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Outsourcing Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Engineer in Residence: MarketRadar

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$116K - $149K/yr

Evidence that you can use AI coding assistants and modern AI tools to move faster without outsourcing engineering judgment. * Founder-level curiosity about the customer workflow, not just the model ...

Getpeer

Full Stack Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

High agency and strong debugging skills, plus experience using AI coding tools as a meaningful part of your workflow without outsourcing engineering judgment to them. Nice-to-Have * Experience ...

krg technology inc

UI Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$68.25 - $87.25/hr

... outsource engineers. Perform regular code reviews. Architect and implement our next generation SOA platform on AWS using Varnish, Symphony 2, SNS, SQS, Node.js, Aurora, Nginx, Cloud Front, and ...

Petco

Director, Software Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

$170K - $282K/yr

Coordinates outsourced engineering effort from teams with differing skill sets Key distinction of job level: Leads large cross functional teams that work on the most complex business issues Key ...

TelemetryX

Director of Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

$225K - $255K/yr

The Director of Engineering ensures reliable, scalable, and cost-effective device platforms while coordinating closely with product management, operations, and outsourced manufacturing and ...

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Outsourcing Engineering information

What is outsourcing engineering?

An Outsourcing Engineering job involves managing and coordinating engineering tasks that are delegated to external vendors or offshore teams. Professionals in this role ensure that outsourced projects meet quality, timeline, and budget requirements while maintaining effective communication between internal stakeholders and external partners. They may specialize in various engineering fields, such as software, mechanical, or electrical engineering, depending on the organization's needs. This role often requires strong project management skills and an understanding of global engineering standards and practices.

What are common challenges faced in outsourcing engineering and how is success typically measured?

Professionals in Outsourcing Engineering often navigate challenges such as coordinating between different time zones, ensuring clear communication across language barriers, and managing quality control with external vendors. Success in this role is usually measured by timely project delivery, cost savings achieved without compromising standards, and the ability to maintain strong, productive relationships with outsourced teams. Maintaining flexibility and a proactive approach to problem-solving is critical in overcoming these challenges. Organizations value professionals who can deliver reliable project outcomes while optimizing resources and mitigating risks associated with global outsourcing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in outsourcing engineering and why are they important?

To thrive in Outsourcing Engineering, you need a solid background in engineering principles combined with expertise in vendor management, contract negotiation, and project coordination, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with project management software (such as Jira or Asana), procurement systems, and best practices in supply chain management is highly valued. Strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and cross-cultural communication are crucial for successfully managing outsourced teams and building effective partnerships. These skills ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards in a globalized work environment.

Are outsourcing engineering jobs being outsourced?

Outsourcing engineering jobs is common in the industry, with companies often contracting work to firms or professionals in different regions to reduce costs or access specialized skills. This practice can affect job availability locally, but many engineering roles remain in-house, especially those requiring close collaboration or specific certifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Outsourcing Engineering jobs in California?

The most popular types of Outsourcing Engineering jobs in California are:

Outsourcing Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Outsourcing Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Engineering & Hardware Category Manager

Mountain View, CA • On-site

Waymo
Internet and IT • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Waymoexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Waymo's Procurement and Vendor Enablement Office (PVEO) is the strategic engine behind our rapid commercial scaling. We don't just buy services; we design the workforce architecture that powers the Waymo Driver. In this senior leadership role, you will lead the Enterprise Outsourcing & Services vertical. You will partner with Executives across Engineering, Operations, and Corporate functions to define the "Future of Work" at Waymo-determining how we leverage the global external ecosystem to scale our Mapping, Labeling, Engineering, and Corporate capabilities.

You will:

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy for Engineering Services and R&D Hardware, balancing cost optimization with speed-to-market for prototypes and technical development.
  • Proactively manage a high-volume pipeline of outsourced engineering workforce contracts; lead negotiations for mission-critical engineering design firms to secure favorable long-term commercial and IP terms.
  • Structure and negotiate complex Statements of Work (SOWs) and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) agreements for hardware development to ensure successful project delivery and ROI.
  • Optimize Joint Design Manufacturing (JDM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) relationships for R&D components, ensuring competitive pricing and seamless fulfillment logistics for hardware iterations.
  • Act as the trusted advisor to Engineering and Hardware leadership; lead complex "make vs. buy" analyses and influence technical requirements to drive commercial value and mitigate supply chain risk.
  • Partner with Legal (IP/Security) to ensure all engineering services and hardware agreements meet Waymo's rigorous intellectual property protection and cybersecurity standards.

You have:

  • 7+ years of strategic procurement experience, with at least 4+ years dedicated to Engineering Services, R&D, or Hardware sourcing.
  • Deep expertise in outsourced engineering models (managed services, staff augmentation, fixed-bid) and experience negotiating with Tier 1 engineering service providers.
  • Proven ability to draft and negotiate complex commercial contracts, including MSAs, NREs, JDM/ODM agreements, and highly technical Professional Services SOWs.
  • Experience managing R&D hardware lifecycles (EVT, DVT, PVT) and negotiating with custom component manufacturers and prototyping houses.
  • Strong financial acumen with the ability to present TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis to Finance and Hardware Engineering leadership.
  • Ability to operate in a high-velocity environment, managing multiple concurrent high-priority sourcing events for unreleased technologies.

We prefer:

  • Experience in a hyper-growth Tech, Autonomous Vehicle (AV), or automotive manufacturing environment.
  • Engineering background or profound understanding of hardware development and systems engineering principles.
  • Experience using Ariba P2P, e-sourcing, and Spend Analysis tools.

Travel: 

  • Estimated 10-15% (Vendor QBRs, supplier audits, & HQ visits as needed).

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