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Hardware Engineer Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Navi AI

Founding Hardware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$145K - $192K/yr

Collaborate with software and ML engineers to ensure the hardware captures exactly what the intelligence layer needs to generate automated debriefs About you * 7+ years of experience in systems ...

Vertex Sigma Software

Hardware Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

$143K - $190K/yr

S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline4+ years of professional work experience2+ years in electronics developmentExperience with testing ...

Meta

Hardware Engineer, Power

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$173K - $245K/yr

Your work has the potential to shape the compute hardware and AI hardware going into our cutting-edge data centers affecting billions of users. Meta is seeking a motivated Power Engineer to join our ...

Vertex Sigma Software

Hardware Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

$143K - $190K/yr

S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline4+ years of professional work experience2+ years in electronics developmentExperience with testing ...

AttoTude

System Hardware Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

The System Hardware Engineer will be part of the system team and responsible for contributing to the development and product realization of THz MODEMs. The ideal candidate will be prepared to work ...

Vertex Sigma Software

Hardware Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

$143K - $190K/yr

S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline4+ years of professional work experience2+ years in electronics developmentExperience with testing ...

Meta

Network Hardware Engineer

Menlo Park, CA

$144K/yr

Meta is seeking a Network Hardware Engineer to join the infrastructure team responsible for designing and scaling the physical network systems that power Meta's global data center fleet. In this role ...

OpenAI

Hardware Operations Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $228K/yr

This role operates at the intersection of hardware operations, sustaining engineering, and fleet reliability. You will partner closely with Cloud Service Provider operations teams, OpenAI fleet ...

Cisco

FPGA Hardware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$154K - $225K/yr

... programming files. You can work with many teams to resolve system level issues. In addition, you have good analytical skills and can deal with the complexity of System Hardware and Software ...

Meta

Network Hardware Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$144K - $204K/yr

Meta is seeking a Network Hardware Engineer to join the infrastructure team responsible for designing and scaling the physical network systems that power Meta's global data center fleet. In this role ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsHardware Engineer JobsHardware Engineer Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Hardware Engineer information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$62.4K

$179.1K

$240.6K

How much do hardware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware engineer in Berkeley, CA is $179,050.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $151,200.00 and $199,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hardware engineer?

Hardware engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacturing of computer hardware, such as circuit boards, processors, memory devices, networks, and routers. They work closely with software engineers to ensure that hardware and software function together efficiently. Hardware engineers are involved in researching new technologies, improving existing hardware, and troubleshooting issues to enhance system performance. Their work is crucial in industries like computing, telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics.

What are some typical challenges hardware engineers face when working on cross-functional teams?

Hardware Engineers often collaborate closely with software developers, product managers, and manufacturing teams. One common challenge is aligning hardware specifications with software requirements, which may change throughout the development cycle. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as Hardware Engineers must balance technical constraints, cost considerations, and evolving project goals. Staying proactive in cross-team meetings and clarifying expectations early on can help reduce misunderstandings and ensure smoother project delivery.

What can a hardware engineer do?

A hardware engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains physical electronic components and systems such as circuit boards, processors, and embedded systems. They often use tools like CAD software and may require knowledge of programming, electronics, and industry standards to ensure functionality and reliability in various devices and equipment.

What is the difference between Hardware Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectHardware EngineerElectrical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Electronics, or Computer EngineeringBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing hardware components, working in labs or officesDesigning electrical systems, working in labs, manufacturing, or field
Industry UsageElectronics, computer hardware, telecommunicationsPower systems, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing

Hardware Engineers focus on designing and developing physical electronic components and systems, while Electrical Engineers work on electrical systems and power distribution. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often collaborate in technology industries.

What does a hardware engineer do?

A hardware engineer, or computer hardware engineer, specializes in all aspects of computer hardware, including testing, repairing, building, and maintaining its efficiency. As a hardware engineer, your responsibilities include developing and installing new hardware systems for businesses, providing tech support to users with hardware issues, along with designing and building new products for manufacturers. You may specialize in areas such as internal components, servers, electrical engineering, cellular and tablet devices, or traditional computers and networks.

