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Head Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

swarms.xyz

Head of Marketplace

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

As Head of Marketplace at Swarms, you will own the marketplace where agents, tools, and swarms are ... You will lead the marketplace engineering team, set the technical and product direction, and ...

LiteLLM AI Gateway

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $300K/yr

Our platform empowers developers by providing secure, reliable access to LLMs and adjacent services, and we're looking for a Head of Engineering to lead the team building the leading OSS AI gateway.

Senra Systems

Head of Customer Programs

Cypress, CA · On-site

Position Overview We are looking for a Head of Customer Programs to lead the organization ... Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Business Development, Supply Chain, Quality ...

Invictus Academy of Richmond

Head of People

El Cerrito, CA · On-site

$97K - $111K/yr

Head of People Work Year: 12 months Employment Type: Exempt, Full-Time Salary Range: $97,500-$111 ... Develops and oversees effective onboarding and new staff programming * Write s, design and monitor ...

Senra Systems

Head of Customer Programs

Cypress, CA · On-site

Position Overview We are looking for a Head of Customer Programs to lead the organization ... Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Business Development, Supply Chain, Quality ...

Waydev

Head of Growth (Menlo Park)

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$50K - $250K/yr

Head of Growth We are looking for a Head of Growth who can take full ownership of our growth engine ... Design high quality campaigns across SEO, paid, social, content, and developer focused channels.

MILKEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Head Golf Coach

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$38 - $40/hr

The Head Golf Coach is expected to uphold the values and policies of Milken Community School while ... programming, and other approved athletic department responsibilities. For a complete overview of ...

Invictus Academy of Richmond

Head of People

El Cerrito, CA · On-site

$97K - $111K/yr

Head of People Work Year: 12 months Employment Type: Exempt, Full-Time Salary Range: $97,500-$111 ... Develops and oversees effective onboarding and new staff programming * Write s, design and monitor ...

ElevenLabs

Head of Music

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

ElevenAPI gives developers access to our leading AI audio foundational models. Everything we do is ... We are hiring a Head of Music to lead our enterprise and consumer music business end to end. We ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsHead Engineer JobsHead Engineer Jobs in California

Head Engineer information

See California salary details

$10

$39

$72

How much do head engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for head engineer in California is $39.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27.78 and $47.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some of the main challenges a head engineer faces when leading cross-functional engineering teams?

One of the primary challenges for a Head Engineer is ensuring effective communication and alignment among diverse teams, such as software, hardware, and quality assurance. Balancing technical leadership with management duties—like resource allocation and project prioritization—can also be demanding. Additionally, the Head Engineer must foster collaboration and innovation while maintaining project timelines and meeting business objectives. Addressing these challenges requires strong interpersonal skills, a strategic mindset, and the ability to adapt to evolving project needs.

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

To thrive as a Head Engineer, you need advanced engineering expertise, project management experience, and typically a relevant engineering degree with professional certification (such as PE or equivalent). Familiarity with industry-standard software (like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or project management tools) and compliance with regulatory frameworks is crucial. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities set outstanding Head Engineers apart by enabling them to guide teams and drive innovation. These skills ensure successful project delivery, safety, and the development of efficient engineering solutions.

What is the difference between Head Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectHead EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering
Work EnvironmentProject management, team leadership, strategic planningDesign, analysis, testing, and manufacturing
Employer & Industry UsageConstruction, manufacturing, engineering firmsAutomotive, aerospace, robotics, manufacturing

The Head Engineer typically oversees engineering projects, manages teams, and sets strategic goals, requiring leadership skills and experience. Mechanical Engineers focus on designing, analyzing, and testing mechanical systems. While both roles require engineering credentials, the Head Engineer has a broader managerial scope, whereas Mechanical Engineers concentrate on technical tasks within their specialty.

What are the most commonly searched types of Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Head Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Head Engineer job openings:

Head Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head 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 $81,125 per year, or $39 per hour.

Head of Marketplace

swarms.xyz

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Other

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

As Head of Marketplace at Swarms, you will own the marketplace where agents, tools, and swarms are published, discovered, and monetized. We are looking for an experienced individual who has built and scaled marketplaces before. You will lead the marketplace engineering team, set the technical and product direction, and recruit the people needed to make the Swarms marketplace the default destination of the agent economy.

Responsibilities

What you'll do
  • Own the marketplace end to end, from product strategy to production systems
  • Lead and manage the marketplace engineering team
  • Recruit, interview, and hire engineers to grow the marketplace team
  • Design the liquidity, discovery, and monetization mechanics of the marketplace
  • Scale marketplace infrastructure for millions of agents, tools, and transactions

Requirements

You may be a fit if
  • You have built and scaled a marketplace before and can speak to what worked and what did not
  • You have 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams
  • You have owned recruiting for a team and know how to attract strong engineers
  • You understand marketplace dynamics: supply, demand, liquidity, and take rates
  • You are passionate about building the commercial layer of the agent economy

Join Us

Apply for this role

Ready to help build infrastructure for the agent economy? Email us at kye@swarms.world and we'll be in touch soon.

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