engineering projects, including impacts to DHF, DMR, V&V, risk files, labeling, specifications, and released documentation.
  • Review and support engineering change orders, document revisions, and quality records.
  • Partner with Sustaining Engineering, R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Document Control to support product updates and compliance.
  • Support investigations related to product quality issues, design-related nonconformances, complaints, CAPA, or field feedback as needed.
  • Help ensure sustaining changes remain compliant with FDA 21 CFR 820, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, and internal procedures.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelorโ€™s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical field.
  • 3โ€“5 years of experience in medical device quality, design assurance, design controls, or related engineering quality support.
  • Familiarity with FDA 21 CFR 820, ISO 13485, and ISO 14971.
  • Experience supporting DHF documentation, design changes, V&V documentation, risk management, or quality system documentation.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to work in a regulated documentation environment.
  • Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, quality, regulatory, manufacturing, and document control teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with catheter-based, cardiovascular, electromechanical, or other medical device products.
  • Experience supporting sustaining engineering, released product changes, engineering change orders, design changes, or product lifecycle documentation in a regulated medical device environment.
  • Experience supporting design verification, validation, traceability, or risk management documentation.
  • Experience with PLM/eQMS tools such as Agile, Windchill, Arena, TrackWise, MasterControl, or similar systems.
  • Experience supporting remediation, audit readiness, CAPA, NCR, or DHF documentation updates.
  • Prior experience working in a fast-paced project or sustaining engineering environment.