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Combat Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Prevailance

Lead Combat Systems SME

San Diego, CA · On-site

Lead and supervise combat systems maintenance operations, technical projects, and engineering support activities associated with Navy surface ships. * Provide technical oversight and subject matter ...

Prevailance

Lead Combat Systems SME

San Diego, CA · On-site

Lead and supervise combat systems maintenance operations, technical projects, and engineering support activities associated with Navy surface ships. * Provide technical oversight and subject matter ...

Prevailance, Inc.

Lead Combat Systems SME

San Diego, CA · On-site

Lead and supervise combat systems maintenance operations, technical projects, and engineering support activities associated with Navy surface ships. * Provide technical oversight and subject matter ...

Sayres Defense

Lead Combat Systems SME

San Diego, CA · On-site

$90K - $140K/yr

Conduct combat systems readiness assessments. * Evaluate maintenance execution and material ... Navy shipbuilding and maritime programs, delivering acquisition, engineering, logistics, and ...

Sayres Defense

Lead Combat Systems SME

San Diego, CA · On-site

$90K - $140K/yr

Conduct combat systems readiness assessments. * Evaluate maintenance execution and material ... Navy shipbuilding and maritime programs, delivering acquisition, engineering, logistics, and ...

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All JobsCombat Engineer JobsCombat Engineer Jobs in California

Combat Engineer information

See California salary details

$21.7K

$24.8K

$27.1K

How much do combat engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for combat engineer in California is $24,751.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24,200.00 and $25,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Combat Engineers during deployment, and how can they prepare for them?

Combat Engineers often encounter challenging environments, including working under time pressure, harsh weather, and potentially hazardous conditions such as minefields or improvised explosive devices. To prepare, it's important to maintain physical fitness, stay proficient in technical skills like demolition and construction, and practice effective communication with team members. Adaptability and a strong understanding of safety protocols are also key to overcoming the unpredictable nature of missions and ensuring both personal and team safety.

What Is a Combat Engineer?

A combat engineer is an enlisted member of a military team that assists with construction and demolition. Job duties involve building and maintaining roads, buildings, fixed firing positions, and defensive positions. A combat engineer may also place, detonate, or clear explosives in a combat zone. They are experts at clearing obstacles and helping troops move quickly and safely.

What are combat engineers?

Combat engineers are military personnel who perform a variety of construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions. Their duties include building and repairing roads, bridges, and defensive positions, as well as clearing obstacles and detecting or removing mines and explosives. They play a crucial role in ensuring mobility for their unit and impeding enemy movement. Combat engineers receive specialized training in engineering, explosives, and tactical operations to support both offensive and defensive missions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Combat Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Combat Engineer, you need a solid understanding of engineering principles, construction techniques, and demolition procedures, typically acquired through military training and completion of relevant technical courses. Proficiency with specialized tools, explosives, heavy machinery, and military mapping or navigation systems is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication set standout Combat Engineers apart. These skills and qualities are critical for ensuring mission success, safety, and operational efficiency in high-pressure environments.

What is the difference between Combat Engineer vs Construction Engineer?

AspectCombat EngineerConstruction Engineer
CertificationsMilitary engineering certifications, specialized trainingProfessional engineering licenses, civil engineering degrees
Work EnvironmentMilitary settings, combat zones, field operationsConstruction sites, offices, urban development projects
Employer & IndustryMilitary branches, defense contractorsConstruction firms, engineering consulting companies

While both roles involve engineering skills, Combat Engineers focus on military operations, demolitions, and field engineering in combat zones, requiring military training and certifications. Construction Engineers work on civilian infrastructure projects, emphasizing design, planning, and project management in non-military settings. The key difference lies in their work environment and purpose, though both require strong engineering backgrounds.

More about Combat Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Combat Engineer jobs in California? For Combat Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Combat Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Combat Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Combat Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Combat Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Combat Engineer jobs in CA? For Combat Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Combat Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Combat Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $24,751 per year, or $11.9 per hour.
Combat Systems Port Engineer

Combat Systems Port Engineer

T-Solutions, Inc.

