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Head Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Samsonrose

Head of Flight Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

An innovative autonomous aviation company has engaged us to find a Head of Flight Test Engineer to drive the validation of next-generation autonomous aircraft operating in real-world environments.

New

Long Wall

Head of Vehicle Engineering

Long Beach, CA · On-site

Head of Vehicle Engineering DESCRIPTION Long Wall is hiring a Head of Vehicle to lead the multidisciplinary team responsible for taking missile defense hardware from concept through flight. This ...

Long Wall

Head of Vehicle Engineering

Long Beach, CA · On-site

Head of Vehicle Engineering DESCRIPTION Long Wall is hiring a Head of Vehicle to lead the multidisciplinary team responsible for taking missile defense hardware from concept through flight. This ...

Long Wall

Head of Vehicle Engineering

Long Beach, CA

$165K - $245K/yr

Head of Vehicle Engineering DESCRIPTION Long Wall is hiring a Head of Vehicle to lead the multidisciplinary team responsible for taking missile defense hardware from concept through flight. This ...

Baya Systems

Head of Customer Programs

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

Head of Customer Programs Location: Santa Clara, CA (On-site/Hybrid) Reports To: CEO Role Summary ... Lead recurring tracking meetings and hold functional engineering leaders accountable for hitting ...

Starpath

Head of Talent

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Head of Talent Position Details Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA Employment Type: Full-time ... We're growing the engineering team across three programs - Starlight Solar (space photovoltaics ...

Phylo

Head of Talent

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

Our fast-growing team brings together researchers and engineers across AI and biology ... About the Role We're hiring our first in-house Head of Talent-a player-coach who will personally ...

Phylo, Inc.

Head of Talent

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Our fast-growing team brings together researchers and engineers across AI and biology ... About the Role We're hiring our first in-house Head of Talent-a player-coach who will personally ...

BoxPower, Inc.

Head of Microgrid Controls

Grass Valley, CA · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

BoxPower's engineering culture integrates AI tools (Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and others) throughout our workflow for code, documentation, analysis, and design assistance. As Head of Controls, you ...

BoxPower

Head of Microgrid Controls

Grass Valley, CA · On-site

$95K - $123K/yr

BoxPower's engineering culture integrates AI tools (Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and others) throughout our workflow for code, documentation, analysis, and design assistance. As Head of Controls, you ...

AiLO Logistics

Head of Engineering

Glendale, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Head of Engineering Company Name: T3 TMS Position: 1099 - Independent Contract / Full Time Salary ... Partner with the QA engineer to build a testing culture -- automated, integration, and performance ...

Superpower

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Superpower is building the future of preventative health and is seeking a Head of Engineering to scale their engineering organization. The role involves translating the product roadmap into execution ...

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Showing results 41-60

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 Flight Test Engineer

Samsonrose

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$180 - $260/hr

Other

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

An innovative autonomous aviation company has engaged us to find a Head of Flight Test Engineer to drive the validation of next-generation autonomous aircraft operating in real-world environments. This is a highly visible technical leadership role where you'll lead flight test strategy, oversee complex test campaigns, and help shape the processes, automation, and infrastructure that ensure safe and reliable commercial deployment. You'll work at the intersection of aerospace, robotics, autonomy, and safety-critical systems, influencing how cutting-edge autonomous aircraft are tested, validated, and released.

A bit about the company:
  • Strategic Growth Stage: The company is scaling its autonomous delivery platform globally and expanding its engineering organization to support commercial operations. This is an opportunity to join a high-performing team building technology that is already making a real-world impact while helping shape the future of autonomous aviation.
  • Mission-Driven Innovation: The company is redefining logistics by building autonomous aircraft and intelligent delivery networks capable of transporting critical goods safely and efficiently. Their technology combines advanced robotics, autonomy, software, and aviation to solve complex transportation challenges at scale.
  • Career Opportunities: This is an opportunity to lead a world-class flight test organization while remaining deeply technical. You'll mentor and grow an experienced engineering team while contributing hands-on to test architecture, automation, systems validation, safety assessments, and release decisions. The role offers exceptional exposure across autonomous systems, aerospace engineering, robotics, software, operations, and regulatory compliance.
We're looking for someone who has:
  • 5+ years of experience designing, developing, validating, or testing complex autonomous, robotic, aerospace, aviation, or other safety-critical systems (UAS experience is strongly preferred).
  • Experience leading Flight Test, Systems Test, Validation, or Field Test Engineering teams while remaining technically hands-on.
  • A proven track record of leading test campaigns from objective definition through planning, execution, analysis, and release recommendations.
  • Strong systems-level understanding across software, embedded systems, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, controls, operations, and regulatory requirements.
  • Experience developing or integrating test automation, analytics tools, data pipelines, or scalable validation systems that improve test coverage and engineering efficiency.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain safety considerations, engineering risks, and technical tradeoffs to engineers, operators, executives, and regulatory stakeholders.
  • Willingness to travel domestically, with occasional international travel, to support flight testing, site operations, and team leadership.
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