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Engineering Management Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Directs an engineering group responsible for all development of chemical delivery components ... Working knowledge of supplier qualification, component specifications, change management (SNF, SPS ...

Strong people management skills -- coaching engineers, managing performance, and fostering team growth * Excellent prioritization and project management abilities , especially in fast-moving sprint ...

Strong people management skills - coaching engineers, managing performance, and fostering team growth * Excellent prioritization and project management abilities , especially in fast-moving sprint ...

At least 7 years of direct experience in software engineering and 2 years of engineering management * Bachelor's or advanced degree in computer science or a related discipline * Excellent programming ...

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Engineering Management information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$144.9K

$171.7K

How much do engineering management jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering management in California is $144,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What can you do with a management engineering degree?

A management engineering degree prepares individuals for roles that combine engineering principles with management skills, such as project manager, operations manager, or process improvement specialist. Graduates can work in industries like manufacturing, technology, or consulting, often utilizing tools like data analysis and project management software. The degree also provides a foundation for leadership positions and may require certifications like PMP or Six Sigma.

What do you do in engineering management?

Engineering management involves overseeing engineering teams, coordinating projects, and ensuring technical goals are met. It includes tasks such as planning, resource allocation, budgeting, and communicating with stakeholders. Strong leadership, technical knowledge, and project management skills are essential in this role.

What are some common challenges faced by engineering managers when balancing technical leadership and people management responsibilities?

Engineering managers often navigate the dual responsibilities of providing technical guidance while also supporting and developing their teams. A common challenge is allocating time between strategic planning, mentoring engineers, resolving interpersonal issues, and staying up-to-date with technology trends. Effective engineering managers build trust with their team, delegate technical tasks appropriately, and set clear priorities to balance both people management and technical oversight. Regular communication and leveraging feedback are key to successfully managing these demands.

What is the difference between Engineering Management vs Mechanical Engineering?

AspectEngineering ManagementMechanical Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Business, or Management; often an MBABachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering; PE license optional
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, project oversight, team coordinationDesign, analysis, research, manufacturing
Industry UsageProject management, operations, product developmentProduct design, testing, manufacturing, R&D

Engineering Management focuses on leading engineering teams, managing projects, and aligning technical work with business goals. Mechanical Engineering involves designing and analyzing mechanical systems. While both roles require engineering backgrounds, Engineering Management emphasizes leadership and organizational skills, whereas Mechanical Engineering centers on technical expertise in mechanical systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Engineering Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Engineering Manager, you need a solid background in engineering principles, leadership experience, and often a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Asana), software development methodologies, and sometimes certifications such as PMP or Agile Scrum Master are typically used in the role. Strong communication, problem-solving, and team-building abilities help you motivate teams and bridge technical and business goals. These skills are crucial for delivering high-quality projects, fostering innovation, and ensuring alignment between engineering teams and organizational objectives.

What is engineering management?

Engineering management is a specialized field that combines the technical expertise of engineering with the organizational, administrative, and planning abilities of management. Engineering managers oversee teams of engineers and projects, ensuring that technical solutions are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required standards. They bridge the gap between engineering and business, making decisions about project direction, resource allocation, and process improvements while also mentoring and guiding engineering staff. This role typically requires both engineering experience and strong leadership skills.

What jobs can you get from management engineering?

Management engineering graduates can pursue roles such as engineering manager, project manager, operations manager, process improvement specialist, or systems engineer. These positions typically require strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of engineering principles and management tools like Lean or Six Sigma.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineering roles in fields such as software engineering, electrical engineering, and aerospace engineering can reach or exceed $500,000 annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership responsibilities. High compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing, particularly in technology companies or executive-level positions.
What are the most commonly searched types of Engineering Management jobs in California? The most popular types of Engineering Management jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Engineering Management jobs? Cities in California with the most Engineering Management job openings:
Director, Engineering Management

Director, Engineering Management

Applied Materials

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$189K - $260K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Applied Materials rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 57 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 527 rated manufacturers


