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Fellow Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fellow makes beautifully functional tools for any kitchen, designed in San Francisco and used ... Who You Are You are an executor, builder and systems-minded automation engineer who creates the ...

Fellow makes beautifully functional tools for any kitchen, designed in San Francisco and used ... Who You Are You are an executor, builder and systems-minded automation engineer who creates the ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

... fellow developers. • Share passions with each other. Qualifications : Required : • Familiarity with all parts of the stack, notably DerbyJS • Experience in end-to-end feature development • ...

We do this through novel programming, advocacy, investments, research, and strategic grantmaking. Position Summary: Our Student Fellowship Program will place 1-2 fellows under each program area ...

... Fellow's success, leading and optimizing all key quality and sustaining functions. This includes Quality Management, Manufacturing Test, Sustaining Engineering, Supplier Quality, and Compliance ...

Innovation Fellow

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$8.0K - $12K/mo

Fellows will scope pilot projects with clear decision points, with the goal of publishing their ... Strong programming skills (Python and/or R required; familiarity with bash and version control)

Innovation Fellow

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$8.0K - $12K/mo

Fellows will scope pilot projects with clear decision points, with the goal of publishing their ... Strong programming skills (Python and/or R required; familiarity with bash and version control)

Senior Software Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

The role involves contributing to feature development, mentoring fellow engineers, and working on scaling challenges in a collaborative environment. Responsibilities : • Scaling from 100M requests ...

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Fellow Engineer information

See California salary details

$12

$55

$79

How much do fellow engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for fellow engineer in California is $55.26, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.62 and $73.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Fellow Engineer?

A Fellow Engineer is a highly distinguished and senior-level technical expert within an organization, often recognized for their exceptional contributions to engineering, innovation, and leadership. This title is typically awarded to engineers who have demonstrated significant impact in their field, both through technical achievements and by mentoring others. Fellow Engineers often influence company-wide technology strategy, lead complex projects, and represent their organization in the external technical community. The position is one of the highest honors in engineering career paths and usually requires years of experience and recognition by peers.

How does a Fellow Engineer typically contribute to mentoring and developing junior team members?

As a Fellow Engineer, you are often expected to play a significant role in mentoring and guiding less-experienced engineers. This includes offering technical advice, conducting code or design reviews, and helping shape best practices within the team. You may also lead technical workshops or knowledge-sharing sessions, fostering a culture of growth and continuous learning. Your expertise and leadership are valuable for both solving complex problems and building the next generation of engineering talent.

What is the difference between Fellow Engineer vs Senior Engineer?

AspectFellow EngineerSenior Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, and recognized industry expertiseRequires several years of experience, professional certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentOften involved in strategic projects, industry leadership, and mentoring rolesFocuses on project execution, technical problem-solving, and team leadership
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, research institutions, and industry leadersCommon across various industries, especially in engineering and technology firms
Search & Comparison IntentOften searched by experienced professionals seeking top-tier recognition or career advancementFrequently compared for career progression and role responsibilities

The Fellow Engineer is a senior-level role emphasizing industry recognition, strategic influence, and mentorship, often requiring advanced credentials. In contrast, a Senior Engineer focuses on technical expertise, project management, and team leadership. Both roles are vital in engineering organizations but differ mainly in scope, recognition, and responsibilities.

What does a Fellow engineer do?

A Fellow engineer is a senior technical expert recognized for exceptional contributions and leadership in their field. They often lead complex projects, provide strategic technical guidance, and mentor other engineers, typically requiring advanced skills, extensive experience, and industry certifications. Their role focuses on innovation, problem-solving, and advancing technological development within an organization.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

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

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

To thrive as a Fellow Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, a strong record of innovation, and typically an advanced degree or equivalent experience. Mastery of advanced design tools, simulation software, and familiarity with industry standards or patents are common requirements. Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and strategic communication skills set top candidates apart. These competencies are essential for driving technical vision, influencing organizational direction, and fostering groundbreaking solutions.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior engineering roles such as software engineers, data engineers, and specialized technical leads can reach annual salaries of $500,000 or more, especially in high-demand industries like technology and finance. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often stock options or bonuses as part of compensation packages.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software, petroleum, aerospace, and data engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and advanced certifications. High-paying roles typically involve leadership responsibilities, complex projects, or working in high-demand industries like technology and energy.
Infographic showing various Fellow Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,938 per year, or $55.3 per hour.
Automation Engineer

