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Electrical Machine Design Engineer Jobs in California

Space Kinetic

Machine Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$81K - $109K/yr

The Machine Design Engineer will design, build, and refine prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology as we work toward a flight demonstration within the next two years. You will collaborate with ...

Space Kinetic

Machine Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA

$81K - $109K/yr

The Machine Design Engineer will design, build, and refine prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology as we work toward a flight demonstration within the next two years. You will collaborate with ...

Space Kinetic

Machine Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$81K - $109K/yr

The Machine Design Engineer will design, build, and refine prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology as we work toward a flight demonstration within the next two years. You will collaborate with ...

General Atomics

Electrical Design Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

We have an exciting career opportunity for a Staff Electrical Design Engineer with our Electrical ... Responsible for control schemes, analog, digital, magnetic and electric machine design and/or ...

General Atomics

Electrical Design Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

We have an exciting career opportunity for a Electrical Design Engineer with our Electrical ... Responsible for control schemes, analog, digital, magnetic and electric machine design and/or ...

General Atomics

Electrical Design Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

We have an exciting career opportunity for a Staff Electrical Design Engineer with our Electrical ... Responsible for control schemes, analog, digital, magnetic and electric machine design and/or ...

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All JobsElectrical Machine Design Engineer JobsElectrical Machine Design Engineer Jobs in California

Electrical Machine Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$50.8K

$99.7K

$146.1K

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

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for electrical machine design engineer in California is $99,748.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,400.00 and $114,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an electrical machine design engineer do?

An Electrical Machine Design Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing electrical machines such as motors, generators, and transformers. They use engineering principles, simulation tools, and material knowledge to enhance efficiency, performance, and reliability. Their role involves creating detailed designs, selecting materials, conducting simulations, and collaborating with manufacturing teams to ensure feasibility. Additionally, they may engage in testing and troubleshooting to refine prototypes before mass production. Their expertise is essential in industries like automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and industrial automation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an electrical machine design engineer?

To thrive as an Electrical Machine Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, proficiency in electromagnetic design principles, and a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Experience with CAD software, simulation tools like ANSYS Maxwell or MATLAB, and professional certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer) are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication with multidisciplinary teams set top candidates apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing reliable, innovative machines that meet both technical and market requirements under real-world constraints.

What are popular job titles related to Electrical Machine Design Engineer jobs in California?

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

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

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

Electrical Machine Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Electrical Machine Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,748 per year, or $48 per hour.

Machine Design Engineer

Space Kinetic

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$81K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.
Who We Are:
Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations - one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different - an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures - where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a 'one-to-many' system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.
This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.
What You'll Do:
The Machine Design Engineer will design, build, and refine prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology as we work toward a flight demonstration within the next two years. You will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, machinists, test teams, and external vendors to move hardware from early prototypes toward a flight-ready design. This role requires strong mechanical design fundamentals, hands-on problem-solving, and the ability to use test results to drive continuous design improvements.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Refine prototype CAD models, precision mechanisms, tolerance analyses, and detailed 2D manufacturing drawings.
  • Design and integrate rotary mechanisms, bearings, motors, gearboxes, springs, fasteners, and related mechanical components.
  • Collaborate with machinists, manufacturing teams, and vendors to source components and ensure designs are producible.
  • Redesign prototype hardware to achieve a targeted 30% weight reduction while improving stiffness, structural performance, and vibration response.
  • Apply GD&T and Design for Manufacturing principles, including tolerancing for plating and other production processes.
  • Adapt hardware and design test structures for air-bearing, zero-gravity flight, and thermal-vacuum testing across multiple orientations and environments.
  • Analyze test data, root-cause mechanical failures, and implement design improvements that move each prototype iteration closer to flight readiness.

What It Takes:
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 3-5 years of relevant mechanical design, mechanism design, or aerospace engineering experience.
  • Demonstrated experience designing precision mechanisms or complex mechanical assemblies-not solely CAD modeling or drafting.
  • Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks, GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and detailed manufacturing drawings.
  • Experience designing rotary components and selecting bearings, motors, gearboxes, springs, fasteners, or related components.
  • Experience with vibration, structural design, test-fixture development, and Design for Manufacturing.
  • Hands-on experience conducting tests in a laboratory or R&D environment, analyzing results, and implementing design changes.
  • Ability to work with limited direction and obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

What We'd Love:
  • Experience selecting and designing with space-grade components.
  • Experience designing mechanisms for testing or operation in space environments.
  • Experience developing spacecraft or launch-vehicle systems.
  • Experience taking mechanism designs from CAD through fabrication, assembly, and testing.

Where You'll Be:
  • The position will be on site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

What We Offer:
  • Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation
  • Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
  • Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure

ITAR Requirements:
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.
Pay Range
$100,000-$140,000 USD

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