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Wire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salient Motion

Wire Harness Design Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... mechanical engineering teams, and will interface directly with seat OEM customers during ITCM and with DERs during qualification and certification. * Perform wire harness design for aerospace ...

Salient Motion

Wire Harness Design Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... mechanical engineering teams, and will interface directly with seat OEM customers during ITCM and with DERs during qualification and certification. * Perform wire harness design for aerospace ...

Viasat, Inc.

Wire Harness Design Engineer

Carlsbad, CA

$149K - $224K/yr

... wire types, and work with systems, electrical, test and operations engineering teams to ensure a quality and manufacturable product. The day-to-day * Generate sophisticated cable and harness design ...

SpaceX

Harness Design Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

HARNESS DESIGN ENGINEER (STARSHIELD) Starshield leverages SpaceX's satellite technology and launch ... Experience with electro-mechanical wire harness design or manufacturing (includes internships ...

Vast

Senior Harness Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$109K - $147K/yr

Vast is looking for a Harness Design Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Harness Design to ... Develop the electro-mechanical design of flight wire harnesses for the Haven space station.

Keltia Design

WH DE Linkedin-Apr 2024

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Electrical Wire Harness (System Integration) - Feb 2024-1909 - Remote work, CA We have an immediate opening for an Electrical Wire Harness Design Engineer with our client in Los Angeles area in CA ...

Slope

Senior Wire Harness Design Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$146 - $194/hr

Act as lead Wire Harness Design Engineer for R&D teams * Provide the engineering expertise to design, fabricate and integrate harnesses systems and represent the harness discipline on a project

ALTEN Technology USA

Wire Harness Engineer

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

You will be part of a rapidly growing team responsible for PCBA design, component selection, wire harness designs, and validation testing. Ideally, the harness engineer should have exposure to a ...

Vast

Senior Harness Design Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$135K - $190K/yr

Vast is looking for a Harness Design Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Harness Design to ... Develop the electro-mechanical design of flight wire harnesses for the Haven space station.

Figure

Wire Harness Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$125K - $225K/yr

We are looking for an Electrical Hardware Engineer to support the design, development, and integration of wire harness and electrical interconnect systems for humanoid robotic platforms. This role ...

Figure

Wire Harness Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$125K - $225K/yr

We are looking for an Electrical Hardware Engineer to support the design, development, and integration of wire harness and electrical interconnect systems for humanoid robotic platforms. This role ...

ALTEN Technology USA

Wire Harness Engineer

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

You will be part of a rapidly growing team responsible for PCBA design, component selection, wire harness designs, and validation testing. Ideally, the harness engineer should have exposure to a ...

ALTEN Technology USA

Wire Harness Engineer

Berkeley, CA

$115K - $135K/yr

You will be part of a rapidly growing team responsible for PCBA design, component selection, wire harness designs, and validation testing. Ideally, the harness engineer should have exposure to a ...

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All JobsWire Harness Design Engineer JobsWire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in California

Wire Harness Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$10

$49

$77

How much do wire harness design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for wire harness design engineer in California is $49.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.34 and $56.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wire harness design engineer?

A wire harness design engineer works to design harnesses to protect electrical wiring and cable in airplanes, cars, and other devices that rely on electrical power. In this career, your duties focus on designing harnesses that allow the electrical distribution system to bring energy safely to the outlet where the mechanisms, product, airplane, or vehicle needs it. Your responsibilities involve using your electrical engineering skills to analyze the electrical needs for the project, calculate current requirements, and incorporate this data into your harness design.

What does a wire harness design engineer do?

A Wire Harness Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing wire harnesses used to connect electrical and electronic components in vehicles, machinery, or equipment. Their work involves creating detailed wiring diagrams, selecting appropriate materials, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and collaborating with manufacturing teams to optimize production. They also perform testing and troubleshooting to ensure the harnesses meet safety and functional requirements. This role is crucial in industries like automotive, aerospace, and industrial equipment where reliable electrical connections are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wire harness design engineer?

To thrive as a Wire Harness Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or mechanical engineering, knowledge of wiring standards, and experience with harness design principles, often backed by a relevant degree. Proficiency with CAD software (such as AutoCAD Electrical or CATIA), harness design tools, and familiarity with industry regulations (like IPC/WHMA-A-620) are commonly required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and ensuring design accuracy. These competencies are crucial for delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective wiring solutions in industries like automotive and aerospace.

What are some common challenges a wire harness design engineer faces when coordinating with manufacturing teams?

