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Head Of Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Valency Systems Inc

Head of Engineering

Berkeley, CA · On-site

The Position As our Head of Engineering, you will report directly to the CEO. You will own the technical architecture, define the engineering culture, hire and grow an engineering team, and shape how ...

David AI

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

As the Head of Engineering, you will lead the engineering team in designing and developing core tools for audio data processing, while also overseeing the delivery of full-stack features and ...

Wonderschool

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA

The Head of Engineering is responsible for building the high-performing engineering organization that can ship reliable, scalable products and fully leverage these systems. Position Summary The Head ...

Wonderschool

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Head of Engineering is responsible for building the high-performing engineering organization that can ship reliable, scalable products and fully leverage these systems. Position Summary The Head ...

Broccoli AI

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$275K - $350K/yr

Head of Engineering @ Broccoli We're looking for a Head of Engineering to build and lead a high-performing engineering org that can ship ambitious product outcomes with speed, quality, and ...

Appsierra Group

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250/hr

Head of Engineering Location: San Francisco, CA Employment: Full-Time Experience: 6+ Years Salary: $200,000-$300,000 per year Visa Sponsorship: None Available About the Role The Head of Engineering ...

Parallax Space, Inc.

Head of Engineering

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$200 - $250/hr

The Head of Engineering will serve as a foundational executive leader, shaping technical direction, scaling engineering processes, recruiting top‑tier talent, and driving engineering excellence ...

Parallax Space

Head of Engineering

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

The Head of Engineering will serve as a foundational executive leader, shaping technical direction, scaling engineering processes, recruiting top-tier talent, and driving engineering excellence ...

Datawizz

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$50K - $500K/yr

The Role As Head of Engineering, you'll be responsible for building and leading our engineering team. You'll work closely with the founder to define the roadmap, oversee architecture and execution ...

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 Range: $120,000 - $150,000 About T3 TMS: T3 TMS is a modern Transportation Management System built ...

Boxtro Llp 123

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Launched in 2012, Koding, a fast-growing startup (with over a million users), is seeking a Head of Engineering to lead engineering efforts. We are looking for a solid technical leader to shape the ...

Charge Robotics

Head of Engineering

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$180K - $300K/yr

About the role Charge Robotics is hiring a Head of Engineering to lead the engineering team through our next stage of growth: transitioning from first commercial deployments to repeatable builds and ...

Plug

Head of Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Head Of Engineering Team: Engineering Location: Onsite - Sawtelle (Between Santa Monica & West LA) Employment Type: Fulltime, Salaried, Exempt Reports To: SVP of Product & Technology About Plug Plug ...

Plugmotors

Head of Engineering

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$250/hr

Head Of Engineering Team: Engineering Location: Onsite-Santa Monica, CA Employment Type: Fulltime, Salaried, Exempt Reports To: SVP of Product & Technology About Plug Plug is an automotive fintech ...

Clera

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

About the Role A seed-stage neurotechnology startup in San Francisco is hiring a Head of Engineering -- a founding leadership role for someone who can set technical direction and still ship code ...

Clera

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

About the Role A seed-stage neurotechnology startup in San Francisco is hiring a Head of Engineering - a founding leadership role for someone who can set technical direction and still ship code every ...

Inferact

Head of Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the Role We're looking for a Head of Engineering to build and lead the organization developing the systems that power vLLM and Inferact. This role requires an engineering leader with genuine ...

Canopy A&D

Head of Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

Operating at a senior leadership level, the Head of Engineering will drive operational excellence by managing team schedules, resource allocation, and department KPIs, while overseeing the full ...

Canopy A&D

Head of Engineering

Ontario, CA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Operating at a senior leadership level, the Head of Engineering will drive operational excellence by managing team schedules, resource allocation, and department KPIs, while overseeing the full ...

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All JobsHead Of Engineering JobsHead Of Engineering Jobs in California

Head Of Engineering information

See California salary details

$72K

$192.2K

$250.7K

How much do head of engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of engineering in California is $192,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $139,600.00 and $249,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a head of engineering do?

A Head of Engineering is responsible for leading and managing the engineering department within an organization. They oversee engineering teams, set technical direction, ensure project delivery, and collaborate with other departments to align engineering goals with business objectives. Additionally, they are involved in hiring, mentoring engineers, and implementing best practices to drive innovation and efficiency. Their role is crucial in shaping the company's technical vision and ensuring the successful execution of engineering projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a head of engineering?

