Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California
Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California rank among the most active in the nation, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor fabrication, medical devices, and electric vehicle production, with openings at every level from entry-level process engineer through principal and senior systems roles. The largest hiring clusters are in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers such as Northrop Grumman, Applied Materials, and Edwards Lifesciences maintain significant engineering workforces. The most consistent demand is for engineers with expertise in lean manufacturing, process validation, and automation systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 871+ Manufacturing Engineer jobs
Company description
At Inneos, LLC, we design and manufacture advanced VCSEL-based optical components, subsystems, and end-user products for the medical, military, aerospace, and AI infrastructure markets. Our technology powers high-definition optical interconnects for operating rooms, flight control systems, and autonomous vehicle applications. As we continue to expand into high-speed datacom, optical sensing, and industrial automation, we are building the next generation of photonic and high-speed electronic solutions.
With operations in Pleasanton, CA; Alpharetta, GA; and Zephyr Cove, NV, Inneos offers engineers the opportunity to solve challenging technical problems and develop innovative products from concept through production.
Position Summary:
Inneos is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to lead the selection, implementation, programming, qualification, and ongoing support of precision manufacturing equipment. This hands-on role will expand and improve manufacturing capabilities for optoelectronic components and assemblies. The engineer will own equipment performance in production and drive improvements in uptime, throughput, process repeatability, and yield.
Key Responsibilities:
Equipment selection & qualification
- Identify automation opportunities; evaluate equipment, suppliers, capabilities, and cost.
- Lead equipment specification, procurement support, installation, integration, commissioning, and qualification.
- Establish acceptance criteria and ensure equipment is ready for reliable production.
Programming & process development
- Program, configure, and optimize equipment, motion sequences, recipes, and process parameters.
- Develop robust, repeatable processes, operating procedures, and process controls; integrate equipment into existing workflows.
Production ownership & improvement
- Own production equipment performance, reliability, and maintenance; provide hands-on troubleshooting and technical support.
- Investigate equipment failures, process variation, and yield issues; determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Improve uptime, throughput, repeatability, and capacity; develop preventive maintenance plans and support operator training.
Fixtures, tooling & mechanical solutions
- Design and prototype fixtures, tooling, and mechanical solutions for equipment integration, product handling, alignment, and assembly.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5 - 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience in an electronics manufacturing environment supporting precision automated equipment.
- Experience with several of the following: precision pick-and-place, wire bonding, automated adhesive dispensing, precision alignment/assembly, and micron-level metrology.
- Demonstrated ability to select, program, qualify, troubleshoot, and maintain automated equipment, from initial evaluation through production deployment and sustaining support.
- Strong mechanical aptitude, practical problem-solving skills, and ability to work independently across engineering, manufacturing, and operations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in precision optoelectronic, semiconductor, microelectronics, photonics, or other high-precision manufacturing.
- SolidWorks or equivalent CAD; fixture/tooling design; manual or CNC machining; and/or 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
- Experience with machine vision, motion control, robotics, automated inspection, SPC, process capability, or manufacturing data analysis.
- Experience working with equipment suppliers and developing custom automation solutions
Travel Requirements :
- Frequency: Occasional travel (typically 10% – 15%).
- Scope: May include domestic travel between Inneos locations (Pleasanton, CA; Alpharetta, GA; Zephyr Cove, NV) or visits to key manufacturing partners and customer sites as needed for product deployment, NPI bring-up, or supplier collaboration.
Why Join Inneos?
This role offers direct ownership across the entire product lifecycle—from initial engineering decisions to factory floor deployment. Candidates who thrive on multi-disciplinary engineering, fast-paced execution, and hands-on problem solving will quickly gain high-impact technical leadership in a collaborative, agile environment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status?
Ability to Commute:
- Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Pleasanton, CA 94588: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Company description
At Inneos, LLC, we design and manufacture advanced VCSEL-based optical components, subsystems, and end-user products for the medical, military, aerospace, and AI infrastructure markets. Our technology powers high-definition optical interconnects for operating rooms, flight control systems, and autonomous vehicle applications. As we continue to expand into high-speed datacom, optical sensing, and industrial automation, we are building the next generation of photonic and high-speed electronic solutions.
With operations in Pleasanton, CA; Alpharetta, GA; and Zephyr Cove, NV, Inneos offers engineers the opportunity to solve challenging technical problems and develop innovative products from concept through production.
Position Summary:
Inneos is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to lead the selection, implementation, programming, qualification, and ongoing support of precision manufacturing equipment. This hands-on role will expand and improve manufacturing capabilities for optoelectronic components and assemblies. The engineer will own equipment performance in production and drive improvements in uptime, throughput, process repeatability, and yield.
Key Responsibilities:
Equipment selection & qualification
- Identify automation opportunities; evaluate equipment, suppliers, capabilities, and cost.
