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First Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Second Engineer ER

San Diego, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Immediately informing the Chief Engineer and First Engineer ER of any condition or incident affecting vessel safety, operations, or personnel. * Supervising planned maintenance, fault finding, and ...

Senior Software Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

You will join the CTO and our first engineer to build and scale the systems powering order management, warehouse operations, fulfillment, and customer-facing workflows. This is a backend-leaning full ...

Senior Software Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

You will join the CTO and our first engineer to build and scale the systems powering order management, warehouse operations, fulfillment, and customer-facing workflows. This is a backend-leaning full ...

As the first hire, the work this person does will become core infrastructure and strongly influence our engineering for years to come. This person will likely lead a team as we scale. Expected ...

The Role You'll be the first engineer in the loop when something goes wrong on a deployed robot. When the field or operations team hits an issue they can't resolve, they come to you. You'll triage ...

Floot is a startup looking for their first engineer to work closely with the founders in building their product and shaping the company culture. The role involves developing full-stack features ...

iOS Product Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

Who We're Looking For * iOS-first engineer. You primarily work as an iOS engineer, even if you've spent time on other platforms or up and down the stack. * Audio/video experience. You've built ...

Think: wearable memory, voice-first interface, the reverse iPhone. * In the past 10 months, we've ... the first engineer , you'll: * Own the full stack (Flutter/React Native, Python, firmware, BLE ...

The product is built, the first customer relationship is deep, and the pipeline is building. Now we need the engineering foundation to match the ambition. The Role You will be Vindexa's first ...

The product is built, the first customer relationship is deep, and the pipeline is building. Now we need the engineering foundation to match the ambition. The Role You will be Vindexa's first ...

The product is built, the first customer relationship is deep, and the pipeline is building. Now we need the engineering foundation to match the ambition. The Role You will be Vindexa's first ...

Senior DevOps Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

As we scale toward hundreds of thousands of monitored patients, that substrate is ready for dedicated ownership, and you will be the first engineer whose full attention is on it. What you'll own

You'll frequently be the first engineer on a given idea, which means real ownership over both the technical direction and the product itself. We're looking for someone who is energized by ambiguity ...

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First Engineer information

See California salary details

$38.5K

$100.4K

$135.7K

How much do first engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for first engineer in California is $100,420.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between First Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectFirst EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; often requires experience in project managementBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering; may require licensure or certification
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, industrial plants, or project sites; often involved in overseeing initial phases of projectsDesign offices, manufacturing plants, or R&D labs; focused on design, analysis, and testing
Employer & Industry UsageConstruction, oil & gas, or heavy industry; used for lead or senior roles in project initiationManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors; common for design and development roles

First Engineers typically oversee early project phases and require experience in project management, while Mechanical Engineers focus on design, analysis, and testing within manufacturing or R&D environments. Both roles require engineering degrees but differ in responsibilities and work settings.

How to get a first engineer job?

To secure a first engineer position, candidates should develop relevant technical skills through education or training, build a portfolio of projects, and gain practical experience via internships or entry-level roles. Strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency with engineering tools, and effective communication are also important for success in the hiring process.

What do beginner first engineers do?

Beginner first engineers typically assist with basic tasks such as troubleshooting, testing, and maintaining systems or equipment. They often work under supervision, learn industry tools and safety protocols, and focus on gaining practical experience in engineering environments.

What does a first engineer do?

A first engineer is an entry-level engineering professional responsible for assisting in design, development, and testing of engineering projects. They often perform routine tasks, follow technical instructions, and work under supervision to gain experience and develop skills in their field.

What cities in California are hiring for First Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most First Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various First Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,420 per year, or $48.3 per hour.

First Engineer -- Build AI Platform & Open‑Source Tools (San Francisco)

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

A cutting-edge technology startup in San Francisco is seeking a first engineer to collaborate with founders in building innovative AI products. This role requires strong full-stack development skills, particularly with React, TypeScript, and Node.js. Candidates should have a builder mindset and be able to work quickly within a startup environment. You will engage with users, ship new features rapidly, and maintain open-source projects as part of a dynamic team culture.
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