DECaF Fall 2026 - Disciplines of Engineering Career Fair
Student-run, engineering-only, 1,000-plus attendees and recruiters who came specifically for engineers.
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
What this event is
DECaF is the annual student-run engineering career fair hosted by the Triton Engineering Student Council at UC San Diego. It draws over 1,000 engineering students and features networking, recruiting sessions and resume feedback. Fall 2026 runs October 13 at Price Center West Ballroom A.
Roles you will actually see
Who should go
UCSD engineering and CS students who want a smaller, engineering-only room than the arena fair.
DECaF is the better fair for software people at UCSD because every recruiter in the room wants engineers. The company list posts close to the date, so check the site the week before and rank your top eight booths. Expect Qualcomm, local hardware and defense names, plus startups; the defense ones will need citizenship, so ask up front. Bring a resume with a projects section, since student-run fairs reward tangible builds over GPA.
Show up prepared
- 1Check decafatucsd.com the week of the fair for the confirmed company list.
- 2Bring 20 printed resumes with a projects section and GitHub link.
- 3Attend the resume-feedback table first thing, then hit booths with the revised copy.
Sponsorship reality
Sponsorship varies by employer. No organizer publishes sponsorship. Check each employer you plan to meet against H-1B disclosure data before you go, and ask in the first two minutes so neither side wastes the conversation.
Showing up is half of it.
The other half is being first to the roles these employers post, and having something real to show when you get there.
See roles the minute they go live, tailor one resume per employer, and reach the hiring manager directly. Walk into the event as a follow-up, not a stranger.
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