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Senior Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California

Vast

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$137K - $195K/yr

Vast is looking for a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics, reporting to the Director, Avionics, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of ...

Vast

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$162K - $230K/yr

Vast is looking for a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics, reporting to the Director, Avionics, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of ...

Wamco, Inc.

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$111K - $150K/yr

Irvine, CA Wamco is hiring a senior electrical engineer to be in charge of the development and design of new electrical/electronic products. Summary of Duties: * Start to finish owner of electrical ...

Matic

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$160K - $240K/yr

About the role As a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, you'll lead the design of critical PCBs and subsystems of our products. You will work closely with team members from our hardware, software, and ...

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All JobsElectrical Design Engineer JobsSenior Electrical Design Engineer JobsSenior Electrical Design Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Electrical Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$74.5K

$122.7K

$170.2K

How much do senior electrical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior electrical design engineer in California is $122,744.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,600.00 and $138,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior electrical design engineer do?

A Senior Electrical Design Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing the creation of electrical systems and components for a variety of projects, such as buildings, machinery, or electronics. They lead design teams, ensure compliance with industry standards, and often coordinate with other engineering disciplines to meet project requirements. Their role also involves troubleshooting, testing prototypes, and providing technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle. Senior Electrical Design Engineers play a key role in ensuring that electrical designs are safe, efficient, and cost-effective.

How does a senior electrical design engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during a project?

Senior Electrical Design Engineers frequently work alongside mechanical engineers, architects, project managers, and construction teams to ensure that electrical systems are fully integrated and meet all project requirements. This collaboration often involves regular design review meetings, coordination on technical specifications, and resolving any cross-disciplinary issues that arise during the design and implementation phases. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as the role often requires balancing electrical needs with architectural and mechanical constraints while ensuring compliance with safety codes and regulations.

What is the difference between Senior Electrical Design Engineer vs Electrical Project Engineer?

AspectSenior Electrical Design EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, professional licensure often preferredBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, project management certifications beneficial
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, engineering firms, consulting companiesConstruction sites, project sites, engineering firms
Industry UsageDesign and development of electrical systems, detailed technical workProject planning, coordination, and execution of electrical projects

The Senior Electrical Design Engineer primarily focuses on designing electrical systems and technical specifications, while the Electrical Project Engineer manages project execution, timelines, and coordination. Both roles require electrical engineering credentials, but their daily tasks and responsibilities differ significantly, with the design engineer emphasizing technical design and the project engineer emphasizing project management.

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

To excel as a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, a solid foundation in electrical engineering principles, a relevant engineering degree, and several years of design experience are essential. Familiarity with industry-standard CAD software, simulation tools, and compliance with electrical codes and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is typically required. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities ensure the delivery of innovative, safe, and reliable electrical systems while effectively leading teams and managing complex projects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Electrical Design Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Electrical Design Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Electrical Design Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Electrical Design Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Electrical Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,744 per year, or $59 per hour.

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Vast

Long Beach, CA • On-site

$137K - $195K/yr

Other

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

Vast is looking for a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics, reporting to the Director, Avionics, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. 

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

  • Act as responsible engineer for flight hardware, from conception through build, qualification, flight integration, and ultimately flight operations.
  • Perform component selection, design analysis, schematic capture, circuit board design, prototyping, board bring up, debugging, circuit validation, and design documentation for electrical designs.
  • Analyze and troubleshoot electronic assemblies, define new processes, design circuits/fixtures/tools, and identify opportunities for improvement in both products and processes.
  • Support mission operations by providing real-time input during flight, completing data reviews, monitoring hardware performance, and working with partners to simplify operation of our avionics systems.
  • Work with experts from other teams and departments to ensure that fielded systems perform their function while being efficient, manufacturable, and reliable.
  • Define acceptance testing and qualification requirements of new and existing hardware, perform development and qualification testing to prove out design, and formally document test results.
  • Travel to launch sites for testing and/or operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years of experience with avionics design, analysis, and/or unit level testing.
  • Experience with avionics test equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, current probes.
  • Experience with analog, digital, or mixed signal multi-layer PCB design.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

  • Experience with PCBA design and Altium or similar software.
  • Ability to creatively solve problems and asses risk. 
  • Understand electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage.
  • Hands-on experience with sizing, installing and troubleshooting various electronic components.
  • Experience with NX or similar CAD software.
  • Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, power supplies, etc.).
  • Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere.

Additional Requirements:

  • Ability to travel up to 10% travel to support launch campaigns.

Pay Range: 

  • Senior Electrical Design Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552
  • Staff Electrical Design Engineer: $162,360 - $230,472

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