San Diego, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Overview
T-Solutions: Your Preferred Partner for Global Services and Innovative Solutions
At T-Solutions, we pride ourselves on being the company of choice for those seeking top-tier global services and innovative solutions. Our team comprises highly qualified and uniquely skilled professionals dedicated to delivering services with integrity. We are committed to excellence, enriching our clients, employees, and communities.
Who We Are
T-Solutions is a woman-owned, veteran-owned business based in Chesapeake, Virginia. We specialize in creating exceptional, responsive solutions to complex challenges for our global clients in government contracting. As an innovative and agile provider, we offer specialized technical solutions and a unique set of capabilities that support mission-critical operations and decision-making. Our expertise spans defense, security, maintenance engineering, logistics, and business transformation, ensuring our customers' success in today's dynamic environment. We align our core competencies with our customers' current and future needs, continually adapting emerging and proven technologies to enhance their capabilities.
Career Opportunity
We are looking for dedicated candidates to fill the role of Combat Systems Port Engineer (CSPE). As T-Solutions' onboard representative, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the operational readiness of our ships. Your primary responsibility will be to routinely validate shipboard conditions through personal observation and evaluation.
As a CSPE, you will lead a maintenance team and act as the primary representative for the Type Commander (TYCOM) and the Commanding Officer in all off-ship maintenance and modernization efforts. Your in-depth knowledge of the operational and maintenance needs of your assigned ship(s) will be essential in maintaining mission readiness.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Interface with the ships' crew, department heads and commanding officer in-person on a daily basis to discuss shortfalls, implementation and insufficiencies related to the Consolidated Ships Maintenance Plan (CSMP) and validate new work items.
  • Verify and check all validated off-ship maintenance 2 kilos. 2 kilo validation includes equipment testing and system performance and making recommendations and repair actions to the maintenance plan.
  • Recommend timing of repairs and identify the most cost-effective level of maintenance.
  • Provide a risk assessment and prioritization of all on and off-ship maintenance requirements.
  • Attend all ship maintenance/repair assessment events and answer questions real time, these may include funding shortfalls, maintenance scope, mission impacts, and logistics.
  • Identify weaknesses in the maintenance plan/s, to include modernization recommendations.
  • Determine, validate, and diagnose specific maintenance requirements for assigned ships or craft.
  • Recommend ship owner authorization or deferral of identified maintenance requirements.
  • Screen authorized work to appropriate industrial activities and Continuous Maintenance availability periods.
  • Integrate authorized work items for each industrial availability to ensure development of an optimized work package.
  • Monitor industrial availability execution and support Government efforts to control quality, schedule, and cost.
  • Provide engineering and technical recommendations concerning the design, installation, logistic support, and priority of planned modernization.
  • Recommend solutions to maintenance-related environmental, logistics, technical and engineering problems encountered in ship repair and modernization.

Travel
  • This position includes a low level of travel of 5-15% to Fleet Concentration Support areas.
  • Frequent underway time for sea trials, testing, inspections, ship checks, and other events as needed.
  • Attend ship deployments, including port-to-port transfers, sea trials, mid-deployment ship checks, sister ship visits, and mid-deployment voyage repairs.

Education, Knowledge, Experience, Skills, and Abilities Required
  • Experience and knowledge with USN surface ship combat systems and communications systems.
  • Shipboard experience with C4I and C5I systems operation and maintenance.
  • Knowledge and experience with depot level combat systems and communications (C4I, C5I) repairs, maintenance, alteration/modernization and testing and integration of systems.
  • Significant knowledge and experience with one or more major US Navy surface ship combat or communications systems.
  • Five years' experience in a leadership role as either a Chief Petty Officer (E7 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO), or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) level or higher rank in the combat systems and C4I/C5I operating and maintenance community.

Qualifications
  • Active DoD Secret security clearance is highly desired; however, candidates eligible to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance will be considered. The selected candidate will receive a contingent offer if they do not hold an active clearance. A start date will be established once a fully adjudicated Secret clearance is granted.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must possess a valid Driver's License.
  • Must have reliable transportation to and from various work locations.
  • Must have a valid passport or the ability to obtain a passport.
  • Must maintain the capability to communicate with their supervisor or manager when not in the office. This includes using your equipment and services for business-related purposes. The compensation for this position includes incidental costs for work-related usage of your personal devices.

Physical Requirements
  • Ability to traverse stairs, fixed ladders, and ladder wells frequently while walking ships daily.
  • Wherewithal to spend several consecutive days at sea while underway as needed.
  • Capable of sitting for long periods, standing, walking, crouching, and kneeling.
  • Reaching, handling, using equipment, keyboards, and mobile devices.
  • Lifting boxes (files and supplies) up to 20 lbs.

T-Solutions is proud to be an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.
T-Solutions is proud to be a Veteran-Friendly Employer. It does not discriminate against qualified applicants because of their status as a protected veteran or their relationship or association with a protected veteran, including spouses and other family members.
In compliance with California's Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the minimum salary for this position is $120,000 and the maximum salary is $124,000. The minimum salary excludes applicable benefits, bonuses, or performance spot awards. T-Solutions, Inc. considers several factors when extending an offer, including, but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

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