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Concept Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Staff Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA

$110K - $138K/yr

Our mandate spans the complete product lifecycle - from early concept design through production scale-up and fielded operations. We use data, statistical methods, and engineering analysis to forecast ...

Our mandate spans the complete product lifecycle - from early concept design through production scale-up and fielded operations. We use data, statistical methods, and engineering analysis to forecast ...

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$108K - $136K/yr

Our mandate spans the complete product lifecycle - from early concept design through production scale-up and fielded operations. We use data, statistical methods, and engineering analysis to forecast ...

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$110K - $138K/yr

Our mandate spans the complete product lifecycle - from early concept design through production scale-up and fielded operations. We use data, statistical methods, and engineering analysis to forecast ...

Hardware System Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$144K - $191K/yr

Bring up systems and implement engineering validation in the lab ... Drive products from concept through production. * Participate in technical discussions with cross ...

From concept to completion, we have the resources to meet this challenge with world-class quality and value. The Project Engineer responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

You will be the person customers call when it matters, the one who scopes the proof of concept, writes the integration code alongside their engineers, debugs a latency spike, and turns a working ...

You will work with a diverse, cross-functional team of mechanical engineers, software developers, and industrial designers to architect complex systems, spin up rapid proof-of-concept hardware, and ...

Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer This Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer role leads ... Lead equipment concept development, evaluate multiple automation approaches, and select optimal ...

Product Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $300K/yr

You'll work across the full product development cycle - concept sketches, CAD modeling, prototyping, and DFM - collaborating with electrical and ML engineers to design enclosures and mechanisms that ...

Product Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $300K/yr

You'll work across the full product development cycle - concept sketches, CAD modeling, prototyping, and DFM - collaborating with electrical and ML engineers to design enclosures and mechanisms that ...

Product Engineer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$38.46 - $48.08/hr

As a key contributor in our NPD process, you'll own the engineering journey from concept through production and continuous improvement. This is a hands-on, collaborative role where design meets ...

Previous ownership of component design from concept to aerospace industry qualification and ... Working closely with RF engineers and proficiency with microwave assemblies * Working on mechanical ...

Previous ownership of component design from concept to aerospace industry qualification and ... Working closely with RF engineers and proficiency with microwave assemblies * Working on mechanical ...

Showing results 41-60

Concept Engineer information

See California salary details

$37.5K

$114.3K

$189K

How much do concept engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept engineer in California is $114,347.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $149,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a concept engineer?

As a Concept Engineer, your daily responsibilities often include brainstorming and developing new product concepts, creating CAD models and prototypes, and evaluating the feasibility of design ideas in collaboration with R&D, marketing, and manufacturing teams. You'll conduct research to stay up-to-date with industry trends and materials, participate in regular design review meetings, and document your concepts to guide subsequent engineering stages. The work environment is usually project-based and highly collaborative, offering plenty of opportunities to innovate and see your ideas evolve into real-world products. This role is ideal for those who enjoy both hands-on technical tasks and creative problem-solving within a team setting.

What is a concept engineer?

A Concept Engineer is responsible for developing, evaluating, and refining early-stage product or system concepts. They bridge the gap between initial ideas and detailed engineering, focusing on feasibility, innovation, and design optimization. Their role often involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, conducting research, and utilizing simulations or prototypes to validate concepts. Concept Engineers work in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing to create innovative solutions before full-scale development begins.

What does a concept engineer do?

A concept engineer develops and evaluates innovative ideas and designs for new products or systems, focusing on feasibility and functionality. They often use CAD software, perform simulations, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to turn concepts into viable solutions during early project phases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a concept engineer?

To thrive as a Concept Engineer, you need strong problem-solving abilities, a background in engineering or industrial design, and a solid grasp of product development processes. Familiarity with CAD software, rapid prototyping tools, and project management systems is typically required, and certifications like Six Sigma or PMP can be beneficial. Effective collaboration, creativity, and communication skills help Concept Engineers excel in cross-functional teams and translate abstract ideas into actionable solutions. These skills are crucial for successfully taking innovative concepts from the drawing board to market-ready designs within fast-paced product development environments.

What are popular job titles related to Concept Engineer jobs in California? For Concept Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Concept Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,347 per year, or $55 per hour.

