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Graduate Trainee Engineer Jobs in Pleasanton, CA

... mentoring trainees in the lab. Responsibilities : • Propose, conceptualize, design, implement ... Stanford University is a teaching and research university that focuses on graduate programs in law ...

Graduate Trainee Engineer information

See Pleasanton, CA salary details

$33.9K

$76.4K

$128.5K

How much do graduate trainee engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate trainee engineer in Pleasanton, CA is $76,364.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,900.00 and $82,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate trainee engineer?

Graduate Trainee Engineers are recent university graduates who are hired by companies to undergo training and gain practical experience in engineering roles. These positions are designed to help new engineers develop their technical skills, understand company processes, and prepare for permanent engineering roles within the organization. Graduate trainee programs typically rotate trainees through different departments and projects, exposing them to a variety of engineering challenges. The goal is to build a strong foundation for a successful engineering career.

What do graduate trainee engineers do?

As a Graduate Trainee Engineer, you can anticipate working on a variety of entry-level engineering projects under the supervision of senior engineers. Your responsibilities may include assisting in the design and development of products, conducting tests, preparing technical documentation, and analyzing data. Most programs are structured to rotate you through different departments, allowing you to gain exposure to various engineering functions and build a broad skill set. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is common, providing opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and contribute to meaningful projects early in your career.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate trainee engineer?

To thrive as a Graduate Trainee Engineer, you need a solid foundation in engineering principles, problem-solving abilities, and at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline. Familiarity with technical tools such as CAD software, data analysis programs, and industry-specific standards or certifications is often required. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for collaborating on projects and learning new concepts quickly. These skills enable graduate trainees to effectively contribute to engineering teams, meet project goals, and grow into more advanced roles.

What is the difference between Graduate Trainee Engineer vs Junior Engineer?

AspectGraduate Trainee EngineerJunior Engineer
QualificationsTypically recent graduates with a relevant degreeOften requires some experience or entry-level qualification
Work EnvironmentTraining-focused, supervised learningHands-on, independent tasks with supervision
Employer UsageEntry-level position for new graduatesInitial professional role for early-career engineers

The Graduate Trainee Engineer is primarily a training role designed for recent graduates to develop skills, while a Junior Engineer is an entry-level position where individuals start applying their knowledge in real projects. Both roles are common in engineering industries and serve as stepping stones in an engineering career.

What job categories do people searching Graduate Trainee Engineer jobs in Pleasanton, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Graduate Trainee Engineer jobs in Pleasanton, CA are:

What cities near Pleasanton, CA are hiring for Graduate Trainee Engineer jobs?

Cities near Pleasanton, CA with the most Graduate Trainee Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Graduate Trainee Engineer job openings in Pleasanton, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, and 31% Part Time. Highlights an 84% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,364 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Industrial Hygienist -Technical Career Field (TCF) Trainee

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Martinez, CA • On-site

$63K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

This position is located in Martinez, California. The employee serves as a participant in the Technical Career Fields Program under the direction of a qualified preceptor. The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions.Qualifications:Basic Requirement (Copy of Transcripts and/or Certification Required):
  • A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or
  • A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or
  • Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH).
Evaluation of Education: Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.
In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement, applicants must meet at least one of the following specialized experience and/or education qualification requirements.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-7: I have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that involved the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls. Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.
SUBSITUTION OF EDUCATION GS-7: I have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education or 18 semester hours in courses that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of Industrial Hygienist - TCF Trainee. (Transcript(s) Required)
COMBINATION GS-7: : I have a combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. Transcript(s) Required).
SAA GS-7: I qualify based on Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following: 1) Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision; 2) A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; 3) A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; or 4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. (Transcript(s) Required)
For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp.
For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-9: I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that involved the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls. Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.
SUBSITUTION OF EDUCATION GS-9: I have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR master's or equivalent graduate degree that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of Industrial Hygienist - TCF Trainee. (Transcript(s) Required)
COMBINATION GS-9: I have a combination of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education and specialized experience as described above. (Transcript(s) Required)
You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Teamwork

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER