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Graduate Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Elve Inc

Internship: General Application

Davis, CA · On-site

$25 - $50/hr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a dynamic deep-tech startup based in Davis, CA, transforming the ... You are currently enrolled or a recent graduate from a BS, MS, PhD, or MBA program * You have ...

Elve Inc

Internship: General Application

Davis, CA

$25 - $50/hr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a dynamic deep-tech startup based in Davis, CA, transforming the ... You are currently enrolled or a recent graduate from a BS, MS, PhD, or MBA program * You have ...

Elve Inc

Internship: General Application

Davis, CA · On-site

$25 - $50/hr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a dynamic deep-tech startup based in Davis, CA, transforming the ... You are currently enrolled or a recent graduate from a BS, MS, PhD, or MBA program * You have ...

DabKick

Speech Recognition Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Company Description A Cupertino Silicon Valley technology startup, with an ownership group track ... Graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Sciences, or Mathematics with ...

DabKick

Speech Recognition Engineer

San Jose, CA

Company Description A Cupertino Silicon Valley technology startup, with an ownership group track ... Graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Sciences, or Mathematics with ...

Verkada

Senior Embedded Linux Engineer

San Mateo, CA

$141K - $185K/yr

As a fast-growing startup, every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth, and we want you to grow with us! What You Bring * BS or a graduate degree in Computer Science, Math ...

Gridmatic

Data Scientist

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$158K - $206K/yr

We are the rare startup that has multiple years of profitability without raising venture capital ... relevant graduate degree - Write robust, production-level code, preferably in Python - Enjoy ...

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Graduate Startup information

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$16

$27

How much do graduate startup jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate startup in California is $16.29, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.03 and $18.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by graduates working at startups, and how can they prepare for them?

Graduates joining startups often encounter fast-paced environments with rapidly changing priorities and less defined job roles. This can mean juggling multiple responsibilities, adapting quickly, and learning new skills on the fly. To prepare, it's helpful to be proactive, embrace flexibility, and seek feedback regularly. Building strong communication skills and being open to wearing many hats will help you thrive and grow alongside the company.

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

To thrive as a Graduate Startup Founder, you need a solid grasp of business fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge in your target industry, often supported by a relevant degree or entrepreneurial coursework. Familiarity with startup tools such as project management software, basic accounting systems, and digital marketing platforms is highly valuable. Outstanding soft skills include resilience, adaptability, effective communication, and a collaborative mindset. These attributes are essential for navigating challenges, building a team, attracting investors, and driving early-stage business growth.

What is a graduate startup?

A graduate startup is a new business venture founded or co-founded by recent university graduates, often leveraging innovative ideas or technologies developed during their studies. These startups can span various industries and are typically supported by university incubators, accelerators, or entrepreneurship programs. The goal is to bring fresh perspectives and solutions to the market, with founders applying their academic knowledge and research to real-world problems. Graduate startups often seek funding through grants, competitions, or venture capital to scale their operations.

What is the difference between Graduate Startup vs Intern?

AspectGraduate StartupIntern
Required CredentialsTypically recent graduates or students, sometimes with specific skillsUsually students or early learners, often with minimal experience
Work EnvironmentFull-time or part-time roles within startup teams, collaborative and dynamicTemporary, learning-focused positions, often part-time or summer roles
Employer & Industry UsageStartups across various industries hiring graduates for entry-level rolesStartups and companies offering internships for skill development

In summary, a Graduate Startup role is a full-time or part-time position aimed at recent graduates seeking to gain industry experience, while an Intern position is typically temporary, designed for students or beginners to learn and develop skills within a startup environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Graduate Startup jobs in California? The most popular types of Graduate Startup jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Graduate Startup jobs in California? For Graduate Startup jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Startup jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Startup jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Graduate Startup jobs? Cities in California with the most Graduate Startup job openings:
Graduate Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Startup job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 14% Internship, 62% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 7% Temporary. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,874 per year, or $16.3 per hour.

SETA Engineering (Mechanical/Astrodynamics/Physics) Internship (Path to Full Time Hire)

Space Kinetic

El Segundo, CA

$20 - $27/hr

Full-time, Internship

Posted 27 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, attritable, 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

Our Intern Program:

Space Kinetic's internship program is designed to identify top early-career talent for potential full-time roles. Over the three-month program, interns are paired with a mentor, assigned one to three meaningful projects, and provide monthly progress updates to the Leadership team.

Interns who demonstrate strong performance, ownership, and alignment with Space Kinetic's mission may receive a full-time offer upon successful completion of the internship.

What You'll Do:
We are seeking a highly motivated SETA Engineering Intern to support technical research and engineering analysis efforts across mechanical systems, aerospace concepts, and astrodynamics-related projects. This role is ideal for a highly analytical aerospace student or recent graduate interested in working closely with leadership on advanced space technology concepts, engineering trades, and research activities in a fast-paced startup environment.

This role provides exposure to multidisciplinary aerospace development, including mechanical engineering support, technical research, mission analysis, and engineering coordination activities.

  • Support mechanical and aerospace engineering research activities
  • Perform highly analytical, parameter-driven analyses and develop white papers that clearly communicate findings, assumptions, methodologies, and technical recommendations.
  • Help prepare engineering summaries, technical documentation, and presentation materials
  • Support engineering coordination and follow-up across technical teams
  • Assist with analysis of engineering data, system concepts, and design approaches
  • Participate in technical discussions and engineering reviews
  • Support rapid research tasks and problem-solving activities in a startup environment
  • Support research into new mission and commercial applications by developing trade studies, pros and cons analyses, first-principles assessments, and early-stage simulations and models.

What It Takes:

  • Currently enrolled for a Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Must be a recent college graduate OR graduate within the last semester of your program.
  • Strong background in physics and mathematics
  • Intermediate coding ability to support technical analysis, modeling, simulation, and data processing.
  • Ability to learn quickly and work independently
  • Comfortable in a fast-moving startup environment

What We'd Love:

  • Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics or a related field. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, education, and demonstrated technical depth.
  • Assist with astrodynamics analysis, technical trades, and concept evaluations
  • Perform technical research related to spacecraft systems, orbital mechanics, and space mission applications
  • Exposure to MATLAB, Python, STK, GMAT, or similar technical tools is a plus
  • Strong research and technical writing ability

Where You'll Be:

  • The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

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
$20—$45 USD