Process Engineer Jobs in California

Process Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and pharmaceutical production, food and beverage processing, and petroleum refining, at every level from entry-level technician-track roles through senior and principal engineers. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Chevron, Genentech, and Intel have long maintained major California operations. The most consistently sought specialties are process optimization, cleanroom and semiconductor process engineering, and bioprocess development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles418+
Top employerTesla
Top cityFremont, CA
Cities hiring111
Work type78% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 418+ Process Engineer jobs

Applied Materials
Process Engineer
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Applied Materials
New 18h ago
Process Engineer
Applied Materials
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$100k - $137k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Meta
Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer - Lens Technical Lead
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Meta
Added 1d ago
Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer - Lens Technical Lead
Meta
Sunnyvale, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$144k - $204k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Qualcomm
Sr. Staff Packaging Engineer- Process Package Integrity & Bumping
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Qualcomm
Added 2d ago
Sr. Staff Packaging Engineer- Process Package Integrity & Bumping
Qualcomm
San Diego, California
DevOps
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$192k - $288k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Dexcom
Staff Medical Device Engineer - R&D Process Development
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Dexcom
Added 2d ago
Staff Medical Device Engineer - R&D Process Development
Dexcom
San Diego, California
Business Operations
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
$129k - $214k/yr
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

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Bachem
Safety Process Engineer
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Bachem
Added 2d ago
Safety Process Engineer
Bachem
Vista, California
Compliance & Risk
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Environmental Science
$114k.2 - $156k.41/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
501-1,000

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See All 418+ Process Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Process Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
19 jobs
Los Angeles
15 jobs
Santa Rosa
13 jobs
Goleta
12 jobs
Sunnyvale
11 jobs
Palo Alto
10 jobs

Process Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Tesla
    Tesla23
  • Applied Materials
    Applied Materials17
  • Keysight Technologies
    Keysight Technologies9
  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman8
  • Apple
    Apple7

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware29
  • Manufacturing23
  • Consulting & Professional Services18
  • Technology & Software15
  • Telecommunications3

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering or a closely related field
  • Experience with process design, optimization, or scale-up in a regulated California industry
  • Proficiency with process simulation software such as Aspen Plus or similar tools
  • Familiarity with California environmental and safety regulations including Cal/OSHA compliance
  • Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
  • Strong documentation skills and experience with ISO or GMP quality systems

Process Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a process engineer in California?

Most process engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, industrial, or a related engineering discipline. While California does not require a state license to work as a process engineer in most industry settings, engineers who offer services to the public or sign off on certain designs may pursue licensure through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Professional Engineering exams. In biotech and semiconductor roles, hands-on lab or cleanroom experience and relevant internships carry significant weight with California employers.

Which companies hire process engineers in California?

Employers hiring process engineers in California right now include Tesla, Applied Materials, and Keysight Technologies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor fabs, biopharmaceutical manufacturers, and petroleum refineries means that large, established industrial employers account for the majority of open roles across the state.

Which California cities have the most process engineer jobs?

Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose have the most process engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense concentration of semiconductor companies and biotech firms, while Los Angeles draws hiring from the aerospace, food processing, and refining sectors, and San Diego's strong life sciences cluster generates steady demand for bioprocess and pharmaceutical process engineers.

Are there remote process engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Process engineering is largely a hands-on discipline that requires physical presence on the production floor, in the lab, or inside the cleanroom, so most roles are fully on-site. About 22% of process engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those postings tend to cover upstream design work, process documentation review, or data analysis tasks that can be done off-site.

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

The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate or associate process engineer role at one of California's large manufacturers or biotech companies, many of which run formal rotational or early-career programs. Companies in California's Bay Area semiconductor corridor and San Diego life sciences community regularly hire engineers directly from university, particularly candidates who completed co-ops or capstone projects with an industrial focus. Pursuing an Engineer-in-Training designation through the California Board for Professional Engineers strengthens a resume, and experience in quality assurance, laboratory technician, or manufacturing technician roles provides a recognized lateral path into process engineering.

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

You can find and apply to process engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 418+ Process Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Process Engineer Jobs