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Hardware Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

PlayStation Global

Senior Hardware Engineer

Aliso Viejo, CA · On-site

$118K - $157K/yr

Senior Hardware Engineer Aliso Viejo, CA Sony Interactive Entertainment's Cloud Gaming Engineering and Infrastructure (CGEI) division is leading the Cloud Gaming revolution, putting console-quality ...

Qualcomm

Hardware Staff Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

Job Area: Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Hardware Engineering General Summary: Role Summary The Staff Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for leading the design ...

L3HHCM20

Hardware Leaning Project Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$153K - $284K/yr

Hardware Leaning Project Engineer (Scientist, Hardware Engineering, Tactical Data Links) Job Code: 37964 Job Location: Carlsbad, California 100% on site Schedule: 9/80 (employee's work 9 out of every ...

General Motors

Hardware Engineering Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · Hybrid

$188K - $288K/yr

Seeking a seasoned Engineering Group Manager to lead a Compute and ADAS Hardware Engineering team. This leader will guide a team of highly skilled hardware engineers developing nextgeneration ...

Verkada

Hardware Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

Verkada's Hardware Engineers own all electrical engineering design and validation aspects, working directly with our JDM partners to ship cutting-edge products. This is a full-time, in-person role ...

Brahma Consulting Group

Head of Hardware

Palo Alto, CA

$145K - $191K/yr

Lead Hardware Engineering Strategy: Oversee all hardware engineering efforts, setting the vision and strategy for RTL development and chip design, while serving as the primary technical authority for ...

Wayve

Hardware Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Hybrid

$185K - $247K/yr

The Role We are seeking an experienced Hardware Engineer to join our Hardware team and play a key role in developing next-generation autonomous driving compute platforms. This role focuses on low ...

femtoAI

Hardware Engineer

San Bruno, CA · On-site

$147K - $194K/yr

As a Hardware Engineer, you will join femtoAI's hardware team to help design and build our novel neural network accelerator. Working in a small, highly collaborative group, you will contribute ...

Kratos Defense

Hardware Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

Support identification of hardware problems and problem resolution, preparation of engineering plans and technical documentation and may participate in configuration management activities. You will ...

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All JobsHardware Developer JobsHardware Developer Jobs in California

Hardware Developer information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$95.3K

$106.6K

How much do hardware developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware developer in California is $95,334.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $106,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Hardware Developer typically collaborate with software and testing teams during product development?

Hardware Developers frequently work alongside software engineers and testing teams to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software components. This collaboration involves regular meetings, joint troubleshooting sessions, and sharing design specifications to align on system architecture and functionality. Hardware Developers also provide support during prototype testing phases, addressing hardware issues that may arise and incorporating feedback from testers to refine designs. Effective communication and a collaborative mindset are key to delivering reliable, high-performance products.

What are hardware developers?

Hardware developers are professionals who design, develop, and test physical components of computer systems and electronic devices, such as circuit boards, processors, and memory devices. They work to create new hardware products or improve existing ones, often collaborating with software developers to ensure compatibility and performance. Hardware developers use engineering principles and specialized tools to create schematics, build prototypes, and oversee manufacturing processes.

What is the difference between Hardware Developer vs Hardware Engineer?

AspectHardware DeveloperHardware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
Work EnvironmentDesigning, prototyping, and testing hardware componentsDesign, development, and optimization of hardware systems
Industry UsageUsed across electronics, consumer devices, and embedded systemsCommon in electronics, telecommunications, and computer hardware industries
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared with Hardware Engineer due to overlapping rolesRelated but more focused on system integration and optimization

Hardware Developers focus on designing and prototyping hardware components, while Hardware Engineers work on developing, testing, and optimizing complete hardware systems. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to electronics and tech industries, but their specific responsibilities differ slightly.

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

To thrive as a Hardware Developer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and hardware architecture, typically supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with CAD tools (like Altium Designer or OrCAD), simulation software, and experience with hardware prototyping platforms are essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective collaboration help distinguish top performers in this field. These skills ensure the development of reliable, high-performance hardware solutions that meet project requirements and integrate seamlessly with other systems.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior hardware engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills in FPGA, ASIC design, or embedded systems, can earn $200,000 or more annually. High-level roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, and work in industries like aerospace, defense, or high-tech manufacturing.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior hardware engineers, especially those with extensive experience in designing complex electronic systems, can earn $300,000 or more annually. High salaries are often associated with specialized skills in FPGA, ASIC design, or embedded systems, and may include bonuses or stock options in large technology or semiconductor companies.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior hardware engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills in areas like FPGA design or ASIC development, and working in high-demand industries such as aerospace or semiconductor manufacturing, can earn salaries around $500,000. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly at large tech or hardware companies.

What does a hardware developer do?

A hardware developer designs, develops, and tests physical electronic components and systems, such as circuit boards, processors, and embedded devices. They often use tools like CAD software and work closely with software engineers to ensure hardware and software integration, typically requiring knowledge of electronics, programming, and industry standards.
Hardware Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hardware Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,334 per year, or $45.8 per hour.
Senior Hardware Engineer

Senior Hardware Engineer

PlayStation Global

Aliso Viejo, CA • On-site

$118K - $157K/yr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Senior Hardware Engineer

Aliso Viejo, CA

Sony Interactive Entertainment's Cloud Gaming Engineering and Infrastructure (CGEI) division is leading the Cloud Gaming revolution, putting console-quality video games on any device, from TVs to consoles to mobile devices and beyond.

Our Hardware & Systems Engineering team is looking for a Senior Hardware Engineer to join an innovative team of hardware engineers specialized in custom scale-out computing development. The ideal candidate complements this team and brings technical leadership to team members and partners.

Responsibilities
  • Work with local and remote partners to create custom computing hardware by owning the design cycles for scale-out gaming hardware
  • Work with external partners and suppliers to design and execute to hardware specifications
  • Work with developers in partner software and firmware departments to create system-level solutions that integrate with existing and novel rack-, datacenter, and global-level system architectures.
  • End-to-end PCBA design, including schematic- and VHDL-based design and layout oversight
  • Hands-on laboratory work, including new hardware bringup and laboratory management
Qualifications
  • BSEE required, MSEE or PhD preferred
  • 5+ years of proven hardware design and technical leadership
  • Experience with Jira and Confluence in both waterfall and Agile environments
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to articulate technical information in a clear and concise manner at all levels, from executive staff to engineers
  • Strong cross-team collaboration and interpersonal skills with a variety of roles including engineering, product management, and support
  • Strong understanding of digital electrical design
  • Deep knowledge of high-speed protocols, including PCIe link and transport, DDR5/6, Ethernet, USB4
  • Proven experience with broadly-used electrical design tools
  • Experience building, debugging, and troubleshooting novel high-performance hardware systems
 Skills & Knowledge
  • Experience with FPGA/CPLD design, including commensurate knowledge of standard and vendor-specific tooling
  • Working experience in Perl, TCL, Python, Linux environments and/or C/C++
  • Understanding of computer architecture, interconnects, FPGAs and storage technology
  • Experience developing test code (firmware, software test code) for prototypes and early validation platforms and commensurate knowledge of integrated development environments (IDEs)
  • Experience leading technical work in small workgroups

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