Aerospace Jobs in California

Aerospace jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense systems, commercial aviation, satellite technology, and space launch across a range of levels from early-career technicians and engineers through senior program managers and systems architects. Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Antelope Valley are the primary hiring hubs, home to long-established employers like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, with consistent demand for propulsion engineers, systems engineers, and avionics specialists. California's dense cluster of defense contractors, national laboratories, and commercial space ventures creates sustained hiring pressure that few other states can match. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles137+
Top employerPPG
Top cityTorrance, CA
Cities hiring58
Work type86% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 4 of 137+ Aerospace jobs

Marvin Engineering
QUALITY ENGINEER IV (Aerospace & Defense)
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Marvin Engineering
Added 1d ago
QUALITY ENGINEER IV (Aerospace & Defense)
Marvin Engineering
Inglewood, California
Corporate Training
Educational Administration
Learning & Development
$130k - $165k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
501-1,000

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FTAI Aviation
TIG Welder (Aerospace Components)
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FTAI Aviation
Added 1d ago
TIG Welder (Aerospace Components)
FTAI Aviation
Orange, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$25 - $30/hr
High school diploma or GED

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V
Aerospace Program Specialist
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V
Added 1d ago
Aerospace Program Specialist
VALBRUNA
Chino, California
Program Management
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Bachelor's degree

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Baumann Engineering
Aerospace Inspector-QA
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Baumann Engineering
Added 1d ago
Aerospace Inspector-QA
Baumann Engineering
San Dimas, California
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$23 - $26/hr
On-Site

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Aerospace Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Torrance
12 jobs
Pomona
6 jobs
Inglewood
6 jobs
San Diego
6 jobs
Sylmar
5 jobs
Santa Ana
5 jobs
Brea
4 jobs
Orange
4 jobs
Tustin
4 jobs

Aerospace Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

PPG
PPG6 open roles
Trigo
Trigo6 open roles
Howmet Aerospace
Howmet Aerospace6 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Chemicals & Materials
  • Aerospace & Defense

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in aerospace jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering from an accredited institution
  • Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one for defense-related positions
  • Proficiency in CAD tools such as CATIA, NX, or SolidWorks for design and analysis roles
  • Experience with systems engineering processes, requirements management, or model-based systems engineering
  • Familiarity with FAA regulations, MIL-SPEC standards, or AS9100 quality management systems
  • Strong background in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for simulation, modeling, and data analysis

Aerospace Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a aerospace in California?

Aerospace roles in California typically require a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an accredited program. California does not issue a state aerospace license, but engineers who sign off on public-safety designs may need a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Defense and government-contractor roles additionally require obtaining a security clearance through the relevant federal agency before starting work.

Which companies hire aerospaces in California?

Employers hiring aerospaces in California right now include PPG, Trigo, and Howmet Aerospace, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of defense primes, commercial space companies, and satellite manufacturers means openings appear across a wider range of employer types here than in most other states.

Which California cities have the most aerospace jobs?

Torrance, Pomona, and Inglewood have the most aerospace openings in California. Los Angeles and its surrounding areas anchor the market through major defense contractors and space-launch companies headquartered there, while San Diego's naval installations and defense systems firms drive demand in the south, and the Antelope Valley cities of Palmdale and Lancaster support a dense cluster of aircraft manufacturing and flight-test operations.

Are there remote aerospace jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Most aerospace work involves hands-on lab environments, classified facilities, or physical hardware that requires on-site presence. About 14% of aerospace openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in software-heavy specialties such as simulation engineering, data analysis, and mission planning rather than in design, manufacturing, or test roles.

How can I get hired as a aerospace in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a university co-op or internship program before graduating, since employers like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin run structured early-career pipelines at their Southern California campuses that frequently convert to full-time offers. Graduates can also target associate systems engineer, junior stress analyst, or manufacturing engineer roles at Tier-2 defense suppliers throughout the Los Angeles Basin, where competition is less intense than at the primes. Building a portfolio of relevant academic projects and obtaining a security-clearance eligibility determination early gives candidates a meaningful edge.

Where can I find and apply to aerospace jobs in California?

You can find and apply to aerospace jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring right now. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 137+ Aerospace Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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