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Sensing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Head of Sensing

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$190K - $230K/yr

About the role Our core sensing technology has been validated, and we are now transitioning from research prototypes to a consumer-ready product. We are hiring a Head of Sensing to own the sensing ...

Description As a highly technical and motivated Sensing Systems Engineer, you possess a comprehensive understanding of cameras, motion sensors, and other sensing technologies. You are experienced in ...

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

Description As a highly technical and motivated Sensing Systems Engineer, you possess a comprehensive understanding of cameras, motion sensors, and other sensing technologies. You are experienced in ...

Motion Sensing System Architect

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$286K/yr

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team integrates MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies throughout Apple's product portfolio in a collaborative environment that fosters creativity and engineering ...

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

Description As a highly technical and motivated Sensing Systems Engineer, you possess a comprehensive understanding of cameras, motion sensors, and other sensing technologies. You are experienced in ...

Description As a highly technical and motivated Sensing Systems Engineer, you possess a comprehensive understanding of cameras, motion sensors, and other sensing technologies. You are experienced in ...

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

Motion Sensing Hardware Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$145K - $192K/yr

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team integrates MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies throughout Apple's product portfolio in a collaborative environment that fosters creativity and engineering ...

Motion Sensing Hardware Engineer

Cupertino, CA ยท On-site

$152K - $201K/yr

The Motion Sensing Hardware Team at Apple is entrusted with the responsibility of integrating MEMS and magnetic sensing technologies across its product portfolio. This team comprises a collaborative ...

The team is seeking an exceptional position sensing systems engineer with broad skills to lead product and technology development projects.","responsibilities":"Define position sensing system ...

The team is seeking an exceptional position sensing systems engineer with broad skills to lead product and technology development projects.","responsibilities":"Define position sensing system ...

The team is seeking an exceptional position sensing systems engineer with broad skills to lead product and technology development projects.","responsibilities":"Define position sensing system ...

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Showing results 1-20

Sensing information

See California salary details

$27.4K

$105.5K

$189K

How much do sensing jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for sensing in California is $105,491.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,566.00 and $132,685.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying GIS job?

The highest paying GIS jobs are often senior roles such as GIS Managers, GIS Directors, or Geospatial Architects, with salaries exceeding $100,000 annually. These positions typically require advanced skills in GIS software, data analysis, and project management, along with extensive experience and certifications like GISP or Esri Technical Certification.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in sensing roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in sensing roles often encounter challenges such as integrating diverse sensor types into systems, ensuring data accuracy, and managing large volumes of real-time data. Addressing these challenges typically involves close collaboration with software engineers, data analysts, and hardware teams to optimize sensor placement and calibration. Staying updated with the latest advancements in sensor technology and developing strong troubleshooting skills are also critical for overcoming obstacles and maintaining reliable system performance.

What is the difference between Sensing vs Testing?

AspectSensingTesting
CredentialsTypically requires certifications in sensing technologies or instrumentationRequires certifications in testing procedures and quality assurance
Work EnvironmentOften involves fieldwork, installation, and calibration of sensorsUsually conducted in labs or controlled environments to evaluate product performance
Industry UsageCommon in manufacturing, automation, and environmental monitoringPrevalent in quality control, product validation, and R&D

While sensing focuses on detecting and measuring physical phenomena using sensors, testing emphasizes evaluating and validating products or systems through systematic procedures. Both roles are essential in ensuring product quality and functionality, but sensing is more about data collection in real-world conditions, whereas testing involves controlled assessments to verify performance standards.

What are sensing jobs?

Sensing jobs typically involve roles where individuals work with sensors and related technologies to collect, process, and interpret data about physical environments. These positions can be found in industries like manufacturing, automotive, robotics, and environmental monitoring. Sensing professionals may develop, install, or maintain sensor systems, analyze sensor data, or integrate sensing technologies into larger systems. Common job titles include sensor engineer, instrumentation technician, and data analyst. The goal is often to enable automation, improve safety, or enhance decision-making through real-time data acquisition.

How to get a remote sensing job?

To get a remote sensing job, candidates should develop skills in GIS, remote sensing software like ENVI or ArcGIS, and gain experience with satellite or aerial imagery analysis. Relevant degrees in geography, environmental science, or related fields, along with certifications such as GISP, can improve employability. Job seekers should search for openings on specialized job boards and demonstrate proficiency in data interpretation and spatial analysis.

What is a sensor job?

