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Entry Level Materials Engineer Jobs in California

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Entry Level Materials Engineer information

See California salary details

$37.5K

$99.4K

$155.9K

How much do entry level materials engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level materials engineer in California is $99,419.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level materials engineer do?

An entry level materials engineer assists in designing, testing, and analyzing materials used to create a wide variety of products, such as metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. They often work under the supervision of senior engineers to conduct experiments, evaluate material properties, and support the development of new materials or processes. Their responsibilities may include preparing samples, collecting and interpreting data, and helping to solve technical problems related to materials. This role is crucial for ensuring products meet safety, quality, and performance standards.

What Does an Entry-Level Materials Engineer Do?

Material engineers can work for companies that manufacture a wide range of products. As an entry-level materials engineer, your duties are similar to a materials engineer with more experience, although you may have limited responsibilities. Depending on the industry in which you work, you come up with solutions for technical problems, improve product design to help optimize the quality and cost of production, and help complete projects and other tasks. As an entry-level materials engineer, you work closely with process development and production teams testing products and streamlining production. You may learn more skills while on-the-job, which can open up more opportunities and responsibilities as a materials engineer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Materials Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Materials Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, engineering principles, and analytical problem-solving, usually supported by a bachelor's degree in materials engineering or a related field. Familiarity with lab testing equipment, materials characterization software, and CAD tools is commonly required. Strong teamwork, effective communication, and keen attention to detail help you excel when collaborating on projects and presenting technical findings. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring the development of safe, reliable, and innovative materials solutions within engineering teams.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an entry level materials engineer expect in their first year?

As an entry level materials engineer, you will typically assist in testing and analyzing materials, preparing reports on findings, and supporting senior engineers in ongoing projects. Common responsibilities include conducting laboratory experiments, helping select appropriate materials for specific applications, and collaborating with manufacturing teams to improve product quality. You may also participate in troubleshooting production issues and ensuring compliance with safety and industry standards. This hands-on experience is invaluable for building foundational skills and understanding the workflow of multidisciplinary teams.

What is the difference between Entry Level Materials Engineer vs Materials Technician?

AspectEntry Level Materials EngineerMaterials Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Materials Science or EngineeringAssociate's degree or technical certification in materials or related field
Work EnvironmentDesign, analysis, and development in labs or officesTesting and inspection in labs or manufacturing settings
Industry UsageResearch, development, and product designQuality control and material testing

Entry Level Materials Engineers focus on designing and analyzing materials, often working in labs or offices, while Materials Technicians perform testing and quality checks on materials in manufacturing environments. Both roles require related educational backgrounds, but their daily tasks and responsibilities differ significantly.

More about Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Materials Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Materials Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs in California? For Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Materials Engineer job openings:
Entry Level Materials Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Materials Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $99,419 per year, or $47.8 per hour.
Materials and Process Engineering, Entry Level Rotation Engineer

Materials and Process Engineering, Entry Level Rotation Engineer

Solar Turbines Incorporated

San Diego, CA • On-site

$92K - $118K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Solar Turbines rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

82nd of 485 rated machine equipment manufacturers

Job description

Career Area:
Engineering
Job Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
This position is part of our Gas Turbine Products Engineering Rotation Program within Turbomachinery Products (TMP). The TMP Engineering Rotation Program provides the foundation for continued growth and long-term success of both our engineers and our organization. Entry Level engineers will gain access to challenging assignments intended to generate critical business value and enable the engineer to acquire gas turbine product knowledge. These assignments across an array of diverse engineering departments will grow the Entry Level engineer's professional network, cultivate an enterprise perspective, and maximize engagement within an organization of technical specialists. This program is tailored to the engineer's proficiencies and interests in preparation for a challenging and rewarding engineering career at Solar Turbines.
Each program consists of multiple rotations of up to six months each in departments such as:
  • Materials and Process Engineering
  • Mechanical Design
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Turbine Production Engineering
  • Gears and Rotor Engineering
  • Experimental Product Development and Test
  • Condition Based Engineering
  • Aftermarket Engineering
  • Customer Services

At the conclusion of the rotation program, the Entry Level engineer will join Materials and Process Engineering for their long-term assignment.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Must have obtained or will obtain a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering or other related engineering disciplines.
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or higher.
  • Must have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor's degree or greater between May 2024 and July 2026.
  • Less than one year of relevant industry experience.
  • Technical knowledge of engineering fundamentals.
  • Must be able and eager to relocate to San Diego, CA.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated leadership and teamwork capabilities.
  • Effective problem-solving skills and technical judgment.
  • Ability to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions.
  • Exhibit exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  • Previous related internship or co-op experience.
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities for a variety of tasks.

Applicable Skills:
  • Knowledge of physical and mechanical metallurgy, characterization, and thermo-mechanical processing.
  • Knowledge of coatings for oxidation and/or corrosion protection.
  • Exposure to failure analysis methods for metallic components
  • Material modeling
  • Statistics / Data analytics
  • Coding, ie. MATLAB, Python, C#, etc.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills
  • Creative problem-solving capabilities
  • Self-motivated
  • Compensation & Benefits
    Base salary for this role ranges from $92,500, to $118,000. Actual salary will be based on experience. The total rewards package, beyond base salary includes:
    • Annual incentive bonus plan*
    • Medical, dental and vision coverage starting day 1
    • Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)
    • 401(k) Savings Plan including company match
    • Health savings account (HSA)
    • Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
    • Short and long-term disability coverage
    • Life Insurance
    • Parental leave
    • Employee Assistance Programs
    • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
    • Career Development

#2026ETPosting
Summary Pay Range:
$76,542.00 - $114,814.00
Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.
Benefits:
Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
  • Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
  • 401(k) savings plans*
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)*
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
  • Health Lifestyle Programs*
  • Employee Assistance Program*
  • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
  • Career Development*
  • Incentive bonus*
  • Disability benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Adoption benefits
  • Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees
This position requires working onsite five days a week.
Relocation is available for this position.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
July 16, 2026 - July 30, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

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