Top 10 Semiconductor & Hardware Jobs in Irvine for 2026

Irvine, CA continues to grow as a center for semiconductor and hardware innovation in 2026. With strong ties to major chip manufacturers, advanced hardware startups, defense contractors, and cutting-edge electronics firms, the region offers diverse opportunities for engineers, designers, and tech specialists. As demand for high-performance computing, edge devices, IoT hardware, and custom silicon rises, so does the need for professionals across the semiconductor and hardware stack.

Here are the Top 10 Semiconductor & Hardware Jobs in Irvine for 2026 — each with a brief overview, salary insight, and typical industries hiring.

1. ASIC/FPGA Design Engineer

ASIC/FPGA Design Engineers architect and verify custom silicon and programmable logic devices used in networking, AI accelerators, signal processing and embedded hardware. Their work plays a central role in performance-critical systems.
Salary Range: ~$120,000–$185,000+
Hiring: Semiconductor firms, defense tech labs, hardware accelerators

2. Hardware Systems Engineer

Hardware Systems Engineers design and integrate complete system architectures, combining processors, memory, I/O, and firmware to build optimized hardware platforms.
Salary Range: ~$110,000–$170,000+
Hiring: IoT companies, consumer electronics, test & measurement firms

3. Embedded Firmware Engineer

Embedded Firmware Engineers write low-level code that controls hardware interfaces, sensors, peripherals, and real-time operations for devices ranging from industrial controllers to smart appliances.
Salary Range: ~$105,000–$165,000+
Hiring: Hardware startups, OEM electronics, embedded systems groups

4. Semiconductor Process / Yield Engineer

Process and Yield Engineers optimize fabrication steps, improve wafer yields, and troubleshoot defects in semiconductor manufacturing — ensuring quality and performance at scale.
Salary Range: ~$100,000–$150,000+
Hiring: Foundries, chip fabs, process engineering houses

5. Test & Validation Engineer – Silicon/Hardware

Test & Validation Engineers build test plans, develop validation frameworks, and execute silicon/hardware tests to ensure components meet specifications under varied conditions.
Salary Range: ~$95,000–$145,000+
Hiring: Chip manufacturers, hardware labs, outsourced test teams

6. PCB/Hardware Layout & CAD Engineer

These engineers design multi-layer PCBs, manage signal integrity, layout high-speed boards, and validate electrical/thermal performance as part of product development cycles for complex hardware.
Salary Range: ~$90,000–$140,000+
Hiring: Electronics manufacturers, consumer hardware firms, hardware design consultancies

7. Reliability & Qualification Engineer

Reliability Engineers evaluate product lifecycles, environmental durability, and failure modes, contributing to qualification and certification processes for semiconductors and hardware systems.
Salary Range: ~$95,000–$145,000+
Hiring: Semiconductor OEMs, automotive/defense hardware integrators

8. Hardware Verification Engineer – Digital/Analog

Verification Engineers create simulation environments, write testbenches, and confirm that digital/analog circuits behave as intended before tape-out or production.
Salary Range: ~$110,000–$170,000+
Hiring: ASIC/SoC teams, semiconductor IP groups, verification consultancies

9. Hardware Product Manager

Product Managers in hardware oversee product roadmaps, coordinate cross-functional teams (engineering, design, marketing), and align product features with market needs and performance goals.
Salary Range: ~$115,000–$180,000+
Hiring: Consumer tech companies, industrial hardware firms, semiconductor product teams

10. IoT/Edge Device Engineer

IoT/Edge Engineers design and deploy connected devices that operate at the edge — balancing connectivity, low power, performance, and data integration for industrial, consumer, and utility applications.
Salary Range: ~$100,000–$160,000+
Hiring: IoT platforms, embedded hardware teams, smart infrastructure firms

Smarter Job Discovery with DigitalHire

Instead of manually filtering through countless job boards, use DigitalHire — an AI-powered job-matching platform that connects you directly with semiconductor and hardware roles in Irvine that align with your skills and career goals:

• AI-powered matching surfaces opportunities based on your experience and aspirations.

• Video resumes help you showcase your hardware projects and communication strengths.

• Video job descriptions give you real insight into teams and technology stacks before applying.

If you’re ready to explore the Top 10 Semiconductor & Hardware Jobs in Irvine for 2026, skip the keyword grind — try DigitalHire’s AI-matching system — it’s free to join.