Job description

Who We Are
Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips - the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world - like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world.
What We Offer
Salary:
$189,000.00 - $260,000.00
Location:
Santa Clara,CA
You'll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible-while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more.
At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We're committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits.
Key Responsibilities
  • Directs an engineering group responsible for all development of chemical delivery components, systems and resolves issues across business unit product line, including the design, development and implementation of unusually complex engineering programs in accordance with project budgets and release schedules.
  • Anticipates future needs and initiates the development and implementation of new approaches to engineering design and development at the business unit level with complex scope and customer impact.
  • Develops long-range plans and creates general engineering or product specific strategies to reach goals and reviews engineering specifications.
  • Interfaces with internal and external customers on engineering issues involving the unit's products
  • Works with senior leaders to ensure that such programs, strategies, and processes address high value problems for the Business Unit and are aligned with the organization's direction.
  • Provides approval guidelines and leadership to reporting team in the area of long-term program, strategy, product and process design.
  • Serve as the executive point of accountability for systemic chemical delivery field issues impacting multiple tools or customers
  • Own supplier engagement model for chemical delivery components, including roadmap alignment, qualification strategy, and escalation ownership
  • Defines performance metrics and reports on the engineering functions' progress against goals.

Functional Knowledge
  • Deep expertise in chemical and gas delivery systems, including mass flow controllers, valves, filters, gas panels, diagnostics, and control architectures
  • Strong understanding of system-level integration challenges impacting purity, flow accuracy, pressure stability, response time, and safety
  • Working knowledge of supplier qualification, component specifications, change management (SNF, SPS, PQP), and validation methodologies
  • Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing requirements for critical inflections (e.g., advanced logic, DRAM, emerging materials, and next-generation platforms)

Business Expertise
  • Ability to translate customer and BU technology inflections into clear, prioritized technical strategies and execution roadmaps
  • Experience balancing cost, risk, quality, and time-to-market tradeoffs in high-volume, high-reliability product environments
  • Strong understanding of cost of poor quality, field impact drivers, and life-cycle value creation through standardization and reuse
  • Demonstrated skill in aligning COE objectives with broader SPG and corporate business priorities

Leadership
  • Proven ability to lead and scale a global, multidisciplinary engineering organization across systems, components, suppliers, and automation
  • Establishes clear ownership, accountability, and operating mechanisms between the COE, Business Units, Supplier Quality, and Supply Chain
  • Coaches and develops senior technical leaders while building sustainable team capacity through structure, clarity, and focus
  • Leads through influence as well as authority, driving alignment across organizations with competing priorities

Problem Solving
  • Frames ambiguous, cross-BU technical problems into structured problem statements, hypotheses, and executable plans
  • Drives root-cause analysis and long-term corrective actions for complex field and supplier issues
  • Anticipates systemic risks in chemical delivery architectures and proactively implements preventative strategies
  • Uses data, engineering judgment, and first-principles thinking to guide decisions under uncertainty

Impact
  • Improves tool reliability, yield sensitivity, and customer confidence through disciplined chemical delivery architectures and standards
  • Reduces recurring escalations, field failures, and supplier variability by establishing closed-loop feedback and ownership
  • Accelerates adoption of new technologies by ensuring chemical delivery readiness and scalability
  • Creates durable competitive advantage for Applied Materials through differentiated delivery capability and execution excellence

Interpersonal Skills
  • Communicates complex technical and risk topics clearly and concisely to executive, engineering, and supplier audiences
  • Builds credibility and trust with Business Units, suppliers, and cross-functional partners
  • Operates effectively in high-stakes escalation environments with clarity, composure, and decisiveness
  • Encourages healthy technical debate while driving timely decisions and accountability

Position requires understanding of Applied Materials global Standards of Business Conduct and compliance with these standards at all times. This includes demonstrating the highest level of ethical conduct reflecting Applied Materials' core values.
Additional Information
Time Type:
Full time
Employee Type:
Assignee / Regular
Travel:
Yes, 25% of the Time
Relocation Eligible:
Yes
The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.
For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.
Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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About Applied Materials

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We're the brain (and the brawn) behind every new technology development--whether it's building semiconductor chips for smartphones and computers, or the underpinnings for robotics, AI and even smart TV display screens. With 27,000 employees in 19 countries, we offer an exciting place to grow and learn alongside some of the best people you'll ever meet. We take deep pride in our Culture of Inclusion, and we celebrate the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences that help us build stronger, more resilient teams. Join us as we innovate to Make Possible a Better Future!

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1967