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Contract Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in California

Contract Manufacturing Manager

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $270K/yr

Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is ... Job Summary Etched is looking for a Contract Manufacturing Manager to lead our global contract ...

PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท 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 ...

Contract Manufacturing Manager

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $270K/yr

Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is ... Job Summary Etched is looking for a Contract Manufacturing Manager to lead our global contract ...

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 ...

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

Manufacturing Engineer II

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... contract manufacturing environment at our San Jose, California site. The primary responsibilities of this position are to apply engineering principles to drive activities that lead to successful ...

Manufacturing Engineer II

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$110K - $120K/yr

... contract manufacturing environment at our San Jose, California site. The primary responsibilities of this position are to apply engineering principles to drive activities that lead to successful ...

Manufacturing Engineer II

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... contract manufacturing environment at our San Jose, California site. The primary responsibilities of this position are to apply engineering principles to drive activities that lead to successful ...

Manufacturing Engineer

Dublin, CA ยท On-site

$82K - $105K/yr

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineer VERY URGENT Dublin, CA (Fully Onsite) Full-Time or Long-Term-Contract good experience in Lean process improvement- 8-10 yrs exp 'Manufacturing & Industrial ...

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Menlo Park, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

You will work closely with design engineers, supply chain, and contract manufacturers to develop production processes, improve manufacturability, and guide new products from prototype builds into ...

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Menlo Park, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

You will work closely with design engineers, supply chain, and contract manufacturers to develop production processes, improve manufacturability, and guide new products from prototype builds into ...

Manufacturing Engineer II

Rancho Cordova, CA ยท On-site

$75K - $97K/yr

We are seeking a process-oriented and results-driven Manufacturing Engineer II to lead process development and improvement in a contract manufacturing environment at our Rancho Cordova, California ...

Contract Manufacturing Manager

Sunnyvale, CA ยท On-site

$151K - $210K/yr

Meta is currently seeking a Contract Manufacturing Manager that will lead and be responsible for ... You will work closely with Hardware engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal, Supply Chain Strategy ...

Manufacturing Engineer II

Rancho Cordova, CA ยท On-site

$75K - $97K/yr

We are seeking a process-oriented and results-driven Manufacturing Engineer II to lead process development and improvement in a contract manufacturing environment at our Rancho Cordova, California ...

Manufacturing Engineer I

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... contract manufacturing environment. This role supports the machining and metals value stream and ... The Manufacturing Engineer I must collaborate cross-functionally communicate effectively to ensure ...

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Showing results 1-20

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 9, 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 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 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 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 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 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:
Infographic showing various Contract Manufacturing Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,492 per year, or $40.6 per hour.

Contract Manufacturing Manager

Etched

San Jose, CA โ€ข On-site

$150K - $270K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

About Etched
Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.
Job Summary
Etched is looking for a Contract Manufacturing Manager to lead our global contract manufacturing strategy as we scale production of advanced AI hardware systems.
You will own the selection, management, and performance of Etched's CM, ODM, JDM, and EMS partners across NPI, pilot builds, production ramps, and sustaining operations. This role is highly cross-functional, working closely with hardware engineering, manufacturing, quality, test, supply chain, finance, legal, and executive leadership.
Key Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute Etched's contract manufacturing strategy across L6, L10, and L11
  • Identify, evaluate, select, and onboard global CM, ODM, JDM, and EMS partners
  • Own executive-level supplier relationships, business reviews, escalations, and long-term partnership planning
  • Lead contract manufacturing capacity planning
  • Negotiate product costing, manufacturing value add, NRE, CapEx, tooling, payment terms, warranty, and capacity commitments
  • Lead contract manufacturing (CM/JDM) engagement process, which includes RFQ/RFP processes, contracting (MSA/SOW/SLA/etc.), and cost negotiations
  • Drive supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, yield, capacity, and responsiveness
  • Partner with engineering, manufacturing, test, and quality teams to ensure factory readiness for NPI and production ramps
  • Build cost models, lead should-cost analysis, and drive cost reduction programs
  • Identify and mitigate manufacturing risks related to capacity, quality, tooling, regional concentration, and supply continuity
  • Present supplier strategy, cost tradeoffs, capacity plans, and risks to executive leadership

You may be a good fit if you have (Must-have qualifications)
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business, or a related technical field
  • 10+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing operations, sourcing, or contract manufacturing
  • Significant experience managing contract manufacturers for complex hardware products
  • Experience with PCBAs, systems, servers, networking, compute, datacenter infrastructure, or similar hardware platforms
  • Proven ability to negotiate complex supplier agreements and scale global manufacturing partnerships
  • Strong understanding of NPI, pilot builds, production ramps, sustaining operations, factory readiness, and supplier quality
  • Experience building cost models, managing supplier scorecards, and driving operational improvement
  • Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills
  • Experience managing suppliers across Asia and working across global time zones
  • Ability to operate with urgency, ownership, and sound judgment in fast-moving environments
  • Strong candidates may also have experience with
  • AI infrastructure, datacenter hardware, rack-level integration, or high-performance compute systems
  • Experience at a hyperscaler, OEM, semiconductor company, contract manufacturer, or high-growth hardware startup
  • Deep familiarity with EMS cost structures, factory operations, labor models, yield, test, and line utilization
  • MBA or master's degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, or a related field

Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
    • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
  • Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
  • Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
  • Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
  • Daily lunch and dinner in our office
  • Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification

How we're different
Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We are the first inference-focused frontier AI system. Our addressable market is the entirety of inference, unlike many of our competitors.
We are a fully in-person team in San Jose and Taipei, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.