Wire Harness Design Engineers often encounter challenges related to ensuring that their designs are manufacturable and meet production timelines. Translating complex electrical schematics into practical, assembly-ready harnesses requires close collaboration with manufacturing teams to address issues such as routing constraints, component availability, and assembly ergonomics. Open communication is key to resolving discrepancies between design intent and production feasibility, and engineers frequently participate in design reviews or on-site walkthroughs to ensure smooth implementation. Being proactive in soliciting feedback and making iterative improvements helps minimize costly rework and keeps projects on schedule.

What is the difference between Wire Harness Design Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectWire Harness Design EngineerElectrical Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, certifications like IPC/WHMA-A-620 are commonRequires a degree in electrical engineering; professional licensure (PE) may be preferred
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing wiring harnesses in manufacturing or automotive settingsDesigning electrical systems, circuit analysis, and testing in various industries
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, industrial equipmentElectronics, power systems, telecommunications

While both roles involve electrical knowledge, the Wire Harness Design Engineer specializes in creating wiring assemblies for specific products, whereas the Electrical Engineer focuses on broader electrical system design and analysis. The roles often overlap in skills and certifications but differ in scope and application.

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Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wire Harness Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,573 per year, or $49.3 per hour.

Wire Harness Design Engineer

Salient Motion

Torrance, CA • On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

**Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements**
Who We Are
We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building the financial infrastructure behind cutting-edge hardware, let's chat!
We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future.
A couple other things:
  • We offer a lot of autonomy
  • We like to run lean for impact
  • We have great benefits
  • We are well funded, and already generating revenue
  • We're currently in Torrance, CA, but will be moving into a new facility in Hawthorne, CA in the summer!

What you'll do:
This engineer will own electrical interconnect design across our actuation product lines, with primary focus on our production aerospace power electronics and actuation systems. This role bridges design, qualification, and production. You will perform harness design on complex programs end-to-end, author functional test procedures, support qualification testing, and work with suppliers to drive integration and first article inspection.
This is a hands-on role for an engineer who wants to work on full-stack hardware in a fast-moving environment with potential customer-facing opportunities. You will work closely with our electrical hardware engineering, motor control, and mechanical engineering teams, and will interface directly with seat OEM customers during ITCM and with DERs during qualification and certification.
  • Perform wire harness design for aerospace actuation systems on complex programs, from schematic through manufacturing release.
  • Develop and maintain harness documentation including schematics, wire lists, drawings, and bills of material.
  • Author functional test procedures for harness assemblies and integrated systems.
  • Support qualification testing, including DO-160 environmental, MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC, and program-specific qualification plans.
  • Work with suppliers to oversee initial build, first article inspection (AS9102), and production readiness.
  • Own supplier technical qualification and ongoing supplier engineering support for harness assemblies.
  • Collaborate with DERs during qualification and certification activities.
  • Partner with motor control, firmware, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure harness design integrates cleanly with the broader system.
  • Drive design for manufacturability, cost, and reliability across the harness portfolio.
  • Up to 35% travel (domestic/international customer and supplier sites).

What you need:
  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related engineering field. Equivalent professional experience considered in lieu of degree.
  • Minimum 3 years of professional experience in commercial aerospace wire harness design.
  • Experience authoring functional test procedures and supporting qualification testing.
  • U.S. Person status as defined under ITAR/EAR.

Nice to have:
  • Aircraft seat program experience (major plus, potential difference-maker).
  • Experience designing harnesses with Rapid Harness, or equivalent electrical CAD tools such as Mentor Capital, Zuken E3, or Creo Schematics.
  • Experience supporting AS9102 first article inspection for suppliers and/or customers.
  • Direct experience with Boeing D6 series wiring standards and the Airbus equivalent (such as ABD0100 or A350 wiring standards).
  • Familiarity with CAN bus and matrix communication architectures.
  • Experience working with DERs through certification.
  • Prior experience in a startup or fast-moving product development environment.

What we have to offer:
We are not just building components. We are reshaping the future of the Aerospace and Defense component industry, which is a $300B+ market! Come join us and help build next generation systems that will make a massive impact at global scale.
  • Competitive compensation: $90,000 to $110,000 base salary + equity
  • Exceptional healthcare benefits - Medical is 100% covered by the company
  • Life Insurance (2x Salary) 100% covered by the company
  • Flexible PTO, 401K, Financial Wellness Resources, and more

Apply