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Principal Test Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MiniMed

Senior Principal Test Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$150K - $256K/yr

About the Role Careers That Change Lives In this exciting and challenging role as a test engineer, your responsibilities will include Designing, developing, and implementing testing methods and ...

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Principal Test Engineer information

See California salary details

$73K

$145.3K

$209.7K

How much do principal test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal test engineer in California is $145,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,900.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal test engineer?

A Principal Test Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and execution of testing strategies in software or hardware development projects. They lead quality assurance teams, set testing standards, and ensure that products meet both technical and customer requirements. Principal Test Engineers often collaborate closely with development, product management, and other stakeholders to troubleshoot issues and drive continuous improvement. Their expertise is crucial in identifying risks, optimizing testing processes, and mentoring junior engineers.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a principal test engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Test Engineer, you need deep expertise in software testing methodologies, test automation, and quality assurance, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with automation tools like Selenium, Jenkins, and scripting languages, as well as certifications such as ISTQB, are commonly expected. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are essential for driving high-quality product releases, mentoring teams, and ensuring robust, scalable testing solutions.

How does a principal test engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the product development lifecycle?

Principal Test Engineers play a crucial role in working closely with development, product management, and quality assurance teams. They are often responsible for defining test strategies, reviewing requirements, and providing technical guidance to ensure quality standards are met throughout the development process. Regular collaboration may include participating in design reviews, leading test planning sessions, and troubleshooting complex issues with developers. This cross-functional involvement enables Principal Test Engineers to influence product quality at every stage and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

What is the difference between Principal Test Engineer vs Senior Test Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Test EngineerSenior Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Engineering, or related; certifications like ISTQBBachelor's or Master's in relevant field; ISTQB or similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads testing strategies, mentors teams, collaborates with stakeholdersPerforms testing, develops test cases, reports bugs
Industry UsageUsed across tech, software, hardware companies for senior technical leadershipCommon in software development and QA teams at all levels

The Principal Test Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, focusing on testing strategy, leadership, and mentorship, while the Senior Test Engineer executes testing tasks and supports quality assurance efforts. Both roles require relevant certifications and experience, but the Principal role involves more strategic oversight and cross-team collaboration.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Test Engineer jobs in California?

For Principal Test Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Test Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Test Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Principal Test Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Principal Test Engineer job openings:

Principal Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Test Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,292 per year, or $69.9 per hour.

Principal Test Engineer - Opto-E

Koch Industries

Fremont, CA • On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Koch Industries rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

137th of 546 rated manufacturers

Job description

Molex possesses a rich heritage in the optical industry. We provide the highest performing and field-proven wavelength management solutions, from components and modules to integrated line-cards. Continuous innovation in passive component function integration, miniaturization, and manufacturing automation, cutting edge WSS and amplify technology and comprehensive optical, mechanical, electrical and software integration capabilities enable us to serve the needs of high-density, high-bandwidth, and flexible optical networks.
Molex is rapidly growing in our Opto-E business, responsible for developing 1.6T, 3.2T and beyond. In our Fremont office, we have a dedicated team of engineers. We are looking for a Principal Test Engineer that will lead test development for high speed fiber optic 800G/1.6T/3.2T transceiver characterization from early prototypes, engineering samples, EVT/DVT testing to pilot production test definitions.
This Engineer will closely collaborate with design authority, hardware and firmware team leaders to develop module calibration algorithms for transmitters and receivers.
As the only manufacturer in North America, this person will have an impact on our high-speed optical interconnects and the growth of the company.
What You Will Do
  • Device and module characterization for next generation optical transceivers for AI/ML applications. These will be used in AI/ML scale-out and scale up networks.
  • Build and strengthen transceiver characterization capability in the US through test equipment selections, test setups, DVT/EVT test and calibration methodologies
  • Define module test definitions that are compliant to customer specifications, industry standards and product life cycle procedures
  • Design the hardware and software of test platforms that are required for early engineering samples, EVT/DVT, and pilot productions. The engineer will need to understand the test requirements at each development phase and balance equipment costs, test scopes and test times
  • Work with project managers and purchasing departments to ensure test systems are completed as required by project milestones and meeting cost targets
  • Perform test data analysis and summarization for wider development team to performance gap analysis
  • Test support for failure mode analysis for failures from R&D and production phases.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
  • Bachelor's /Master's/PhD in Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
  • Minimum 3-7 years of experience in IMDD and coherent modules characterizations.
  • Experience with transceiver module Device Verification Testing (DVT) activities.
  • Hands on experience with Vector Network Analyzer and Digital Sampling Oscilloscope
  • Experience with small signal frequency domain analysis, Continuous Time Linear Equalizer, Feed Forward Equalization, Digital Pre-emphasis
  • Experience with test automation using python scripts
  • Competent in data analysis and summarization using python libraries, Excel and JMP.
  • Familiarity of 803.3xx standard and its test methodologies for electrical host and optical line side respectively
  • Familiarity with CMIS (Common Management Interface Specification) is needed
  • Knowledge of PAM4 digital signal processors

What Will Put You Ahead
  • Electro-optic devices such as EML, MZ modulator, photodiodes characterization expertise is a plus.

For this role, we anticipate paying $150,000 - $200,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).

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