Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs in California

Mechanical Project Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and advanced medical devices across a hiring market that runs from entry-level design roles through senior program leads. The largest hiring metros are Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Diego, where employers such as Northrop Grumman, Applied Materials, and Qualcomm maintain deep engineering headcounts. The most in-demand specialties are thermal systems, electromechanical integration, and capital project delivery for semiconductor fabs and clean-energy facilities. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles41
Top employerRIMEPRO
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring22
Work type60% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 41+ Mechanical Project Engineer jobs

Power Generation Project Engineer, Associate (Mechanical)
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New 9h ago
Power Generation Project Engineer, Associate (Mechanical)
Pacific Gas and Electric
Angels Camp, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Operations
$100k - $150k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Mechanical Project Manager - Commercial HVAC
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Added 3d ago
Mechanical Project Manager - Commercial HVAC
AlphaX
Orange, California
Construction Management
Program Management
Project Management

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Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager
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Added 1w ago
Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager
Terminal Engineering and manufacturing
Berkeley, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
$50 - $70/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Sr. Engineer - Mechanical Project - Manufacturing
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Added 1w ago
Sr. Engineer - Mechanical Project - Manufacturing
Peninsula Plastics Recycling
Turlock, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$90k - $120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
11-50

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Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical Systems
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Added 2w ago
Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical Systems
Ambi Robotics
Berkeley, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Systems Administration
Technical Program Management
$125k - $150k/yr

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See All 41 Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs in California

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Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
5 jobs
San Francisco
5 jobs
Sacramento
4 jobs
Irvine
3 jobs
San Jose
3 jobs
Anaheim
2 jobs
Berkeley
2 jobs
El Cajon
2 jobs
San Diego
2 jobs

Mechanical Project Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • RIMEPRO12
  • Affiliated Engineers6
  • EMCOR3
  • HNTB Corporation2
  • Design West Engineering2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Construction & Real Estate

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in mechanical project engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or closely related engineering discipline required
  • Professional Engineer license from the California Board for Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists preferred for senior roles
  • Three or more years of project engineering or project management experience in a relevant California industry
  • Demonstrated proficiency with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent 3D mechanical design software
  • Experience managing project scope, schedules, and budgets from concept through closeout
  • Familiarity with California Title 24 energy codes and applicable ASME or ASTM standards

Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a mechanical project engineer in California?

Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET-accredited program as the baseline. From there, candidates typically gain two to four years in a design or project coordination role before moving into a dedicated project engineer position. For roles in public infrastructure, utilities, or consulting, a Professional Engineer license issued by the California Board for Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists significantly improves advancement prospects and is often required to stamp drawings or lead permitted projects.

How much do mechanical project engineers make in California?

Mechanical project engineers in California earn a median of about $130,900 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $82,070 for the lowest 10% to over $203,620 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire mechanical project engineers in California?

Employers hiring mechanical project engineers in California right now include RIMEPRO, Affiliated Engineers, and EMCOR, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor equipment makers, and clean-energy developers means demand is spread across multiple high-growth industries rather than tied to any single sector.

Which California cities have the most mechanical project engineer jobs?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento consistently post the most mechanical project engineer openings in California. Los Angeles anchors the aerospace and defense corridor, San Jose sits at the center of semiconductor and cleantech manufacturing, and San Diego draws demand from defense contractors and biomedical device companies, which is why smaller suburban engineering parks around those metros often appear in listings alongside the core cities.

Are there remote mechanical project engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical roles because the work regularly involves site visits, lab testing, and hands-on coordination with fabrication teams. About 40% of mechanical project engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most of those positions focused on the documentation, scheduling, and vendor management portions of the role rather than the physical design and commissioning stages.

How can I get hired as a mechanical project engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is landing a mechanical engineer or project coordinator role at a California defense contractor or semiconductor equipment manufacturer that runs structured rotational or new-graduate programs, such as those offered by large Los Angeles and South Bay employers. Building toward an Engineer-in-Training registration through the California Board for Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists signals seriousness to hiring managers. Lateral moves from adjacent roles like manufacturing engineer, test engineer, or facilities engineer are common stepping stones into the project engineering track.

Where can I find and apply to mechanical project engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to mechanical project engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to California employers. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 41 Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs in California

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