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Fourth Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

AccrueTalent

Applied AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$180K - $250K/yr

The company is an early-stage, well-funded startup with a small founding engineering team and is hiring its fourth engineer. The Role This is a true 0→1 founding engineering role with significant ...

Worky

Mobile Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

What you'll do As a mobile software engineer, you'll be the fourth engineer at a tiny startup, working closely with the whole team to design and build the native mobile experiences that power our ...

4th Second

Youth Empowerment Intern

Vallejo, CA · On-site

$20/hr

As a Youth Empowerment Intern you will primarily support 4th Second's youth programming, youth leader projects, and fostering a welcoming culture that nurtures youth's needs, individuality, and self ...

4th Second

Youth Empowerment Intern

Vallejo, CA · On-site

$17 - $22.50/hr

As a Youth Empowerment Intern you will primarily support 4th Second's youth programming, youth leader projects, and fostering a welcoming culture that nurtures youth's needs, individuality, and self ...

4th Second

Growing Futures Youth Coordinator

Vallejo, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

About Us: 4th Second is a nonprofit organization dedicated to driving systemic change and fostering ... Complete scheduled pickups of food boxes, tools, and materials to support programming Minimum ...

Sierra Pacific Industries

Engineer - Process

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$69K - $115K/yr

We are a fourth-generation family-owned company that has grown to be one of the largest lumber and ... Provide engineering support for continuous improvement efforts and new product development with ...

Sierra Pacific Industries

Engineer - Design

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$70K - $115K/yr

We are a fourth-generation family-owned company that has grown to be one of the largest lumber and ... Engineer designs for window and door systems * Design, test, and analyze new and existing products ...

Collabera

Senior Network Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

$121K - $166K/yr

Senior Network Engineer Duration: 9 months (9/30/16). Potential to extend or convert. Target Start ... Jan 4th JOB SCOPE: Key Responsibilities: Plan, design, implement, and provide ongoing support of ...

EG-Engineering

Controls Software Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$53.75 - $68.50/hr

The Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is seeking a Controls ... fourth-generation light source. This upgrade will position the facility among the brightest soft ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsFourth Engineer JobsFourth Engineer Jobs in California

Fourth Engineer information

See California salary details

$37.5K

$114.3K

$189K

How much do fourth engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for fourth engineer in California is $114,347.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $149,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fourth engineer?

A Fourth Engineer, also known as a Junior Engineer, is an entry-level licensed officer in the engine department of a ship. Their main responsibilities include assisting with the operation and maintenance of the ship's engines, machinery, and other technical equipment. They work under the supervision of senior engineers and are often assigned duties such as monitoring fuel and oil levels, maintaining auxiliary systems, and performing routine inspections. The role is crucial for the safe and efficient functioning of the vessel's engine room and serves as a stepping stone for advancement to higher engineering ranks on board.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fourth engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fourth Engineer, you need a solid understanding of marine engineering principles, engine room operations, and a valid Certificate of Competency (COC) as required by the STCW Convention. Familiarity with engine room machinery, maintenance tools, and safety management systems is essential. Strong teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial to ensure efficient vessel operations, onboard safety, and compliance with maritime regulations.

What are some common challenges a fourth engineer faces during their first year at sea?

As a Fourth Engineer, one of the main challenges in the first year is adapting to the demanding schedules and routines of life at sea while ensuring all machinery is maintained and operating safely. You’ll often need to quickly learn vessel-specific systems, manage unexpected technical issues, and handle emergency situations under the guidance of senior engineers. Collaborating smoothly with a multicultural crew and balancing hands-on technical work with rigorous record-keeping are also key aspects that require strong organizational and communication skills. With time and experience, these challenges become valuable learning opportunities that help build your competence for more advanced engineering roles.

What is the difference between Fourth Engineer vs Third Engineer?

AspectFourth EngineerThird Engineer
CertificationsSTCW certifications, basic engineering licensesSTCW certifications, advanced engineering licenses
Work EnvironmentEngine room, maintenance, troubleshootingEngine room, maintenance, troubleshooting, supervising
ResponsibilitiesAssist in engine maintenance, monitor equipmentPerform repairs, oversee Fourth Engineers, assist senior engineers
Industry UsageCommon entry-level or junior engineering roleMid-level engineering role, often a step towards Second Engineer

The Fourth Engineer is typically an entry-level or junior engineering position responsible for assisting with engine maintenance and monitoring equipment. The Third Engineer has more experience, performing repairs, overseeing Fourth Engineers, and supporting senior engineers. The roles differ mainly in responsibility level and required certifications, with the Third Engineer serving as a more experienced, supervisory role within the engine department.

How much does a Fourth Engineer make?

A Fourth Engineer typically earns between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the shipping company. They are responsible for maintaining engine room equipment and supporting the engineering team on ships or maritime vessels.
Infographic showing various Fourth Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,347 per year, or $55 per hour.

Applied AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA

AccrueTalent
See more jobs at AccrueTalentexternal

$180K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Building AI for engineers working on complex physical systems across industries such as aerospace, automotive, defense, robotics, energy, marine, mining, and heavy equipment.

The platform helps engineering teams understand and validate complex designs against technical, legal, regulatory, and customer requirements. Longer term, the vision is to enable AI-assisted and AI-generated engineering design.

The company is an early-stage, well-funded startup with a small founding engineering team and is hiring its fourth engineer.

The Role

This is a true 0→1 founding engineering role with significant ownership across product, architecture, AI systems, and customer deployments.

You’ll work directly with the founders and customers to determine what should be built, make foundational technical decisions, and ship software used in real engineering environments.

A major near-term focus is building systems that can model how complex physical products fit together across hardware, software, mechanical, electrical, fluidic, and thermal systems.

What You’ll Work On

  • Build the core product and underlying technical architecture from the ground up
  • Develop system-modeling capabilities that represent relationships across complex engineering systems
  • Work with engineering, design, requirements, and technical data from real-world physical products
  • Help scale a major active customer deployment supporting approximately 100 users
  • Build AI-powered workflows around engineering requirements, validation, and technical decision-making
  • Work directly with customers to understand their workflows and translate ambiguous problems into product capabilities
  • Make architecture and product tradeoffs with founder-level ownership
  • Build infrastructure needed to support enterprise and potentially on-premise deployments
  • Help shape engineering culture, technical standards, and future hiring
  • Potentially travel to work directly with customers
  • Over time, help build and train customized models using customer engineering data

What We’re Looking For

  • Strong software engineering fundamentals and exceptional technical ability
  • Approximately 3–5 years of engineering experience, although exceptional candidates outside that range will be considered
  • Demonstrated ability to build products or systems from 0→1
  • Strong product judgment and comfort working in ambiguous environments
  • Ability to translate customer problems into technical solutions
  • Experience making architecture and engineering tradeoffs independently
  • High ownership and a founder mentality
  • Comfortable operating on a very small engineering team
  • Genuine interest in physical AI, engineering, robotics, or complex physical systems
  • Strong collaborative instincts