Plant Engineer Jobs in California

Plant Engineer jobs in California are in strong demand, concentrated in the state's manufacturing, oil and gas refining, semiconductor fabrication, and food processing sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level maintenance to senior process engineering roles. The most active hiring metros are Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Inland Empire, where established employers such as Chevron, Intel, and Procter and Gamble have long-running operations requiring plant engineering talent. The most sought-after specialties in California are process optimization, utilities management, and reliability engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles44
Top employerKaiser Permanente
Top cityRiverside, CA
Cities hiring35
Work type88% On-site
Top industryEnergy

Showing 5 of 44+ Plant Engineer jobs

Kaiser Permanente
Plant Engineer II
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Kaiser Permanente
Added 4d ago
Plant Engineer II
Kaiser Permanente
Riverside, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Maintenance & Repair
Specialized Engineering
$42.15 - $46.49/hr
CFC Universal Certification
10,000+

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Kaiser Permanente
Operating Engineer - Plant
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Kaiser Permanente
Added 4d ago
Operating Engineer - Plant
Kaiser Permanente
Harbor City, California
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$40.3 - $47.3/hr
CFC Universal Certification
10,000+

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A
Field Application Engineer- north California plant
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A
Added 1w ago
Field Application Engineer- north California plant
ApisLogic, Inc
San Jose, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Maintenance & Repair
Specialized Engineering
$81k - $139k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

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Mainspring Energy
Senior Staff Electrical Engineer - Power Plant Integration Lead
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Mainspring Energy
Added 1w ago
Senior Staff Electrical Engineer - Power Plant Integration Lead
Mainspring Energy
Menlo Park, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$209k - $246k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

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Mainspring Energy
Staff Electrical Engineer - Power Plant Integration Lead
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Mainspring Energy
Added 1w ago
Staff Electrical Engineer - Power Plant Integration Lead
Mainspring Energy
Menlo Park, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$181k - $213k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

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See All 44 Plant Engineer Jobs in California

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Plant Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Riverside
4 jobs
San Diego
3 jobs
Menlo Park
3 jobs
San Jose
2 jobs
McKittrick
2 jobs
Tracy
1 job
Ukiah
1 job
Irvine
1 job
Orange
1 job

Plant Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente7 open roles
Granite Construction
Granite Construction6 open roles
Mainspring Energy
Mainspring Energy3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy
  • Chemicals & Materials
  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Construction & Real Estate

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering from an accredited program
  • Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
  • Experience with process improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma in a manufacturing environment
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD, PLC programming, or CMMS platforms used for plant maintenance management
  • Knowledge of California OSHA Title 8 regulations and Process Safety Management requirements
  • Strong project management skills with experience coordinating capital improvement or equipment upgrade projects

Plant Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a plant engineer in California?

Most plant engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering from an ABET-accredited program. California additionally recognizes the Professional Engineer credential, which is administered by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists and requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Professional Engineering exams. Gaining the PE license significantly strengthens candidacy for senior roles, particularly in regulated industries such as refining and utilities.

How much do plant engineers make in California?

Plant 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 plant engineers in California?

Employers hiring plant engineers in California right now include Kaiser Permanente, Granite Construction, and Mainspring Energy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of refineries, semiconductor fabs, and large-scale food and beverage manufacturers means plant engineering demand is spread across multiple industry sectors statewide.

Which California cities have the most plant engineer jobs?

Riverside, San Diego, and Menlo Park are the California cities with the most plant engineer openings. Los Angeles anchors hiring through its dense concentration of aerospace, food manufacturing, and consumer goods facilities, while the Bay Area draws demand from semiconductor and technology manufacturing campuses, and the Inland Empire has grown into a logistics and light manufacturing hub that relies on plant engineers to keep large distribution and production sites running.

Are there remote plant engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Plant engineering is fundamentally hands-on work tied to physical equipment and production floors, so most roles require on-site presence. About 13% of plant engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to cover project engineering, capital planning, or technical documentation work that can be done off-site while the core operations role remains in person.

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

The most realistic entry path is an internship or co-op with a California manufacturer during your engineering degree, which frequently converts to a full-time offer. Large California employers in refining and aerospace run structured new-graduate programs that bring in junior engineers with no prior plant experience. Lateral entry from maintenance technician, process technician, or manufacturing engineer associate roles is also common, and candidates who pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists signal readiness for advancement from day one.

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

You can find and apply to plant engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search for roles that match your experience level and target industry, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 44 Plant Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Plant Engineer Jobs