Process Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Process Engineering Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with steady demand concentrated in semiconductor fabrication, biotechnology, food and beverage production, and aerospace manufacturing at levels from lead engineer through senior director. The Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego account for the largest share of openings, where employers such as Intel, Genentech, and Northrop Grumman maintain deep process engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties include continuous improvement, lean Six Sigma implementation, and process validation for regulated industries. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 46+ Process Engineering Manager jobs
We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.
Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfill their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.
Job Description
We will consider candidates in Foster City, El Segundo, Oceanside and Thousand Oaks, CA
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic and Functional Leadership
- Set the Internal Operations strategy, priorities, governance, and resource plan in alignment with Network MSAT, Process Development and Manufacturing-site needs, and enterprise objective.
- Lead project leaders and technical SMEs by establishing clear accountabilities, decision rights, and escalation pathways.
- Build a capable, inclusive, and accountable team; develop successors and strengthen project leadership, process stewardship, and investigation capabilities.
- Serve as the primary connection between Network MSAT and manufacturing sites, translating site priorities and technical risks into network actions.
- Define and monitor practical measures for portfolio delivery, process-document maturity, investigation effectiveness, risk reduction, and realized business value.
- Advise the Head of Network MSAT and senior stakeholders on operational risk, organizational capability, deploy resources and investments, as required, to deliver near- and long-term objectives, in a scalable manner.
- Provide leadership during high-impact manufacturing events, risks, regulatory challenges, and technical investigations; with clear executive communication.
Global Project and Portfolio Leadership
- Accountable for leading a focused portfolio of highly-complex, cross-site MSAT projects with clear outcomes, milestones, resources, risks, and governance.
- Partner with cGML and Process Design to reflect lessons learned and improvements made to our commercial operations, which has strengthened process robustness, operational readiness, and cost effectiveness.
- Integrate project execution with validation, regulatory, supply, and site implementation plans to support predictable delivery.
Process Stewardship and Standardization
- Own the governance and lifecycle of standardized global process documentation, including enhanced Process Description Reports (ePDRs).
- Lead global MSAT impact assessments for change controls and lifecycle changes to maintain cross-site consistency and reduce process drift.
- Expand process stewardship to pFMEAs, control strategy linkages, reusable technical knowledge, and effective handoffs into routine operations.
Global Investigations and Technical Problem Solving
- Lead complex cross-site investigations involving process performance, critical quality attributes, comparability, assay variability, and recurring manufacturing issues.
- Establish a consistent global investigation framework, including trigger and escalation criteria, a practical playbook, analytical tools, and lessons learned.
- Ensure investigation conclusions are scientifically sound and translated into sustainable process improvements or lifecycle actions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or a related scientific/engineering discipline with 12+ years of relevant experience; OR a Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; OR a PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience.
- Significant people-leadership experience, including leading multidisciplinary technical teams in a regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs across multiple sites or business units, including strategy, governance, prioritization, resource planning, risk management, and delivery through others.
- Demonstrated leadership of global or cross-site investigations involving process performance trends, critical quality attributes, comparability, assay or method variability, and product-impact assessment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting cGMP manufacturing, process lifecycle management, technical investigations, change impact assessment, CAPA, and inspection readiness.
- Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, apply systems thinking, influence senior stakeholders without direct authority, and translate technical risks into clear business decisions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with senior leaders and represent the organization in high-stakes technical and operational forums.
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to align senior stakeholders and lead effectively without direct authority.
- Clear, concise, and audience-appropriate communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical topics into business decisions.
- High learning agility, sound judgment, and comfort operating through ambiguity, changing priorities, and incomplete information.
- Demonstrated emotional intelligence, active listening, constructive challenge, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to balance urgent operational needs and longer-term capability development.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Direct experience across MSAT, Manufacturing, Quality, Lifecycle Management, Technology Transfer, and/or Process Development.
- Experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, viral vector, biologics, aseptic processing, or other complex biotechnology manufacturing platforms.
- Experience leading technology transfers, new product introductions, validation/PPQ, comparability, continued process verification, and post-approval lifecycle changes.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Operational Excellence, DMAIC, statistical process control, Quality by Design, FMEA, and structured root cause analysis.
- Experience using data, analytics, automation, or digital tools to improve portfolio decisions, technical investigations, process monitoring, and knowledge management.
- Proven success developing technical experts, establishing new organizational capabilities, and leading transformation while sustaining near-term business delivery.
The salary range for this position is:
Other US Locations: $205,615.00 - $266,090.00.
Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.
For additional benefits information, visit:
https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing
* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma .
For jobs in the United States:
Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.
For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.
NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.
Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.
Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.
For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:
Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.
We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.
Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfill their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.
Job Description
We will consider candidates in Foster City, El Segundo, Oceanside and Thousand Oaks, CA
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic and Functional Leadership
- Set the Internal Operations strategy, priorities, governance, and resource plan in alignment with Network MSAT, Process Development and Manufacturing-site needs, and enterprise objective.
- Lead project leaders and technical SMEs by establishing clear accountabilities, decision rights, and escalation pathways.
- Build a capable, inclusive, and accountable team; develop successors and strengthen project leadership, process stewardship, and investigation capabilities.
- Serve as the primary connection between Network MSAT and manufacturing sites, translating site priorities and technical risks into network actions.
- Define and monitor practical measures for portfolio delivery, process-document maturity, investigation effectiveness, risk reduction, and realized business value.
- Advise the Head of Network MSAT and senior stakeholders on operational risk, organizational capability, deploy resources and investments, as required, to deliver near- and long-term objectives, in a scalable manner.
