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Graduate Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SpaceX

New Graduate Engineer, Software

Hawthorne, CA

$125K - $145K/yr

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, SOFTWARE Our SpaceX team is working on the toughest and most audacious projects on our planet: making humanity multiplanetary. As a software engineer on the SpaceX team, you ...

SpaceX

New Graduate Engineer, Software

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

As a software engineer on the SpaceX team, you will demonstrate extreme ownership through detailed and thorough design, testing, and deployment, ultimately seeing your software through all aspects of ...

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Graduate Engineer information

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$10.9K

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How much do graduate engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate engineer in California is $71,640.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,400.00 and $81,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a Graduate Engineer expect during their first year on the job?

As a Graduate Engineer, you can expect to work on a variety of entry-level projects that help you build practical skills and industry knowledge. Responsibilities often include assisting senior engineers with design work, preparing documentation, conducting research, and participating in site visits or quality checks. You'll likely rotate through different departments or project teams to gain a broad understanding of the company's operations. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is common, providing valuable exposure to project management and communication within engineering contexts. These experiences are designed to support your professional development and prepare you for more specialized roles as you progress.

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

To thrive as a Graduate Engineer, you need a relevant engineering degree, strong analytical skills, and a solid understanding of engineering principles. Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools, and, in some fields, foundational certifications like EIT or FE are typically expected. Standout soft skills include teamwork, effective communication, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. These competencies are crucial for contributing to technical projects, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, and progressing in a dynamic engineering environment.

What can a graduate engineer do?

A graduate engineer can perform tasks such as designing, analyzing, and testing engineering systems within their field, often under supervision. They may work with tools like CAD software, adhere to safety standards, and pursue professional certifications to advance their careers.

What Does a Graduate Engineer Do?

A graduate engineer may find employment in a variety of industries depending on their background, engineering specialty, and training. As a graduate engineer in the field of civil engineering, for instance, you work on scientific projects as part of a team, design civil grading, and prepare reports. In a graduate mechanical engineering role, you are involved in preparing building models, coordinating technical project components, and participating in team meetings. Regardless of your specialty, as a graduate engineer, you get to build work experience in lower level roles while working with veterans in your chosen field.

What is the difference between Graduate Engineer vs Junior Engineer?

AspectGraduate EngineerJunior Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; some internships or co-op experienceBachelor's degree; typically less work experience
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, training-focused, often in design, testing, or project supportEntry-level to early career, performing basic engineering tasks under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in engineering firms, construction, manufacturing, and consultingUsed interchangeably with Graduate Engineer in many companies, often indicating similar roles

Both roles are entry-level engineering positions requiring a bachelor's degree. The term 'Graduate Engineer' often emphasizes recent graduation and training, while 'Junior Engineer' may imply a slightly broader range of early career roles. In many organizations, these titles are used interchangeably, focusing on entry-level responsibilities in engineering environments.

What are Graduate Engineers?

Graduate Engineers are individuals who have recently completed an engineering degree and are beginning their professional careers in the engineering field. They typically work under the supervision of experienced engineers to gain practical experience, develop technical skills, and apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects. Graduate Engineers may work in various domains, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, or software engineering, depending on their specialization. Their roles often include assisting with project design, analysis, testing, and documentation while learning industry standards and best practices.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

While most engineering roles do not reach a $500,000 annual salary, some highly specialized or senior-level engineers such as petroleum engineers, aerospace engineers, or those in executive or consulting positions can earn this level of income, often through bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing. Achieving such compensation typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-paying industries or leadership roles.

What jobs do engineering graduates get?

Engineering graduates can pursue roles such as civil, mechanical, electrical, software, or chemical engineers. These positions often require knowledge of technical skills, problem-solving, and proficiency with industry tools like CAD or programming languages. Entry-level engineering jobs typically involve design, analysis, testing, and project management tasks.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as petroleum, aerospace, software, and electrical engineering can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and often in leadership or managerial roles. High-paying engineering positions typically require advanced degrees, certifications, and a strong track record of project success.
More about Graduate Engineer jobs
What cities in California are hiring for Graduate Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Graduate Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Graduate Engineer jobs in CA? For Graduate Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Graduate Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,640 per year, or $34.4 per hour.
New Graduate Engineer, Software

New Graduate Engineer, Software

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA

$125K - $145K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 61 rated aerospace companies

Job description

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, SOFTWARE

Our SpaceX team is working on the toughest and most audacious projects on our planet: making humanity multiplanetary. As a software engineer on the SpaceX team, you will demonstrate extreme ownership through detailed and thorough design, testing, and deployment - ultimately seeing your software through all aspects of its life cycle. You will work with many cross-disciplinary teams and will need to think at a system level to ensure that your code is viable. Our development timelines are quick and you will need to rigorously explore solutions for previously unsolved or unknown problems. Every day, we push the limits of what is possible through innovation, determination, and teamwork to drive the mission to success.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Expect a dynamic role doing what you're best at. Our team is building high-performance flight hardware. Whatever your skill set, you'll be aligned to the part of the program you're most effectively able to contribute to.
  • Develop highly reliable autonomous software systems and the simulations required to validate them. 
  • Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and integration to the mission.
  • Work with counterpart engineering teams to develop and maintain launch and vehicle software.
  • Get a front row seat to witness an impossible idea manifest in real life. The next few years will be incredibly dynamic as we transition from the challenge of building hardware to actually flying reusable rockets to orbit and deploying complex satellites to orbit.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
  • Graduating with a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD in 2026 or 2027.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Proven skills and knowledge of C++, Rust, or other systems programming language.
  • Experience building or working with real-time embedded systems or distributed computing systems.
  • Strong focus and interest in designing, architecting, and implementing excellent, bug-free software.
  • Strong critical thinking and first-principles problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Able to work effectively in a dynamic environment while assuming high levels of responsibility and demonstrating accountability for software outcomes.
  • Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints.
  • Excelled in ultra-competitive environments. You've nailed a podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement. 
  • Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once. Maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields. 
  • Demonstrated rapid growth. You've held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career. 
  • Success in academics at a rigorous and highly regarded university: minimum GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher, standardized test scores minimum 95th percentile, merit-based scholarship recipient.   

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
  • An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing.

COMPETITION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:    
Software Engineering/Level I: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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