Semiconductor Design Engineer Jobs in Irvine, CA
Orange County is Southern California's semiconductor center, and Irvine sits in the middle of it. Broadcom runs its Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and broadband divisions here, Skyworks Solutions is headquartered in the city, and a long tail of wireless and consumer IC companies fills in around them.
Semiconductor design engineer openings in Irvine lean toward wireless connectivity IC design, broadband PHY and DOCSIS work, and RF front-end module design. Analog and mixed-signal CMOS roles are well represented too, which reflects how RF-heavy the local employers are. If you have taped out a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth SoC, or built DOCSIS PHY, this is one of the few metros where that background stays in steady demand.
Broadcom hires across wireless connectivity, video streaming, and cable access chips. Skyworks hires RF front-end and mixed-signal engineers from its Irvine headquarters. Smaller RF and mixed-signal shops around Newport Beach, Lake Forest, and Aliso Viejo round out the market.
UC Irvine's engineering program feeds local RF and analog teams, and the city's spot between Los Angeles and San Diego makes it easy to interview across the whole Southern California cluster.
Irvine pay tracks Southern California norms, generally below the Bay Area but supported by housing costs lower than Silicon Valley. Our salary guide covers ranges by role and seniority.
For related Southern California listings, see San Diego chip design engineer jobs and Broadcom physical design engineer roles. Set up an Irvine job alert on SemiDesignJobs and new matching roles land in your inbox.
FAQ
What semiconductor companies are based in Irvine and Orange County?
Broadcom's wireless connectivity divisions (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and broadband), Skyworks Solutions (Irvine headquarters), and several smaller RF and mixed-signal IC companies operate in Orange County. Broadcom also runs video streaming and cable access chip teams in the region.
What chip design specializations are strongest in the Irvine semiconductor market?
Wireless connectivity IC design (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee), RF IC design, broadband PHY and DOCSIS chip design, and mixed-signal CMOS design are the strongest specializations in the Irvine and Orange County market.
How is the quality of life for semiconductor engineers in Irvine?
Irvine consistently ranks among the safest and most livable US cities, with strong schools, abundant outdoor recreation, and a warm climate. Housing costs are high but generally lower than the Bay Area, which makes Irvine attractive to engineers who want work-life balance.