- Provide leadership during high-impact manufacturing events, risks, regulatory challenges, and technical investigations; with clear executive communication.
Global Project and Portfolio Leadership
- Accountable for leading a focused portfolio of highly-complex, cross-site MSAT projects with clear outcomes, milestones, resources, risks, and governance.
- Partner with cGML and Process Design to reflect lessons learned and improvements made to our commercial operations, which has strengthened process robustness, operational readiness, and cost effectiveness.
- Integrate project execution with validation, regulatory, supply, and site implementation plans to support predictable delivery.
Process Stewardship and Standardization
- Own the governance and lifecycle of standardized global process documentation, including enhanced Process Description Reports (ePDRs).
- Lead global MSAT impact assessments for change controls and lifecycle changes to maintain cross-site consistency and reduce process drift.
- Expand process stewardship to pFMEAs, control strategy linkages, reusable technical knowledge, and effective handoffs into routine operations.
Global Investigations and Technical Problem Solving
- Lead complex cross-site investigations involving process performance, critical quality attributes, comparability, assay variability, and recurring manufacturing issues.
- Establish a consistent global investigation framework, including trigger and escalation criteria, a practical playbook, analytical tools, and lessons learned.
- Ensure investigation conclusions are scientifically sound and translated into sustainable process improvements or lifecycle actions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or a related scientific/engineering discipline with 12+ years of relevant experience; OR a Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; OR a PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience.
- Significant people-leadership experience, including leading multidisciplinary technical teams in a regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs across multiple sites or business units, including strategy, governance, prioritization, resource planning, risk management, and delivery through others.
- Demonstrated leadership of global or cross-site investigations involving process performance trends, critical quality attributes, comparability, assay or method variability, and product-impact assessment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting cGMP manufacturing, process lifecycle management, technical investigations, change impact assessment, CAPA, and inspection readiness.
- Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, apply systems thinking, influence senior stakeholders without direct authority, and translate technical risks into clear business decisions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with senior leaders and represent the organization in high-stakes technical and operational forums.
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to align senior stakeholders and lead effectively without direct authority.
- Clear, concise, and audience-appropriate communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical topics into business decisions.
- High learning agility, sound judgment, and comfort operating through ambiguity, changing priorities, and incomplete information.
- Demonstrated emotional intelligence, active listening, constructive challenge, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to balance urgent operational needs and longer-term capability development.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Direct experience across MSAT, Manufacturing, Quality, Lifecycle Management, Technology Transfer, and/or Process Development.
- Experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, viral vector, biologics, aseptic processing, or other complex biotechnology manufacturing platforms.
- Experience leading technology transfers, new product introductions, validation/PPQ, comparability, continued process verification, and post-approval lifecycle changes.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Operational Excellence, DMAIC, statistical process control, Quality by Design, FMEA, and structured root cause analysis.
- Experience using data, analytics, automation, or digital tools to improve portfolio decisions, technical investigations, process monitoring, and knowledge management.
- Proven success developing technical experts, establishing new organizational capabilities, and leading transformation while sustaining near-term business delivery.
The salary range for this position is:
Other US Locations: $205,615.00 - $266,090.00.
Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.
For additional benefits information, visit:
https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing
* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma .
For jobs in the United States:
Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.
For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.
NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.
Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.
Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.
For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:
Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.
See All 46 Process Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsProcess Engineering Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Process Engineering Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in process engineering manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering required by most California employers
- Minimum five years of process engineering experience with at least two in a supervisory role
- Demonstrated expertise in lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies, with certification preferred
- Experience with regulated California industries such as biotech, semiconductor, or food production
- Proficiency with process simulation software and statistical analysis tools used in California facilities
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills for working with California operations, quality, and regulatory teams
Process Engineering Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a process engineering manager in California?
The typical path starts with a bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering, followed by several years as a process engineer before moving into management. California does not require a state-issued license specifically for this management role, though a Professional Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists strengthens candidacy in regulated industries. Employers in biotech and semiconductor manufacturing often expect familiarity with California-specific regulatory frameworks such as FDA validation standards or Cal-OSHA requirements.
Which companies hire process engineering managers in California?
Employers hiring process engineering managers in California right now include Tesla, Keysight Technologies, and Lockheed Martin, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of biotech firms in the Bay Area, defense contractors in Southern California, and food manufacturers in the Central Valley means hiring activity is distributed across multiple sectors and company sizes.
Which California cities have the most process engineering manager jobs?
Fremont, Santa Rosa, and Milpitas have the most process engineering manager openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its concentration of semiconductor and biotechnology companies, Los Angeles draws from aerospace and consumer goods manufacturing, and San Diego is driven by a large cluster of life sciences and defense firms that maintain substantial process engineering teams.
Are there remote process engineering manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Process engineering manager roles are fundamentally hands-on, requiring direct oversight of production lines, equipment, and plant personnel, which limits remote work significantly. About 0% of process engineering manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to involve corporate process excellence or continuous improvement functions rather than direct manufacturing floor management.
How can I get hired as a process engineering manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a process engineering manager role from a senior individual-contributor position, typically as a process engineer or manufacturing engineer with strong project ownership. California employers in biotech such as Genentech and large semiconductor manufacturers like Intel run rotational engineering programs and internal leadership pipelines that develop individual contributors into managers. Pursuing a lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt credential is a practical differentiator, as California's regulated industries treat it as a proxy for management readiness.
Where can I find and apply to process engineering manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to process engineering manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries including biotech, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, and food production. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 46 Process Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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