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Senior Principal Design Engineer Jobs in California

Celestica

Senior Principal Power Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $198K/yr

Senior Principal, Design Engineering Job Code: SPR-ENG-DSGN Summary Thank you for checking us out! If you're reading this, chances are that you're getting this information over at least one piece of ...

Micron Technology

Principal Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$145 - $298/hr

Req ID: JR94425 Principal Design Engineer Our vision is to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all. Micron Technology is a world leader in innovating memory and storage ...

Celestica

Senior Principal, Design Engineering

San Jose, CA · On-site

$210K - $329K/yr

San Jose Summary We are seeking a high-impact, visionary Senior Principal AI Engineer to architect, design, and oversee the next generation of our enterprise hardware intelligence platform. In this ...

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All JobsPrincipal Design Engineer JobsSenior Principal Design Engineer JobsSenior Principal Design Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Principal Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$80.9K

$153.4K

$211.7K

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

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal design engineer in California is $153,394.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,900.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal design engineer?

A Senior Principal Design Engineer is a highly experienced engineering professional responsible for leading complex design projects and setting technical direction within an organization. They often mentor junior engineers, drive innovation, and ensure that engineering standards are upheld throughout the design process. This role typically requires deep technical expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality engineering solutions. Additionally, Senior Principal Design Engineers may be involved in setting long-term strategy, evaluating new technologies, and representing the company in industry forums.

How does a senior principal design engineer typically contribute to cross-functional teams during project development?

As a Senior Principal Design Engineer, you will play a key leadership role in collaborating across departments such as product management, manufacturing, and quality assurance. You will be responsible for guiding the design process, providing technical direction, and ensuring that engineering solutions align with broader business objectives. Regularly, you'll be involved in design reviews, troubleshooting complex issues, and mentoring junior engineers to maintain high standards of technical excellence. Your input is often crucial in balancing innovation with practical constraints like cost, manufacturability, and regulatory requirements.

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

To thrive as a Senior Principal Design Engineer, you need deep expertise in engineering design principles, advanced problem-solving abilities, and a relevant engineering degree, often with years of specialized experience. Proficiency with CAD software, simulation tools, and familiarity with industry standards or certifications like PE (Professional Engineer) are typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and project management skills help excel in guiding teams and interfacing with stakeholders. These capabilities are crucial for delivering innovative, reliable designs while ensuring project success and engineering excellence.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Design Engineer vs Lead Design Engineer?

AspectSenior Principal Design EngineerLead Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, professional certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, certifications may be beneficial
Work EnvironmentResearch and development, cross-functional teams, strategic planningProject teams, technical leadership, hands-on design work
Industry UsageUsed across industries like aerospace, automotive, electronicsCommon in engineering firms, manufacturing, product development
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior technical roles, career progressionClarifying leadership in design projects, technical expertise

The Senior Principal Design Engineer typically focuses on high-level technical strategy and innovation, often working across multiple projects and guiding teams. The Lead Design Engineer is more involved in direct project leadership and hands-on design work. Both roles require strong engineering credentials, but the Senior Principal often emphasizes strategic influence, while the Lead Design Engineer concentrates on project execution and team coordination.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Principal Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Principal Design Engineer job openings:

Senior Principal Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,394 per year, or $73.7 per hour.

Sr Principal Design Engineer

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

San Jose, CA

$154K - $286K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago

Cadence Design Systems rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

34th of 246 rated software companies

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

This is an opportunity to join a dynamic team of experienced engineers developing physical IP for industry-standard high-speed serial-links.

The successful candidate will ideally be a highly-motivated self-starter who can work independently to complete assigned tasks and contribute to project leadership. The candidate will contribute to all mixed-signal design, verification, and testing aspects. This includes circuit design and development from a high-level architectural specification, post-silicon test plan development and execution, and collaboration with the digital team to achieve functional and performance closure.

Candidate must have a thorough understanding of the following:

  • Mixed-signal circuit design fundamentals
  • Mixed-signal circuit design and verification flows
  • Cadence analog design environment
  • Basic signal processing concepts

Familiarity with the following items is a plus:

  • Serial link design techniques
  • Data converter (ADCs and/or DACs) and/or clock synthesis and recovery (PLLs, DLLs, CDRs) techniques
  • MATLAB or C to facilitate architecture development
  • Hardware description languages such as SystemVerilog or VerilogA for functional model development
  • Scripting languages such as Perl or Python for automation
  • Silicon validation testing knowledge and experience

Other requirements:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ph.D. EE degree with 5+ years or MS EE. degree with 7+ years of mixed signal design industry experience in advanced process technologies

The annual salary range for California is $154,000 to $286,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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