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Contract Engineering Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Engineering Manager III

San Diego, CA · On-site

$125K - $229K/yr

This manager will manage a staff of up to 10 Engineers at a range of experience levels. This ... Represent the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects and interact with ...

Applications Engineering Manager

Brea, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Support proposal development, bid reviews, technical presentations, and contract negotiations. * Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and project management teams to ensure the ...

Engineering Manager III

San Diego, CA · On-site

$125K - $229K/yr

We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Engineering (EE) Manager to join our Electrical ... Represent the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects and interact with ...

Senior Engineering Manager (LAND DEVELOPMENT) - Santa Clara, CA What we're looking for? The Senior ... Contract & Proposal Management * Budget & Cost Management * Schedule Management * Team & Resource ...

Senior Engineering Manager (LAND DEVELOPMENT) - Santa Clara, CA What we're looking for? The Senior ... Contract & Proposal Management * Budget & Cost Management * Schedule Management * Team & Resource ...

Senior Engineering Manager

Irvine, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

SENIOR ENGINEERING MANAGER - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Engineering Manager ... Contract & Proposal Management * Budget & Cost Management * Schedule Management * Team & Resource ...

Senior Engineering Manager

Irvine, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

SENIOR ENGINEERING MANAGER - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Engineering Manager ... Contract & Proposal Management * Budget & Cost Management * Schedule Management * Team & Resource ...

Electronics Engineering Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $215K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent ... Electronics Engineering Manager As the Electronics Engineering Manager, you will be at the ...

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Fremont, CA · On-site

$120K - $149K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing engineering teams within precision manufacturing, contract manufacturing, aerospace, medical, or industrial environments. * Proven success leading ...

Engineering Manager - Sr

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Apply in-depth knowledge of client objectives, contract terms, and corporate policies, and familiar with the integration of engineering/technical aspects, as well as procurement and construction ...

Engineering Manager - Sr

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Apply in-depth knowledge of client objectives, contract terms, and corporate policies, and familiar with the integration of engineering/technical aspects, as well as procurement and construction ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Engineering Manager information

What is a contract engineering manager?

A Contract Engineering Manager is a professional hired on a temporary or project-specific basis to oversee engineering teams and manage technical projects. Unlike permanent managers, contract engineering managers typically work for a set duration or until the completion of a particular project. Their responsibilities include coordinating engineering efforts, ensuring project deadlines are met, managing budgets, and facilitating communication between team members and stakeholders. Companies may hire contract engineering managers to provide specialized expertise or to fill temporary leadership gaps. This role requires strong technical knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt quickly to different work environments.

What is the difference between Contract Engineering Manager vs Project Engineer?

AspectContract Engineering ManagerProject Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, PMP or similar certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects, manages contracts, liaises with clients and vendorsFocuses on specific projects, coordinates engineering tasks, reports to project managers
Industry UsageCommon in construction, manufacturing, energy sectorsWidely used across engineering disciplines in various industries

The Contract Engineering Manager typically oversees multiple projects, manages contractual aspects, and liaises with clients, requiring leadership and contractual knowledge. The Project Engineer focuses on executing specific engineering tasks within a project, emphasizing technical skills and project coordination. While both roles require engineering credentials, the Contract Engineering Manager has a broader managerial and contractual scope compared to the more technical and project-specific Project Engineer.

What are some common challenges faced by a contract engineering manager, and how can they be addressed?

As a Contract Engineering Manager, one common challenge is integrating quickly with existing teams and understanding project context within a limited timeframe. Since contract roles often involve leading established engineering teams on short notice, building trust and aligning on goals efficiently is crucial. Effective communication, setting clear expectations, and leveraging strong project management skills help ensure smooth collaboration. Proactively identifying knowledge gaps and seeking input from team members can also accelerate onboarding and project delivery.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract engineering manager?

To thrive as a Contract Engineering Manager, you need a solid background in engineering principles, project management, and team leadership, usually backed by a relevant degree and significant industry experience. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Trello), engineering software, and often certifications such as PMP or Agile methodologies are highly valued. Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills help you manage diverse teams and client relationships effectively. These competencies are crucial for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to client specifications in a dynamic contract-based environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Engineering Manager jobs in California?

