Production Engineering Manager Jobs in California
Production Engineering Manager jobs in California are among the most actively recruited engineering leadership roles in the country, concentrated in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and defense, biomedical devices, and consumer electronics across a seniority range from first-line manager through senior director. The largest hiring centers are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Applied Materials, Northrop Grumman, and Qualcomm maintain deep production engineering footprints. Demand is strongest for managers with backgrounds in process optimization, lean manufacturing, and new product introduction. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Production Engineering Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sanmina2
- Apple1
- Iteris1
- JENSEN HUGHES1
- NVIDIA1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software4
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Music2
- Science & Research1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in production engineering manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an accredited program
- Five or more years of production or process engineering experience in a California regulated industry
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional engineering teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment
- Proficiency with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Toyota Production System methodologies
- Familiarity with California OSHA Title 8 safety regulations and environmental compliance requirements
- Experience with ERP or MES platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Siemens Opcenter
Production Engineering Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a production engineering manager in California?
Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering followed by several years of hands-on production or process engineering work before a move into management. While the role carries no state-issued license, engineers who hold a Professional Engineer registration from the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists are preferred for senior roles in aerospace, defense, and public-sector contracts. Building experience in lean methodologies and leading a project team is the most reliable path to a first management offer.
How much do production engineering managers make in California?
Production engineering managers in California earn a median of about $210,280 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $137,900 for the lowest 10% to over $296,130 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire production engineering managers in California?
Employers hiring production engineering managers in California right now include Sanmina, Apple, and Iteris, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor fabs, aerospace primes, and medical device manufacturers means openings appear consistently across both large corporations and mid-size contract manufacturers throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most production engineering manager jobs?
Los Angeles, San Jose, and Chula Vista have the most production engineering manager openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense cluster of semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturers, Los Angeles draws from its large aerospace and defense prime contractor base, and San Diego's strength in medical devices and defense systems sustains consistent demand even outside the two largest metros.
Are there remote production engineering manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 15% of production engineering manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting that the role is fundamentally tied to physical production floors and equipment. The portions of the job most likely to be done remotely are planning, reporting, vendor coordination, and cross-site program management rather than direct floor oversight.
How can I get hired as a production engineering manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a senior individual-contributor production or process engineer role first, then stepping into team lead or program lead assignments before applying for manager titles. Large California manufacturers like Lam Research, Edwards Lifesciences, and Raytheon run rotational engineering programs and new-graduate associate engineer tracks that place candidates on production teams. Building a record of leading a kaizen event, a yield improvement project, or a capital equipment qualification gives hiring managers concrete evidence of management readiness without a formal title.
Where can I find and apply to production engineering manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to production engineering manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 13 Production Engineering Manager Jobs in California
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