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

To thrive as a Hardware Engineer, a strong background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and computer architecture is essential, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with CAD software, PCB layout tools, and hardware description languages, as well as certifications like Certified Hardware Design Engineer (CHDE), are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set outstanding hardware engineers apart. These skills and qualities are vital for designing reliable, high-performance hardware products that meet rigorous industry standards.
More about Hardware Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA? The most popular types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:
What job categories do people searching Hardware Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Hardware Engineer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:
What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Hardware Engineer jobs? Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Hardware Engineer job openings:
Hardware Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hardware Engineer job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $179,050 per year, or $86.1 per hour.

Founding Hardware Engineer

Navi AI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$145K - $192K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Navi captures everything a pilot sees and hears. The Wave is how we do it - the hardware that lives in the cockpit, captures flight data, and streams it to the cloud in real time. You're building the next generation of that device.
About the role
This is a founding hardware role. You own the entire physical product - from bare-metal architecture through PCB design, ruggedized enclosure, embedded firmware, environmental certification, fleet deployment, and cloud integration. This is Version 2 of the Wave, and you are the definitive technical voice for every decision that shapes it.
The device has to survive cockpit environments - heat, vibration, RF noise - while continuously streaming high-bandwidth audio and telemetry over wireless networks without dropping a frame. It has to be deployable across hundreds of aircraft and manageable as a fleet. It has to meet certification standards for operating in aircraft. And it has to be built fast, because Navi is already live at flight schools and the U.S. Air Force and demand is accelerating.
If you thrive in high-autonomy environments and love building mission-critical edge devices that work in the real world - not on a bench - this is your role.
What you'll do
  • Lead the end-to-end technical design of Navi's next-generation edge compute node - architecture, component selection, PCB layout, and mechanical enclosure
  • Build hardware that is ruggedized for cockpit environments - thermal, vibrational, and environmental stress - and optimized for continuous wireless data transmission
  • Architect real-time data pipelines for processing and streaming high-fidelity audio and complex telemetry from the edge to the cloud with minimal latency
  • Own the hardware validation lifecycle - environmental testing, quality assurance, and securing regulatory and industry-specific certifications for hardware operating in aircraft
  • Develop and oversee embedded firmware and edge processing logic - real-time operating systems, on-device compute, and fleet-wide OTA update infrastructure
  • Guide the architecture of live cloud-based telemetry dashboards to ensure seamless data ingestion and real-time visibility from deployed devices
  • Collaborate with software and ML engineers to ensure the hardware captures exactly what the intelligence layer needs to generate automated debriefs
About you
  • 7+ years of experience in systems engineering, embedded edge compute, or connected hardware development - with a track record of bringing a complex device to market, not just prototyping one
  • Deep understanding of electronics design - PCB schematics, microcontrollers, wireless communication modules (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
  • Experience collaborating with industrial or mechanical designers to build ruggedized enclosures that survive challenging thermal, vibrational, and environmental conditions
  • Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ or Python for edge applications, with experience running RTOS or embedded Linux
  • Familiarity with edge-to-cloud architecture, device fleet management, and building scalable live data infrastructure
  • Hands-on experience navigating rigorous hardware certification processes and environmental testing standards
  • You own projects end to end in ambiguous, fast-moving environments - and you ship
Nice to have
  • Experience with edge processing and lossless streaming of high-bandwidth data - real-time audio, complex signal processing, or continuous telemetry
  • Background building hardware for aviation, defense, or other safety-critical regulated industries
  • Familiarity with avionics data formats, cockpit audio systems, or aircraft electrical environments
Why this role matters
Every piece of intelligence Navi generates starts with the Wave. The AI is only as good as the data the hardware captures - and in a cockpit, there are no second chances. A dropped audio frame is a missed instructor callout. A connectivity gap is a blind spot in the debrief. You're building the device that makes the entire platform possible, and it has to work perfectly every single flight.
What you'll get
  • Flight training - earn your pilot's license and build with true domain expertise
  • Impact you can see - the device you build will be in cockpits at flight schools, airlines, and the U.S. Air Force
  • A role that scales into hardware leadership as we grow
How we work
  • Find a way. We don't wait for permission or perfect information. Ideas come from anywhere regardless of title. Figure it out, ship it, iterate.
  • Creativity over control. First principles over process. We'd rather have a creative solution that's 80% right today than a perfect one next quarter.
  • Update fast. Come in with a hypothesis, throw it away when the data says otherwise. Ego has no place here.
  • Intensity with focus. We work hard because the mission demands it. Clarity on what matters is how we make that sustainable.

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