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Contract Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California

Mendaera, Inc.

Staff Manufacturing Engineer

San Mateo, CA

$140K - $180K/yr

This role will own the technical relationship with existing contract manufacturers and lead the identification, qualification, and onboarding of new manufacturing partners. This engineer will develop ...

New

Actalent

Manufacturing Engineer

Los Alamitos, CA

$77K - $100K/yr

Senior Manufacturing Engineer The Senior Manufacturing Engineer owns manufacturing execution ... Collaborate closely with contract manufacturers to troubleshoot production issues, optimize ...

Actalent

Manufacturing Engineer

Los Alamitos, CA

$77K - $100K/yr

Manufacturing Engineer The Manufacturing Engineer owns manufacturing execution, quality systems ... Collaborate closely with contract manufacturers to troubleshoot production issues, optimize ...

Mendaera, Inc.

Staff Manufacturing Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

This role will own the technical relationship with existing contract manufacturers and lead the identification, qualification, and onboarding of new manufacturing partners. This engineer will develop ...

Astranis

PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $110K/yr

Provide direction to contract manufacturing, suppliers, and engineers to manage quarantine and rework activities. Requirements * Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent) * 5+ years ...

AeroVironment

Lead Manufacturing Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Worker Type Regular The Lead Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for defining, launching, and ... Contract Manufacturing Technical Support - * Serve as a primary day to day technical contact for ...

Slope

PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

We bridge Hardware Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Contract Manufacturers, and Hardware Operations to continuously improve manufacturing performance throughout the product lifecycle. As our fleet ...

New

Meta

Contract Manufacturing Manager

Sunnyvale, CA

$151K/yr

You will work closely with Hardware engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal, Supply Chain Strategy ... Contract Manufacturing Manager Responsibilities: * Identify and engage the Contract Manufacturer ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsContract Manufacturing Engineer JobsContract Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California

Contract Manufacturing Engineer information

See California salary details

$46.9K

$84.5K

$118.4K

How much do contract manufacturing engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract manufacturing engineer in California is $84,492.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,000.00 and $92,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract manufacturing engineer?

A Contract Manufacturing Engineer is a professional who is hired on a temporary or project basis to manage and optimize manufacturing processes for a company. Their responsibilities often include designing efficient production systems, ensuring product quality, and collaborating with suppliers or contract manufacturers. They may also help with scaling production, troubleshooting issues, and implementing cost-saving measures. Contract Manufacturing Engineers are typically employed for their specialized expertise and flexibility, supporting organizations during periods of transition, growth, or when specific skills are needed.

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

To thrive as a Contract Manufacturing Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, manufacturing processes, and quality assurance, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, ERP systems, and Lean or Six Sigma certifications are commonly required for overseeing production efficiency and compliance. Strong project management, problem-solving skills, and effective communication with both internal teams and external vendors make professionals stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing solutions and seamless collaboration across organizations.

What are some common challenges contract manufacturing engineers face when managing multiple vendor relationships?

Contract Manufacturing Engineers often juggle several vendor relationships simultaneously, which can present challenges in maintaining consistent quality standards, ensuring timely delivery, and managing clear communication across different teams. Balancing the expectations of internal stakeholders with the capabilities and constraints of external partners requires strong organizational and negotiation skills. Proactively addressing production issues and fostering transparent communication with vendors are key strategies for overcoming these challenges and ensuring project success.

What is the difference between Contract Manufacturing Engineer vs Manufacturing Engineer?

AspectContract Manufacturing EngineerManufacturing Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, certifications like Six Sigma or LeanBachelor's in Engineering, certifications like Six Sigma or Lean
Work EnvironmentContract-based, often project-specific, in manufacturing plants or supplier facilitiesFull-time, in manufacturing plants or corporate offices
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing firms, suppliers, contract manufacturersManufacturing companies, industrial firms, OEMs

Both roles require similar technical credentials and work in manufacturing environments. However, Contract Manufacturing Engineers focus on managing outsourced production projects, while Manufacturing Engineers oversee ongoing production processes within a company. The choice depends on whether the role is project-specific or continuous process improvement.

What are the most commonly searched types of Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California?

For Contract Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Contract Manufacturing Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Contract Manufacturing Engineer job openings:

Contract Manufacturing Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Manufacturing Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,492 per year, or $40.6 per hour.

Staff Manufacturing Engineer

Mendaera, Inc.

San Mateo, CA

$140K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About the Opportunity

As a Staff Manufacturing Engineer, you will lead manufacturing engineering for the internal production of complex electromechanical assemblies and drive partnerships with our external manufacturing network. This role will own the technical relationship with existing contract manufacturers and lead the identification, qualification, and onboarding of new manufacturing partners. This engineer will develop, transfer, and continually improve robust, scalable manufacturing processes for our capital equipment, and partner with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to achieve production goals across quality, delivery, cost, and scale. 

What You'll Do

  • Own the technical relationship and manufacturing performance of contract manufacturing partners.
  • Plan and execute manufacturing transfers between internal production and external partners, as well as between contract manufacturing sites.
  • Partner with R&D early in product development to drive DFM/DFA, define manufacturing strategies, and ensure new assemblies are ready for external production.
  • Develop and transfer complete manufacturing packages, including process flows, work instructions, routings, and inspection plans
  • Develop and transfer custom tooling and fixtures to support assembly
  • Lead pilot builds, process characterization, validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), production readiness reviews, and manufacturing ramp activities.
  • Establish clear transfer plans, schedules, risks, deliverables, and acceptance criteria to ensure continuity of supply and successful production handoffs.
  • Drive improvements in quality, yield, delivery, capacity, cycle time, and cost across the external manufacturing network.
  • Define and monitor manufacturing performance metrics, identify emerging risks, and ensure timely escalation and resolution of issues.
  • Collaborate across R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and external partners to align technical requirements and drive manufacturing decisions.

 

Desired Skills & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, NPI, industrialization, supplier manufacturing, or a related discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience transferring complex electromechanical assemblies between internal production and contract manufacturing sites.
  • Experience identifying, evaluating, qualifying, and onboarding contract manufacturers or other strategic manufacturing partners.
  • Strong knowledge of electromechanical assembly, production tooling, fixtures, test equipment, inspection methods, and manufacturing process controls.
  • Experience developing and transferring manufacturing documentation, including assembly procedures, process flows, routings, inspection plans, PFMEAs, control plans, and training materials.
  • Experience leading pilot builds, production readiness reviews, process validation, and manufacturing ramp activities.
  • Strong working knowledge of DFM/DFA, root-cause analysis, corrective action, process capability, and statistical process control.
  • Ability to lead complex, cross-functional manufacturing projects with limited oversight and drive decisions across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality.
  • Experience with Linux and software for manufacturing
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical requirements and risks clearly across internal teams and external partners.
  • Experience manufacturing FDA-regulated medical devices or other products in a highly regulated industry.

Position Logistics

  • This position is required to be on-site at Mendaera HQ in San Mateo.
  • Travel to visit suppliers and contract manufacturers domestically and internationally will be required.
  • The annual salary range for this position is $140,000 to $180,000.
  • Mendaera offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as a 401k with a company match.
Mendaera logo

About Mendaera

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing

Company size

1 - 10 Employees

Headquarters location

San Mateo, CA, US

Year founded

2020

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