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Aerospace Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior plc

Design Engineer - CATIA

Burbank, CA · On-site

Senior Aerospace SSP, a division of Senior plc, is the world's largest aerospace high-pressure ... engineering lab, allowing us to design, manufacture, and qualify complex ducting systems for space ...

Higher Talent Group LLC

Design Engineer

Irvine, CA

$110K - $130K/yr

SUMMARY OF POSITION The Design Engineer will lead the development of aerospace hoses, ducts, and components, ensuring all designs meet or exceed customer requirements. This role is responsible for ...

Rock West Composites

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Rock West Composites is seeking a Design Engineer to design and develop advanced composite structures and products for aerospace, defense, space, and commercial applications. This role partners with ...

Rock West Composites

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Rock West Composites is seeking a Design Engineer to design and develop advanced composite structures and products for aerospace, defense, space, and commercial applications. This role partners with ...

Rock West Composites

Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Rock West Composites is seeking a Design Engineer to design and develop advanced composite structures and products for aerospace, defense, space, and commercial applications. This role partners with ...

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All JobsAerospace Design Engineer JobsAerospace Design Engineer Jobs in California

Aerospace Design Engineer information

See California salary details

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$87K

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How much do aerospace design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerospace design engineer in California is $86,995.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do aerospace design engineers do in aerospace?

Aerospace design engineers develop and analyze aircraft, spacecraft, and missile designs, focusing on aerodynamics, materials, and structural integrity. They use CAD software and perform simulations to ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance with industry standards throughout the development process.

What does an aerospace design engineer do?

An Aerospace Design Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and related systems. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create and refine models, conduct simulations, and analyze structural, aerodynamic, and thermal performance. Their work ensures that aerospace components meet safety, reliability, and regulatory standards. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies, is essential to bring designs from concept to production.

How much do aerospace design engineers make?

Aerospace design engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $116,500, with entry-level positions starting lower and experienced engineers earning over $150,000. Salaries vary based on experience, location, and industry sector, and often include benefits such as bonuses and retirement plans.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an aerospace design engineer?

To thrive as an Aerospace Design Engineer, you need strong knowledge of aerodynamics, structural analysis, and engineering principles, typically backed by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering. Familiarity with CAD software (such as CATIA or SolidWorks), finite element analysis tools, and relevant certifications like EIT or PE are commonly expected. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, effective teamwork, and clear communication help you excel in collaborative and highly technical environments. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and innovation of aerospace components and systems.

What are popular job titles related to Aerospace Design Engineer jobs in California? For Aerospace Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Aerospace Design Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Aerospace Design Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Aerospace Design Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Aerospace Design Engineer job openings:
Aerospace Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aerospace Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,995 per year, or $41.8 per hour.

Senior Design Engineer (Aerospace & Defense Hardware)

Freeform

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER (AEROSPACE & DEFENSE HARDWARE)
Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.
Freeform is hiring a Senior Design Engineer focused on aerospace & defense hardware to sit at the intersection of advanced part design and additive manufacturing. This is a deeply technical senior engineering role responsible for rethinking how aerospace and defense hardware is conceived, designed, and produced - not just adapting existing parts for a new process, but fundamentally reimagining what's possible when legacy design constraints no longer apply. You will own complex design challenges end-to-end, working hands-on with some of the most complex hardware in the industry, and serve as a technical authority on where Freeform's platform unlocks performance regimes, architectures, and geometries that were previously impractical or impossible.
The ideal candidate is a highly experienced mechanical or aerospace engineer with deep intuition for part design, a genuine passion for pushing the boundaries of what hardware can do, and a track record of leading technical work on complex hardware programs. They understand aerospace and defense systems at a component and systems level, can independently drive and mentor others on manufacturability, materials, and performance tradeoffs, and are excited by the creative challenge of designing parts from first principles. The core draw of this role is the engineering itself - though this person will also engage directly with some of the most sophisticated frontier companies in the aerospace and defense industries.
Responsibilities:
  • Drive part design and redesign across a broad range of aerospace and defense hardware, including:
    • Propulsion systems
    • Heat exchangers and thermal management hardware
    • Valves and fluid systems
    • Turbomachinery components
    • Combustion devices
    • Lightweight structural components and assemblies
  • Develop and own deep component-level understanding of requirements, performance drivers, and system constraints within aerospace and defense programs
  • Lead first-principles part redesigns, identifying where additive manufacturing enables new geometries, consolidated assemblies, improved performance, or reduced cost and lead time
  • Define and evaluate design concepts with expert command of materials, tolerances, thermal and structural behavior, and production considerations
  • Serve as a senior technical resource - independently resolving advanced questions related to design tradeoffs, process capabilities, qualification pathways, and production scalability, and helping guide less experienced engineers
  • Partner closely with internal engineering and operations teams to drive feasibility, refine concepts, and own execution outcomes
  • Lead technical engagements with customer engineering teams to understand application requirements, present design solutions, and establish deep technical credibility at a senior level
  • Identify, scope, and champion new application spaces where Freeform's technology can deliver step-change improvements over conventional manufacturing
  • Shape Freeform's product, process, and technology roadmap through field-informed technical leadership and strategic input

Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
  • 5+ years of experience in a hands-on engineering role within aerospace, defense, or a closely related high-performance industry
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex hardware programs from concept through qualification and production
  • Experience designing or analyzing propulsion systems, thermal systems, fluid systems, turbomachinery, or high-performance structural components
  • Deep systems-level understanding of complex mechanical hardware and how components function within larger assemblies

Nice to Have:
  • 10+ years of experience in a hands-on engineering role within aerospace, defense, or a closely related high-performance industry
  • Familiarity with metal 3D printing or design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) concepts
  • Strong intuition for part design, design-for-manufacturing, and how component geometry relates to performance and producibility
  • Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical direction on hardware development programs
  • Experience carrying hardware through development, qualification, and production ramp
  • Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
  • Strong first-principles reasoning and comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving problem spaces
  • Strategic thinker with an instinct for where technology can unlock the most value
  • Team player, positive attitude, growth mindset, integrity, accountability, adaptability, entrepreneurial, driven, results-oriented and ethical

Location:
  • Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA's deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country.
  • Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions.

What We Offer:
  • We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions.
  • We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology.
  • Benefits
    • Significant stock option packages
    • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)
    • Life insurance
    • Traditional and Roth 401(k)
    • Relocation assistance provided
    • Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
    • Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent
    • Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette
    • Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events
  • Compensation
    • As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company's current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.
    • In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $150,000-$200,000. The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact.
  • Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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