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Air Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

HVAC Certification Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$84K - $94K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

HVAC Certification Engineer Engineering Irvine, CA Full-time WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: The ideal candidate for this position is familiar with the HVAC (Heating/Cooling) industry with strong experience ...

HVAC Certification Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$84K - $94K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

HVAC Certification Engineer Engineering Irvine, CA Full-time WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: The ideal candidate for this position is familiar with the HVAC (Heating/Cooling) industry with strong experience ...

HVAC Control Systems Engineer

Mountain View, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

What this job involves - The BMS Controls Engineer is responsible for management and execution of engineering design reviews of HVAC building automation systems across the client portfolio sites ...

Showing results 21-40

Air Engineer information

See California salary details

$38.5K

$100.4K

$135.7K

How much do air engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for air engineer in California is $100,420.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Air Engineer vs HVAC Technician?

AspectAir EngineerHVAC Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; certifications like EPA 608Technical diploma or certification in HVAC; EPA 608 certification
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and overseeing air systems in industrial or commercial settingsInstalling, repairing, and maintaining HVAC systems in residential or commercial buildings
Industry UsageUsed in engineering firms, manufacturing, and large-scale projectsCommon in residential, commercial, and service industries

While both Air Engineers and HVAC Technicians work with air systems, Air Engineers focus on designing and testing air systems in industrial and large-scale environments, often requiring engineering degrees. HVAC Technicians primarily install and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in buildings, typically with technical certifications. Their roles complement each other but differ in scope and complexity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an air engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Air Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or aerospace engineering, strong analytical skills, and typically a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) software, simulation tools, and certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure are commonly required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects. These skills ensure that air systems are designed, tested, and maintained to the highest safety and efficiency standards.

What are some common challenges air engineers face when working on large-scale HVAC projects?

Air Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, ensuring compliance with ever-evolving building codes, and balancing project budgets with energy efficiency goals. Managing tight project timelines while integrating new technologies into existing systems can also be demanding. Success in this role requires strong communication skills and the ability to adapt solutions to unique site constraints, ensuring that client expectations and regulatory requirements are met.

What is an air engineer?

Air Engineers are professionals specialized in the design, development, maintenance, and improvement of systems and equipment related to air, such as ventilation, air conditioning, heating, and environmental control systems. They may work in industries like HVAC, aerospace, environmental engineering, and manufacturing. Their role is crucial in ensuring air quality, energy efficiency, and the safety of air-handling systems. Air Engineers often collaborate with other engineers and technicians to implement solutions that meet regulatory standards and client requirements.

What job categories do people searching Air Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Air Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Air Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,420 per year, or $48.3 per hour.

Aerodynamics Engineer, Air Vehicles

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,399 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Air Dominance and Strike Aerodynamics Engineering Team is responsible for the advanced aerodynamic design and analysis for Group 5 air vehicles and missile platforms. Air Dominance and Strike Aerodynamics Engineers own the full development lifecycle, from conceptual design to flight test planning, execution and analysis ensuring high-performance, resilient, and scalable systems that meet the demands of complex, contested environments.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Aerodynamic design of unmanned air vehicles/missiles at conceptual, preliminary, and detail design maturities
  • Aerodynamic analysis of unmanned air vehicles, using both low and high order methods, including analysis tool development and improvement as needed
  • Stability and control analysis
  • Aircraft performance modeling and simulation
  • Aerodynamic loads generation
  • Wind tunnel test planning, execution, and analysis
  • Flight test planning, execution, and analysis
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • BS or higher degree in Aerospace Engineering
  • 3+ work experience as an individual contributing engineer
  • Experience with aircraft performance and analysis predictions 
  • Competent in a variety of aerodynamic analysis techniques including hand calculations, vortex, lattice methods, panel methods, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
  • Wind tunnel and flight test experience including data acquisition, data analysis and project coordination
  • Strong programming skills in higher-level languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python) for internal tool development in a version-controlled environment
  • Experience preparing formal documentation (i.e., specifications, test procedures, technical reports, etc.)
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • StarCCM+ experience
  • Ice accretion or icing analysis experience
  • Missile DATCOM, OTIS, or DYMOS
  • Experience with transonic and supersonic flow regimes
  • Active U.S. Secret security clearance

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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