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Product Development Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation. Minimum Qualifications Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work ...

Product Development Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$35 - $42/hr

Product Development Engineer I Location: Irvine, CA 92618 Must Have: * Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder ...

About the Role Altera is searching for a Product Development Engineer to join our Manufacturing Content Development Engineering Group! The Manufacturing Content Development Engineering Group is ...

Product Development Engineer

Thousand Oaks, CA ยท On-site

$98K - $120K/yr

The Product Development Engineer is engaged in executing the main elements of New Product Development to introduce surgical implants, prosthetics, and instruments to market. In this role, you will ...

Product Development Engineer A growing engineering team is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the development of next-generation products within a confidential research and development ...

The Surfscan group includes a team of engineers, technology development, apps engineers and product marketing focused on technology that enables wafer, IC and equipment manufacturers to develop ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation. Minimum Qualifications Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work ...

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company ...

Product Development Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$106K - $153K/yr

About the Role As a Product Development Engineer at Altera, you will play a critical role in bringing next-generation FPGA products from development into high-volume manufacturing by driving thermal ...

Product Development Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$106K - $153K/yr

About the Role As a Product Development Engineer at Altera, you will play a critical role in bringing next-generation FPGA products from development into high-volume manufacturing by driving thermal ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company ...

Product Development Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$142K - $206K/yr

We are seeking motivated Product Development Engineer to help us in following areas but not limited to it. * Drives and develops testability and manufacturability of integrated circuits from the ...

Summary: The Product Development Engineer (PDE) is a manufacturing expert who interprets engineering prints and develops the process flow to ensure the product gets made correctly and all ...

Showing results 21-40

Product Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$39K

$86.7K

$130.8K

How much do product development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for product development engineer in California is $86,733.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,100.00 and $98,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a product development engineer do?

A Product Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing new products or improving existing ones. They work closely with cross-functional teams such as design, manufacturing, and marketing to bring innovative products from concept to production. Their tasks often include prototyping, conducting feasibility studies, addressing technical challenges, and ensuring that products meet quality and safety standards. Product Development Engineers play a crucial role in transforming ideas into market-ready products that fulfill customer needs.

What is a product development engineer?

A product development engineer designs manufactured goods by integrating market research to deliver products that will meet company goals. As a product development engineer, you will be working on all stages of the production process, from research and development to prototype testing and quality assurance. You may work in any number of fields, from the automotive industry or medical device manufacturing to developing new soaps or food products. Typically, you work as part of a team, sometimes leading a group of engineers through the design and production process. Your duties include creating drafts and blueprints, assessing proper materials, setting goals, and researching competitive products.

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

Product Development Engineers work closely with teams such as design, manufacturing, marketing, and quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle. They often facilitate communication to ensure that product specifications align with customer needs and production capabilities. Regular meetings and collaborative problem-solving sessions are common, as these engineers help translate technical requirements into actionable plans. This collaborative approach not only streamlines development but also fosters innovation and ensures the final product meets both technical and market expectations.

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

To thrive as a Product Development Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, product design, and project management, typically supported by a degree in mechanical, electrical, or related engineering fields. Proficiency with CAD software, prototyping tools, and familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication skills help you collaborate across teams and innovate solutions. These skills and qualities are essential for efficiently developing market-ready products that meet user needs and business objectives.

What is the difference between Product Development Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectProduct Development EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Industrial, or related engineering; often some experience in product designBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; licensure optional for certain roles
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, manufacturing settings, cross-functional teamsDesign offices, manufacturing plants, research labs
Industry UsageProduct design, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospaceMechanical systems, HVAC, manufacturing equipment, automotive

Product Development Engineers focus on designing and developing new products, often working closely with cross-functional teams to bring concepts to market. Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope, working on mechanical systems and components across various industries. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds, Product Development Engineers typically emphasize product design and innovation, whereas Mechanical Engineers may work on a wider range of mechanical systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Product Development Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Product Development Engineer jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Product Development Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Product Development Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Product Development Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Product Development Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Product Development Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,733 per year, or $41.7 per hour.

Product Development Engineer

KLA Corporation

Milpitas, CA โ€ข On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

Company Overview

KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world's leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow's electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.

Group/Division

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA's metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Sensitivity and Throughput Roadmap for both BBP and Rapid Divisions. BBP (Broadband Plasma) Division provides market-leading patterned wafer optical inspection systems for leading-edge IC manufacturing. Rapid Division provides market-leading reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry.

In this role, you will be working with Research Scientists, Optics Engineers and Opto-Mechanical Engineers to develop R&D Inspection Benches to validate new inspection methods that are intended to drive the future of both BBP and Rapid divisions.

These R&D Inspection Benches would be utilized to run actual inspections on customers' wafers and reticles in order to validate the values of the proposed new inspection methods. The inspection results from these R&D benches will determine the adoption/implementation on the actual systems/products, thus the roadmap.

In this role you will:

  • Obtain thorough understanding of the fundamental physics behind the new proposed inspection methods and the underlying problems these new methods are aimed to solve.
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to derive Requirements for the Subsystem to be developed for the bench qualification
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to develop the layout, followed by design concepts and detailed designs to build these R&D Inspection Benches from scratch.
  • Own driving selections of key modules such as light source, optics, sensors/cameras, stages.
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to perform assembly, alignment and integration of these benches.
  • Perform Subsystems qualification (image quality, data path, vibration, thermal, etc.) on these benches to show it meets requirements as pre-requisite before running actual inspections.
  • Running actual inspections on customers' wafers and reticles on these benches to validate proof of concept of these new inspection methods.
  • Communicate results and recommendations to Product teams and Marketing.
  • Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 yearsBase Pay Range: $117,800.00 - $200,300.00 AnnuallyPrimary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLAKLA's total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave.

Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us attalent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA's Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.