Staff Reliability Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA

$110K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 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 75,163 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Reliability Engineering team partners across Anduril's engineering, manufacturing, and operations organizations to ensure our autonomous systems survive real-world conditions and deliver consistent performance for our customers. Our mandate spans the complete product lifecycle - from early concept design through production scale-up and fielded operations. We use data, statistical methods, and engineering analysis to forecast how our systems will perform over time and influence design decisions, including part selection, redundancy strategies, and maintenance approaches. We establish tailored reliability frameworks by program and partner with Quality to drive design robustness, failure prevention, and rapid response to issues in the field.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril's Reliability & System Safety Engineering organization is hiring Reliability Engineers across our product portfolio. Domains may include Air Dominance & Strike, Counter-UAS, Maritime, Ground Systems, Space, and Mission Autonomy. These are highly collaborative, hands-on roles spanning the entire product lifecycle - from early concept trade studies and detailed design through manufacturing scale-up, production, and sustained field performance. You'll be the reliability champion throughout the design and development process, working closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to ensure designs are robust. You'll also partner with manufacturing, quality, test operations, and field service teams to transition these products from engineering prototypes to production-ready systems. Your scope will span performing predictive reliability analysis and FMEAs, developing and executing qualification and production test plans, leading root-cause failure investigations from both the factory floor and the field, and closing the loop to drive continuous design and process improvements. We are looking for candidates who bring deep technical knowledge of hardware reliability and failure mechanisms, practical experience in both design and production environments, and the ability to drive cross-functional alignment without direct authority. These roles demand independent, data-driven engineers who can build reliability infrastructure from the ground up and take ownership of product performance from concept to deployment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Support and review system block diagrams, interface control documents, and schematics for compliance, redundancy, and accuracy against requirements and concept of operations.
  • Lead Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) efforts, collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams to implement design improvements.
  • Perform predictive reliability analysis to calculate probability of loss of control, loss of asset, and MTTF/MTBF utilizing Anduril requirements, specifications, and relevant industry standards (i.e. MIL-HDBK-217Plus).
  • Develop and execute comprehensive Qualification and Validation Test plans (including environmental, life/limit, and accelerated testing) to ensure appropriate requirements coverage and de-risking for production readiness; partner with Test Engineering to fixture and instrument test campaigns.
  • Work with Quality and Manufacturing Engineering to develop, refine, and validate assembly, integration, and testing processes (including inspection/acceptance test gates) to optimize build reliability and reduce time-to-deploy.
  • Develop Maintainability prediction models using MIL-HDBK-472, and support the development of Preventative Maintenance & Sparing plans.
  • Perform Weibull analysis utilizing data from qualification campaigns, production testing, and fielded assets to predict failures and identify trends.
  • Lead failure investigations on anomalies originating from design validation, production testing, and field returns; drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventative actions (CAPA) to closure.
  • Support Development Milestone Reviews through the identification of appropriate entry and exit criteria, guiding the transition of designs from engineering development to high-rate production.
  • Develop and implement standardized reliability processes, tools, and infrastructure to streamline and accelerate our design, manufacturing, and deployment operations.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Minimum of 12 years experience as a Reliability Engineer, Design/Development Engineer, or Test Engineer
  • B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
  • Experience with safety-critical hardware & software systems in the defense or aerospace industry
  • Experience or familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-HDBK-217, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-516C, and MIL-STD-1629
  • Experience setting up a Reliability Engineering framework for a product or program, including support of production testing, field testing, data acquisition, and data analysis
  • Expertise in reliability analysis techniques, including FMEA/FMECA, predictive modeling, Weibull analysis, and Fault Tree Analysis
  • Experience with generating qualification testing requirements and executing tests to proactively characterize product behavior and performance
  • Failure investigation/analysis experience with proven track record of solving problems and preventing reoccurrence
  • Design Review Experience (PDR, CDR, MRR) and confidence in presentation skills across all levels of leadership
  • Eligibility to obtain/maintain a U.S. Secret clearance, as required
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • M.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
  • Experience with MIL-HDBK-217Plus, MIL-HDBK-472, MIL-STD-1916
  • Experience with Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) Assessments, Manufacturing Review Board (MRB), Quality Inspection, Tooling, or Calibration
  • Experience with risk management, change control/change management reviews, and software/firmware HITL/SITL
  • Experience with HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing), HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screening), Environmental Testing, and/or Mechanical Testing
  • Technical writing experience developing requirements, standards, specifications, user guides, and policies

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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