A sensor job involves designing, developing, testing, or maintaining sensors used to detect physical or environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, motion, or light. These roles often require knowledge of electronics, programming, and data analysis, and may involve working in manufacturing, research, or engineering environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sensing Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sensing Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, physics, or a related field, with expertise in sensor technologies and data analysis. Familiarity with technical tools such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, and sensor-specific calibration equipment, as well as certifications in instrumentation or automation, are often required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial to excel in this role. These competencies ensure accurate data collection, system reliability, and successful integration of sensing solutions into various applications.

Does remote sensing pay well?

Remote sensing professionals, including those working with satellite imagery and GIS technologies, typically earn competitive salaries that vary based on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced analysts and specialists can earn higher wages, especially with advanced skills in data analysis and remote sensing software. Overall, remote sensing can offer a solid income within the geospatial and environmental sectors.
What are the most commonly searched types of Sensing jobs in California? The most popular types of Sensing jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Sensing jobs? Cities in California with the most Sensing job openings:
Infographic showing various Sensing job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,491 per year, or $50.7 per hour.
Head of Sensing

Head of Sensing

Tacit

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$190K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

About Tacit
We are an early-stage, deep tech startup based in San Francisco, developing innovative hardware that rethinks human-computer interaction. We are backed by General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, and Greylock Partners, with a founding team from Stanford, BrainGate, Oculus, and Tesla. While we can't reveal too much just yet, our team is tackling cutting-edge engineering challenges to bring revolutionary products to life.
About the role
Our core sensing technology has been validated, and we are now transitioning from research prototypes to a consumer-ready product.
We are hiring a Head of Sensing to own the sensing stack end-to-end: modality, system architecture, signal acquisition and conditioning, and the interface into our ML pipeline. This person will lead the sensing organization, set the multi-generation sensing roadmap, and partner closely with ML, hardware, firmware, and product to ship a sensing system that is performant, manufacturable, and power-efficient in a consumer wearable form factor.
This is one of the most technically defining hires on the hardware side of the company. You will report directly to the CTO and sit on the engineering leadership team.
What you'll do
  • Own the sensing system architecture end-to-end.
  • Set the multi-generation sensing roadmap - define what each hardware generation must prove, and how the sensing subsystem evolves from current prototype units through closed beta to consumer launch.
  • Own the sensing KPIs - SNR, power, thermal, repeatability across units and users - and drive the architecture choices needed to hit them.
  • Partner with the ML team on the signal-to-model interface: what the model needs from the system, where to spend bits and power, and how to co-design hardware and model for product-level performance in a wearable form factor.
  • Lead and grow the sensing team, composed of both electrical engineers, sensors specialists, and data scientists.
  • Drive R&D on novel sensor designs and modalities - explore, prototype, and de-risk new sensing approaches that could define future hardware generations.
  • Advance multimodal signal integration, fusing complementary sensing channels into a coherent system that maximizes information delivered to the model.
  • Develop new SNR and signal-quality measures to rigorously quantify system performance and guide architecture decisions.
  • Partner with the Head of Hardware on integration, EVT/DVT/PVT, DFM/DFT for the sensing subsystem, and with CMs/ODMs on manufacturability.
  • Own regulatory readiness for the sensing subsystem in partnership with hardware.
  • Communicate sensing tradeoffs clearly to the rest of the company - what we are giving up, what we are gaining, and why.
Requirements
  • 10+ years of experience designing sensing systems. Wearables, EMG, accelerometers, UWB, mmWave, bioimpedance, ultrasound, or comparable domains are all relevant.
  • Track record of taking a sensing architecture from research prototype through mass production.
  • Experience leading and growing technical teams (3-10 engineers), including hiring senior ICs and managers and managing through other managers as the team scales.
  • Strong systems intuition. Comfortable trading off across sensing, mechanical, thermal, power, and ML constraints, and explaining the tradeoffs to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to co-design hardware with an ML or perception pipeline - you have shipped a product where the model and the sensor were designed together, not over the wall.
  • High ownership in a small-team environment. You can set direction without a large org behind you and operate effectively when the spec is still moving. You are not afraid to do IC work, instead, you deeply enjoy getting into the weeds.
Strong candidates may have
  • Experience with non-invasive biosignal sensing (EMG, bioimpedance, or comparable modalities).
  • Experience with head-worn or ear-worn form factors and the ergonomic and thermal constraints they impose.
  • PhD in EE, applied physics, or a related field.

Compensation Range
$190,000 - $230,000/yr
Benefits
  • Competitive equity package
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Company size: 20-30 people
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Visa sponsorship
  • 4% 401k matching