- Lead equipment specification, procurement support, installation, integration, commissioning, and qualification.
- Establish acceptance criteria and ensure equipment is ready for reliable production.
Programming & process development
- Program, configure, and optimize equipment, motion sequences, recipes, and process parameters.
- Develop robust, repeatable processes, operating procedures, and process controls; integrate equipment into existing workflows.
Production ownership & improvement
- Own production equipment performance, reliability, and maintenance; provide hands-on troubleshooting and technical support.
- Investigate equipment failures, process variation, and yield issues; determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Improve uptime, throughput, repeatability, and capacity; develop preventive maintenance plans and support operator training.
Fixtures, tooling & mechanical solutions
- Design and prototype fixtures, tooling, and mechanical solutions for equipment integration, product handling, alignment, and assembly.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5 - 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience in an electronics manufacturing environment supporting precision automated equipment.
- Experience with several of the following: precision pick-and-place, wire bonding, automated adhesive dispensing, precision alignment/assembly, and micron-level metrology.
- Demonstrated ability to select, program, qualify, troubleshoot, and maintain automated equipment, from initial evaluation through production deployment and sustaining support.
- Strong mechanical aptitude, practical problem-solving skills, and ability to work independently across engineering, manufacturing, and operations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in precision optoelectronic, semiconductor, microelectronics, photonics, or other high-precision manufacturing.
- SolidWorks or equivalent CAD; fixture/tooling design; manual or CNC machining; and/or 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
- Experience with machine vision, motion control, robotics, automated inspection, SPC, process capability, or manufacturing data analysis.
- Experience working with equipment suppliers and developing custom automation solutions
Travel Requirements :
- Frequency: Occasional travel (typically 10% – 15%).
- Scope: May include domestic travel between Inneos locations (Pleasanton, CA; Alpharetta, GA; Zephyr Cove, NV) or visits to key manufacturing partners and customer sites as needed for product deployment, NPI bring-up, or supplier collaboration.
Why Join Inneos?
This role offers direct ownership across the entire product lifecycle—from initial engineering decisions to factory floor deployment. Candidates who thrive on multi-disciplinary engineering, fast-paced execution, and hands-on problem solving will quickly gain high-impact technical leadership in a collaborative, agile environment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status?
Ability to Commute:
- Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Pleasanton, CA 94588: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 871+ Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing Engineer JobsManufacturing Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Tesla90
- Anduril68
- Apple37
- Relativity Space23
- Lockheed Martin21
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing19
- Electronics & Hardware18
- Technology & Software6
- Medical Devices5
- Staffing & Recruiting5
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an accredited program
- Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Siemens NX
- Experience applying lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen methodologies on the production floor
- Hands-on knowledge of GD&T, FMEA, and process validation in regulated California industries
- Familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, or FDA 21 CFR Part 820 quality standards common in California sectors
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills working with supply chain, quality, and design engineering teams
Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a manufacturing engineer in California?
A bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an ABET-accredited program is the standard entry point for manufacturing engineer roles in California. While California does not require a state-issued license solely to work as a manufacturing engineer, engineers who sign off on public-facing designs may pursue licensure as a Professional Engineer through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Employers in aerospace, medical devices, and semiconductor manufacturing often expect familiarity with industry-specific quality standards before hiring.
How much do manufacturing engineers make in California?
Manufacturing engineers in California earn a median of about $124,600 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,900 for the lowest 10% to over $172,870 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire manufacturing engineers in California?
Employers hiring manufacturing engineers in California right now include Tesla, Anduril, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, medical device makers, and EV manufacturers means demand extends well beyond a handful of headline names.
Which California cities have the most manufacturing engineer jobs?
Fremont, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles are the California cities with the most manufacturing engineer openings, driven by the Bay Area's semiconductor and clean-tech corridors, Los Angeles's aerospace and defense contractors, and San Diego's medical device cluster anchored by companies such as Dexcom, Illumina, and Medtronic's local operations.
Are there remote manufacturing engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 15% of manufacturing engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the role depends on physical presence on the production floor or in the lab. Process and systems engineering tasks, along with documentation and supplier quality work, are the sub-functions most likely to appear in hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a manufacturing engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a new-graduate or rotational engineering program at a large California manufacturer. Companies such as Northrop Grumman, Medtronic, and Applied Materials run structured early-career programs that place candidates in manufacturing roles without requiring prior industry experience. Internships completed during a California university engineering program carry significant weight. Lateral candidates moving from quality technician, manufacturing associate, or CNC machinist roles also gain traction, particularly when they pair hands-on production knowledge with a Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt credential.
Where can I find and apply to manufacturing engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to manufacturing engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across aerospace, medical devices, semiconductors, and EV manufacturing. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to each one.
See All 871+ Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing Engineer Jobs