The most popular types of Engineering Manager jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Engineering Manager jobs in California?

For Contract Engineering Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Engineering Manager jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Engineering Manager jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Contract Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Contract Engineering Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Engineering Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Engineering Manager III

General Atomics

San Diego, CA • On-site

$125K - $229K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


General Atomics rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 39 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Job Summary
General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.
We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Engineering (EE) Manager to join our Electrical Technologies team located in Rancho Bernardo. We are looking for someone with drive, talent, and experience in Electrical Design who also thrives in a fast-paced, Research and Development (R&D) environment. The successful candidate will report to the Sr. Manager of High-Speed Digital and, alongside high-caliber engineering management staff, will be engaged in the engineering support and new development of electrical power systems for High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, high-power motor drives, power conditioning systems, advanced aerospace and electro-optic sensors, space-based optical communications, nuclear thermal propulsion, cutting-edge technology ventures into Defense and "NewSpace," and a variety of disruptive technologies in the expanding product portfolio of GA-EMS.
This manager will manage a staff of up to 10 Engineers at a range of experience levels. This position is 80% technical engineering work and 20% functional management.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Responsible for the planning, managing and technical performance of an engineering unit through all phases of assigned project(s) from inception through completion.
  • Participate with technical staff, program managers and executive management to develop and implement current, annual and long-term technical, schedule, quality, business and financial objectives for the unit.
  • Work with GA-EMS Engineering staff in the concept development and prototype design, integration, and test of power systems, controls, and electronics for all product lines and technology areas. These encompass high-power motor drives, power conditioning systems, pulsed power systems, battery systems, high energy laser systems, space systems, advanced sensors, laser communications, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
  • Participate in and coordinate the establishment of design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, testing, and integration.
  • Interact internally with engineering team and/or with suppliers, vendors or customers to share information for problem resolution.
  • May act as primary contact for engineering activities.
  • May participate in the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions of contract(s).
  • Ensure technical leadership and excellence is maintained by participating in the planning, attraction, selection, retention, and development of the required management, professional, and technical talent.
  • Identify engineering issues and provide leadership in developing solutions such as re-allocation of resources or modifying specifications.
  • May participate in the development of new business opportunities and expansion of existing business opportunities.
  • Generate electrical architecture solutions for new project needs, perform electrical engineering analyses for systems and circuits, document findings, communicate results to engineering and program management staff, give technical presentations, and manage technical effort schedules.
  • Formulate plans, typically long-term, and coordinate solutions development and deployment including documentation, reporting, publishing, and making technical and other presentations to ensure viability of the solutions in an evolving environment.
  • Plan for future applications of solutions based on new developments in engineering technology.
  • Participate in or may lead the development of new or expansion of existing business opportunities.
  • Communicate with colleagues and management throughout solution development and deployment cycles.
  • Represent the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects and interact with senior external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between the organizations.
  • Perform other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job Qualifications
  • Typically requires a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in engineering or a related technical field as well as eleven or more years of progressively complex engineering experience. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.
  • Required Experience: Mixed-signal (analog/digital) circuit design; power systems; analysis, design, and implementation of hardware systems to include digital, analog, RF, laser, and optical is required.
  • Desirable Experience: Electronics design for photonics and space applications, embedded controls in power electronics or high-power computing, digital or microprocessor control of power supplies and control systems, guiding a design through development and into production, technical architecture and safety administration for complex, high-consequence system-of-systems and familiarity with DoD technical review process (at a minimum: SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR).
  • Desired Skills (ranked high to low): PowerPoint Engineering; Microsoft Project and Excel (expert user); PCB Design Software (e.g. Altium Designer); SPICE circuit design, modeling, and simulation tools; HyperLynx Signal/Power Integrity tools; MATLAB.
  • Demonstrate an extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads of an engineering unit to meet established deadlines or milestones with experience in project leadership.
  • Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals.
  • Capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact.
  • Customer-focused and able to formulate plans based on the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems.
  • Some travel and extended work schedules may be required.

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About General Atomics

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General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1955