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Harness Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Act as lead Wire Harness Design Engineer for R&D teams * Provide the engineering expertise to design, fabricate and integrate harnesses systems and represent the harness discipline on a project

As a Harness Design Engineer II on the Avionics team, you will contribute to harness design and integration activities from conceptual design to system integration - including component selection ...

Sr. Harness Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$169K - $187K/yr

As a Harness Design Engineer, you'll own the design and execution of flight, GSE, and test harnesses that connect avionics, sensors, power systems, and vehicle subsystems-ensuring reliability in ...

Sr. Harness Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

As a Harness Design Engineer, you'll own the design and execution of flight, GSE, and test harnesses that connect avionics, sensors, power systems, and vehicle subsystems-ensuring reliability in ...

Sr. Harness Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$169K - $187K/yr

As a Harness Design Engineer, you'll own the design and execution of flight, GSE, and test harnesses that connect avionics, sensors, power systems, and vehicle subsystems--ensuring reliability in ...

Avionics Harness Engineer II

Vista, CA · On-site

$106K - $150K/yr

As a Harness Design Engineer II on the Avionics team, you will contribute to harness design and integration activities from conceptual design to system integration - including component selection ...

Sr. Harness Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$169 - $187/hr

As a Harness Design Engineer, you'll own the design and execution of flight, GSE, and test harnesses that connect avionics, sensors, power systems, and vehicle subsystems--ensuring reliability in ...

Showing results 41-60

Harness Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$10

$49

$77

How much do harness design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for harness design engineer in California is $49.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.34 and $56.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a harness design engineer?

A Harness Design Engineer is a professional who designs and develops wiring harnesses used in vehicles, aircraft, machinery, or electronic systems. They are responsible for creating detailed schematics and layouts that specify how electrical wires, connectors, and terminals are routed and connected. Their work ensures that electrical systems function reliably and safely, meeting industry standards and client requirements. They often collaborate with other engineers, use specialized CAD software, and consider factors like space constraints, durability, and ease of installation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a harness design engineer?

To thrive as a Harness Design Engineer, you need a solid understanding of electrical engineering principles, cable management, and wiring schematics, typically supported by a degree in electrical or mechanical engineering. Proficiency with CAD software (such as CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks), wiring harness design tools, and familiarity with industry standards (like IPC/WHMA-A-620) are essential. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and ensure design accuracy. These competencies are crucial for developing reliable, safe, and cost-effective wiring solutions in automotive, aerospace, or industrial applications.

What are some common challenges faced by harness design engineers during the product development cycle?

Harness Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating complex wiring systems into compact spaces, ensuring compatibility with evolving electronic components, and meeting strict regulatory and safety standards. They must also coordinate closely with manufacturing and testing teams to address issues like routing feasibility and electromagnetic interference. Effective communication and proactive problem-solving are essential, as design changes can arise late in the development process, requiring quick adaptation without compromising quality or timelines.

What is the difference between Harness Design Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectHarness Design EngineerElectrical Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing wiring harnesses and cable assemblies for various systemsDesigning electrical systems, circuits, and components for a wide range of applications
Work EnvironmentAutomotive, aerospace, industrial equipment manufacturingElectronics, power systems, consumer electronics, industrial machinery
Required CredentialsTypically an engineering degree in electrical or mechanical engineering; certifications in wiring or harness design are a plusBachelor's or higher in electrical engineering; professional engineer (PE) license may be beneficial

While both roles involve electrical knowledge, a Harness Design Engineer specializes in creating wiring harnesses and cable assemblies, often within automotive or aerospace industries. An Electrical Engineer has a broader scope, focusing on electrical systems and circuit design across various sectors. The roles overlap in technical skills and education but differ in their specific applications and work environments.

Infographic showing various Harness Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,573 per year, or $49.3 per hour.

Electrical Harness Design Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Design, fabricate, and integrate electrical harness systems and represent the harness discipline on projects

  • Research, select, procure, and develop harness components and generate system diagrams for production

  • Participate in design reviews, prepare assembly instructions and test procedures, and provide guidance on electrical system requirements


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,812 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Provide the engineering expertise to design, fabricate and integrate harnesses systems and represent the harness discipline on a project
  • Investigate, plan, design and develop harnesses to meet various technical requirements
  • Research, select and procure appropriate connectors, back-shells, contacts, wire, shielding, and cable construction for the product to meet appropriate environmental requirements
  • Develop and generate harness system block diagrams and wire diagrams to release for production
  • Participate in design reviews and provide input to identify issues and drive design choices
  • Prepare harness assembly instructions and test procedures, incorporating your knowledge of industry standards and best practices
  • Provide guidance to the electrical team in identifying electrical system requirements given input from internal and external stakeholders including engineering (mechanical, electrical, software), product management, quality and compliance
  • Work in a fast-paced environment supporting new developments, active deployments, and customer operated hardware
  • Concurrently manage involvement in multiple projects at various stages

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
  • 5+ years hands-on experience designing electrical harnessing for rugged commercial, industrial, aerospace, or military applications
  • Experience working directly with harness manufacturers to deliver high quality, high reliability products
  • Own end-to-end of the electrical wiring and interconnect system, including power distribution, grounding, shielding, and signal integrity
  • Ensure the design meets system-level electrical requirements for voltage, current, bandwidth, redundancy, EMI/EMC
  • Perform electrical trade studies for wire gauge, shielding, connector selection, and topology
  • Analyze and mitigate electrical risks such as voltage drop, crosstalk, EMI susceptibility, and thermal effects
  • Familiarity with common electrical bus interfaces (CAN, Ethernet, RS422, RS232, 1553)
  • Familiar with existing applicable harness standards as well as MIL-STD requirements
  • Able to apply knowledge of SWaP for power, network and communications systems and designs
  • Experience reading wire block interconnect diagrams and wire diagrams
  • Exceptional organization and communication skills (both written and oral)
  • Must be eligible to receive a US Security Clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Build 3D routed harness data files applying NX Cabling and Siemens Capital Harness
  • Experience with or proficient in 3D CAD wire harness routing, such as (NX, Siemens Capital, CATIA, CREO)
  • Able to read and generate formboard drawings in 2D CAD for production
  • EMI/EMC principles and common electrical bus interfaces (CAN, Ethernet, RS-422, RS-232, MIL-STD-1553)

US Salary Range
$129,000-$171,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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