Automation Engineer

Fellow

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

About Fellow
We believe that the act of making should be meaningful and fulfilling, done with intention and precision. Fellow makes beautifully functional tools for any kitchen, designed in San Francisco and used around the world.
When the simple motions of life become small moments of joy, that's Everyday Magic.™
This role is based in our San Francisco, CA office and requires regular in-office presence in accordance with company policy.
Who You Are
You are an executor, builder and systems-minded automation engineer who creates the firmware and hardware automation infrastructure that enables Fellow to scale product quality across a growing device portfolio. You develop robust automated test suites, CI/CD workflows, and validation tooling that support new product bring-up, regression testing, and release readiness from prototype through production.
Partnering closely with firmware, electrical, and product engineering teams, you help establish reliable, maintainable automation systems that improve development velocity, reduce manual testing effort, and ensure high-quality customer experiences across Fellow's connected products.
What You'll Do:
New Product Automation Suite Development
  • Build firmware and hardware automation suites from the ground up for Fellow's new products
  • Design test cases and firmware validation plans for each product, following the framework and standards
  • Develop scripts and tools (Python or similar) to automate firmware validation, data collection, regression testing, and product qualification for new products
  • Build test infrastructure to support new product firmware builds and production readiness, translating prototype-stage automation into production-ready suites

CI/CD Pipeline Implementation & Maintenance
  • Implement CI/CD pipelines for firmware and hardware systems
  • Build and maintain GitHub Actions or equivalent pipelines that enforce automated firmware test gates on every pull request and release build
  • Automate provisioning and deployment of test devices and environments to support reliable, repeatable pipeline execution
  • Monitor and maintain pipeline health: resolve test flakiness, improve reliability, and reduce manual intervention in firmware validation workflows

Shared Framework Contribution
  • Contribute reusable test utilities, helpers, and libraries to the shared automation framework under Senior AE direction
  • Follow and uphold team coding standards and documentation practices, ensuring all automation is maintainable by the full team
  • Participate in code review, both receiving feedback and reviewing peer contributions
  • Document test coverage, known gaps, and implementation decisions to maintain institutional knowledge and support integration touchpoints

Hardware & Firmware Integration Support
  • Collaborate with firmware and electrical engineers to validate embedded systems and connected hardware features for new products
  • Build automation tooling to support firmware bring-up, calibration, and regression testing for new devices entering the pipeline
  • Design experiments and data collection workflows to capture performance and reliability data from new hardware
  • Support hardware technicians with test unit modifications and automation infrastructure for production testing environments
  • Coordinate on integration layer contracts: defining the firmware events and data structures that flow into the mobile app and cloud backend

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely on architectural decisions, code review, and framework alignment
  • Coordinate end-to-end integration test coverage: ensure new product firmware events and behaviors are testable from the app and backend layers
  • Work with Product, Firmware, and Electrical teams to validate new product features and ensure automation is aligned to product requirements
  • Participate in tradeoff discussions between feature complexity, reliability, cost, and testability, with a focus on new product firmware quality
  • Produce clear test reports and defect documentation, contributing to the team's stakeholder visibility and release readiness process
Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in automation engineering, test engineering, or systems validation (consumer electronics or IoT preferred)
  • Strong proficiency in Python or other scripting languages for firmware test automation and tooling
  • Hands-on experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI, or equivalent)
  • Experience building end-to-end automated firmware test suites for new products
  • Experience with connected hardware products: Bluetooth, WiFi, or other IoT technologies
  • Experience validating embedded systems and firmware
  • Strong understanding of debugging hardware + firmware interactions
  • Ability to operate independently, manage multiple product streams simultaneously, and deliver to roadmap milestones

Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
  • Experience with HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) and SIL (software-in-the-loop) test frameworks
  • Familiarity with RobotFramework, pytest, or similar test frameworks
  • Experience with Docker, Ansible, or environment automation for firmware test infrastructure
  • Experience with AWS IoT, REST APIs, or firmware-to-cloud integration patterns (coordination with System Test Engineer)
  • Experience transitioning products from EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production
  • Background in mentored or high-code-review environments with strong documentation practices
Why You'll Love This Role
  • A creative, fast-moving environment where ideas turn into action.
  • Competitive compensation including employee equity plan
  • Generous paid time off plan
  • 401k with company contribution after 6 months of employment
  • Medical/dental/vision insurance
  • Better Yourself Wellness credit & Better Your Community donation matching
  • Monthly Fitness Stipend
  • Summer Fridays
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Generous discount on Fellow products
  • Best coffee anywhere

The salary range for this position is $165,000 - $185,000 plus bonus & equity. We intentionally publish salary ranges to promote transparency and set clear expectations. Final compensation is determined based on a number of factors, including relevant experience, skills, expertise, scope of previous work, demonstrated impact, and internal equity. As a result, not every candidate will be hired at the top of the range.
Our highest goal at Fellow is creating a safe, inclusive, and rewarding environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and thrive. We are committed to building diverse teams and strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Fellow is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.