Engineering Senior Manager Jobs in San Diego, CA
Engineering Senior Manager jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the UTC corridor, with strong demand from defense contractors, biotech firms, and semiconductor companies. Employers actively hiring include Qualcomm, Avantus, and Northrop Grumman. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 585+ Engineering Senior Manager jobs
Job ID: 115140
DRS Daylight Solutions business provides industry-changing mid-infrared laser light technology for government and commercial markets, including: defense and security; life sciences; and industrial process control. As a mid-IR technology pioneer, Daylight Solutions has delivered more mid-IR systems to more applications world-wide than any other company.
Business Unit: DRS Daylight Solutions
Location: San Diego, CA 92127
Telework Type: N/A
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: 1st
Job Summary
The Laser Technician at DRS Daylight Solutions will be responsible for material preparation, electro-optical mechanical assembly, laser alignment, test, and calibration, along with data collection and analysis in a engineering environment. The candidate will also perform rework on assemblies and/or systems in response to failures and nonconformance. This position requires a self-motivated, ambitious technician with the ability to work in a busy and rapidly changing environment.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide technical support to engineers and scientists on complex components, devices, material, products, processes and/or equipment
- Responsible for testing, modifying, reworking, and repairing electronic, optical, and mechanical assemblies
- Work from complex engineering specifications and sketches
- Build and test prototype assemblies and production units
- Use judgment to bring unit within quality control specifications
- Test, inspect, and repair electronic, optical, or mechanical assemblies
- Work under minimal supervision and may provide guidance to other technicians
- Capable of performing and implementing manufacturing processes
- Interpret and follow written documents such as SOPs and safety rules
- Ensure compliance with all safety and regulatory requirements applicable to the company in accordance with State and Federal regulations and any applicable certification required to maintain the certification
- Assist in training new team members and production staff
- Interface with other departments to assure efficient flow of information and materials
- Perform Key Performance Indicators
- Meet Engineering deadlines
- Quality of finished product (Pass/fail rates)
- Manage raw material stock levels
- Maintain cleanroom cleanliness
- Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization Perform alignment, testing, and troubleshooting of semiconductor lasers and laser optical systems
- Must use optical, mechanical, and electrical tools and test equipment for measurement, alignment, and testing
- Ability to coordinate several activities at the same time, and to reprioritize in response to changing operational conditions
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education and 5 years' experience in a related area of expertise
- Competent technical expertise
The salary range for this position is $33.19/hour - $47.47/hour. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate’s qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.
- Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Job ID: 115140
DRS Daylight Solutions business provides industry-changing mid-infrared laser light technology for government and commercial markets, including: defense and security; life sciences; and industrial process control. As a mid-IR technology pioneer, Daylight Solutions has delivered more mid-IR systems to more applications world-wide than any other company.
Business Unit: DRS Daylight Solutions
Location: San Diego, CA 92127
Telework Type: N/A
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: 1st
Job Summary
The Laser Technician at DRS Daylight Solutions will be responsible for material preparation, electro-optical mechanical assembly, laser alignment, test, and calibration, along with data collection and analysis in a engineering environment. The candidate will also perform rework on assemblies and/or systems in response to failures and nonconformance. This position requires a self-motivated, ambitious technician with the ability to work in a busy and rapidly changing environment.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide technical support to engineers and scientists on complex components, devices, material, products, processes and/or equipment
- Responsible for testing, modifying, reworking, and repairing electronic, optical, and mechanical assemblies
- Work from complex engineering specifications and sketches
- Build and test prototype assemblies and production units
- Use judgment to bring unit within quality control specifications
- Test, inspect, and repair electronic, optical, or mechanical assemblies
- Work under minimal supervision and may provide guidance to other technicians
- Capable of performing and implementing manufacturing processes
- Interpret and follow written documents such as SOPs and safety rules
- Ensure compliance with all safety and regulatory requirements applicable to the company in accordance with State and Federal regulations and any applicable certification required to maintain the certification
- Assist in training new team members and production staff
- Interface with other departments to assure efficient flow of information and materials
- Perform Key Performance Indicators
- Meet Engineering deadlines
- Quality of finished product (Pass/fail rates)
- Manage raw material stock levels
- Maintain cleanroom cleanliness
- Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization Perform alignment, testing, and troubleshooting of semiconductor lasers and laser optical systems
- Must use optical, mechanical, and electrical tools and test equipment for measurement, alignment, and testing
- Ability to coordinate several activities at the same time, and to reprioritize in response to changing operational conditions
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education and 5 years' experience in a related area of expertise
- Competent technical expertise
The salary range for this position is $33.19/hour - $47.47/hour. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate’s qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.
- Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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Find JobsEngineering Senior Manager Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm54
- Avantus41
- Northrop Grumman41
- Apple27
- L3Harris27
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software41
- Electronics & Hardware41
- Construction & Real Estate41
- Telecommunications27
- Consulting & Professional Services27
Engineering Senior Manager Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a engineering senior manager job in San Diego?
Focus your search on San Diego's defense and aerospace corridor in Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley, where engineering leadership roles are most concentrated. Biotech and medical device companies in Torrey Pines and UTC also hire regularly at this level. Candidates with cross-functional program experience, security clearance eligibility, and familiarity with government contract environments tend to move faster through hiring in this market.
Which companies hire engineering senior managers in San Diego?
Companies currently hiring engineering senior managers in San Diego include Qualcomm, Avantus, and Northrop Grumman, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's employer base skews toward defense primes, life sciences companies, and semiconductor manufacturers, many of which maintain large engineering organizations with ongoing senior management needs.
Are there remote engineering senior manager jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though the role is often limited in remote flexibility given its emphasis on team oversight, cross-functional coordination, and site-level accountability. About 43% of engineering senior manager openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid arrangements more common at software-adjacent and systems engineering firms in UTC and downtown.
How can I get a engineering senior manager job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a team lead or principal engineer role at one of San Diego's mid-size defense subcontractors or biotech companies, where promotion to senior management is often internal. Companies in Sorrento Valley and Kearny Mesa regularly develop engineers into people managers. Building experience managing projects, budgets, or small teams within those environments is the clearest route to a senior manager title locally.
Which industries hire the most engineering senior managers in San Diego?
San Diego engineering senior manager roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Construction & Real Estate, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's strong defense contracting base, nationally significant biotech cluster, and growing semiconductor presence consistently generate senior engineering leadership demand across those sectors.
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