Costa Mesa's Hardware Heritage
While software often captures headlines, hardware remains the foundation of every technological breakthrough. Costa Mesa and the surrounding Orange County region have a rich history in electronics, aerospace, materials science, and medical devices. Engineers here design and build components that power data centers, smartphones, vehicles, defense systems, and life-saving medical equipment.
The region's manufacturing strength is supported by a skilled workforce, strong engineering programs at nearby universities, and a dense network of suppliers and contract manufacturers. Costa Mesa's central location, with easy access to ports and airports, also makes it practical for companies that ship products worldwide.
How We Chose These Manufacturers
We evaluated companies based on engineering innovation, product quality, manufacturing capability, industry influence, and their presence in Costa Mesa or the immediate Orange County area.
The Top 10 Hardware Manufacturers in and Around Costa Mesa
1. Anduril Industries
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, Anduril Industries designs and manufactures autonomous systems, including unmanned aircraft, underwater vehicles, and sensor towers. Its approach integrates advanced hardware with AI software, and its investment in large-scale manufacturing reflects a renewed focus on building critical technology domestically.
2. Ceradyne
Ceradyne, a Costa Mesa company now part of 3M, is known for advanced technical ceramics. Its materials are used in body armor, industrial components, semiconductor equipment, and automotive applications, where strength, heat resistance, and light weight are essential.
3. Kingston Technology
Based in nearby Fountain Valley, Kingston Technology is one of the largest independent manufacturers of memory products in the world. Its RAM modules, solid-state drives, and flash storage are trusted by consumers, gamers, and enterprises for performance and reliability.
4. Vizio
Vizio, headquartered in Irvine, designs televisions and sound bars that are sold across North America. The company combines hardware design with its own smart TV platform, delivering strong value and features to millions of households.
5. Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions has a major Orange County presence and develops analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Its components enable wireless connectivity in smartphones, vehicles, industrial equipment, and connected devices.
6. Broadcom
Broadcom maintains significant engineering operations in Irvine and designs semiconductors for networking, broadband, storage, and wireless communications. Its chips are found in data centers, home routers, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.
7. TTM Technologies
Headquartered in nearby Santa Ana, TTM Technologies is a leading manufacturer of printed circuit boards and radio frequency components. It serves aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, and networking industries with precision electronics manufacturing.
8. Masimo
Masimo, based in Irvine, manufactures noninvasive patient monitoring technologies, including pulse oximetry sensors used in hospitals around the world. Its innovation in medical hardware has made it a leader in patient safety.
9. Western Digital
Western Digital has long-standing roots in Orange County and is a major manufacturer of data storage devices, including hard drives used in data centers and consumer storage products. Its technology supports the massive growth in global data.
10. Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences, headquartered in Irvine, designs and manufactures heart valves and critical care monitoring systems. Its precision medical devices have transformed treatment for patients with structural heart disease.
Hardware Manufacturing Trends in 2026
Domestic manufacturing is experiencing renewed investment, driven by supply chain resilience concerns and national security priorities. Companies are building new facilities in the United States and adopting automation, robotics, and digital twins to improve efficiency.
Demand for AI hardware, including specialized chips, memory, and high-speed networking components, is surging. At the same time, medical device innovation continues to thrive in Orange County, supported by close collaboration between engineers, clinicians, and researchers.
Why Costa Mesa Is Attractive for Hardware Companies
Costa Mesa offers access to experienced engineers, machinists, and technicians, along with a supportive ecosystem of suppliers and testing labs. Its proximity to aerospace and medical device clusters allows companies to collaborate and recruit talent efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of hardware are made in the Costa Mesa area? The region produces memory and storage devices, semiconductors, printed circuit boards, advanced ceramics, medical devices, consumer electronics, and autonomous defense systems.
Are there career opportunities in hardware engineering? Yes. Companies across Orange County regularly hire electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and quality engineers, as well as skilled technicians.
Do these companies work with startups? Many component manufacturers and contract partners in the region support startups with prototyping and small production runs.
Why do so many hardware companies cluster in Orange County? The region combines decades of aerospace and electronics expertise, an experienced manufacturing workforce, strong universities, and access to major ports, creating an ecosystem where suppliers, engineers, and manufacturers can collaborate closely.
How is automation changing local manufacturing? Robotics, machine vision inspection, and data-driven process control are improving quality and productivity, allowing Orange County manufacturers to compete globally while keeping advanced production close to home.
Final Thoughts
Costa Mesa and its Orange County neighbors are home to hardware manufacturers that shape industries from healthcare to defense and consumer electronics. The companies on this list demonstrate the region's enduring strength in building the physical technology that modern life depends on.