To thrive as a Head of Engineering, you need deep technical expertise, strong leadership abilities, and a proven track record in managing engineering teams, often supported by an advanced degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with popular project management tools (like Jira or Asana), cloud platforms, and agile development methodologies is typically required. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution skills help distinguish top candidates in this leadership role. These skills ensure the engineering team delivers high-quality products efficiently while aligning with organizational goals and fostering a positive team culture.

How does the head of engineering typically collaborate with other departments to drive product development?

As the Head of Engineering, you will regularly work alongside product managers, designers, and executive leadership to define technical requirements and align engineering priorities with business goals. Effective collaboration often involves participating in cross-functional meetings, setting realistic timelines, and ensuring transparent communication between engineering and non-technical teams. This role requires balancing technical feasibility with product vision, resolving blockers quickly, and fostering a culture of teamwork across departments to deliver high-quality products on schedule.

What is the difference between Head Of Engineering vs Engineering Manager?

AspectHead Of EngineeringEngineering Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire engineering department, sets strategic goals, manages multiple teamsManages specific engineering teams, focuses on project delivery and team performance
Required CredentialsTypically requires extensive engineering experience, leadership skills, and often a degree in engineering or related fieldsUsually requires engineering background, technical expertise, and leadership experience
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, strategic planning, cross-department collaborationTeam-focused, project management, technical oversight

The Head Of Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall engineering strategy and department, while the Engineering Manager focuses on managing specific teams and projects. Both roles require technical background and leadership skills, but differ in scope and strategic influence.

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

The most popular types of Of Engineering jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Head Of Engineering jobs in California?

For Head Of Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Head Of Engineering jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Head Of Engineering jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Head Of Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Head Of Engineering job openings:

Head Of Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Of Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $192,160 per year, or $92.4 per hour.

Head of Engineering

Valency Systems Inc

Berkeley, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Own the technical roadmap and make architectural decisions to balance shipping speed with scalability.

  • Build and lead the engineering team, including recruiting, hiring, and mentoring engineers across various domains.

  • Collaborate closely with the Head of Research and Head of Science to translate user needs into engineering priorities.

Job description

About Valency
Valency Systems is a small, dynamic team of engineers, scientists, and researchers building the global hub for the agentic research era.
We're based in Berkeley, California, and we're building something that matters. If you care about open science, advancing research at the speed of thought, and using AI to accelerate discovery, we'd love to talk.
Our team is hybrid. We come together in person 3 days a week, with the option for 2 days of remote work.
The Position
As our Head of Engineering, you will report directly to the CEO. You will own the technical architecture, define the engineering culture, hire and grow an engineering team, and shape how we build and ship.
You'll be hands-on, building your engineering organization from the ground up and leveraging the power of AI coding tools to accelerate innovation. You will work in tight collaboration with world-class peers in Head of Science and Head of Research. You will make sure we are building the right things, the right way, at the right speed.
If you thrive in a small, collaborative, fast-moving environments where technical decisions have immediate, visible impact on the product and the team, this role was built for you!
What You'll Do
Technical leadership & architecture
  • Own the technical roadmap, making architectural decisions that balance shipping speed with long-term scalability
  • Drive the evolution of our cloud-based infrastructure
  • Anticipate scaling and reliability challenges before they become expensive, staying ahead of the product to validate approaches and surface unknowns early
  • Establish engineering practices and standards that will scale as the team grows from a handful of engineers to a full organization

Hands-on engineering
  • Champion AI-tool fluency across the team, using tools like Claude Code as force multipliers
  • This is a building role, not a meetings role
  • Make key technical decisions across backend services, data infrastructure, and developer tooling
  • Drive measurable improvements in system performance, reliability, and operational cost
  • Build a robust infrastructure that will scale, as we serve the needs of the global scientific community

Cross-functional leadership
  • Be a true partner to the Head of Research and Head of Science - this is not a hand-off relationship, but tight collaborative loops
  • Work in close alignment with product to translate user needs and requirements into engineering priorities
  • Translate complex technical tradeoffs into clear, actionable guidance for technical and non-technical stakeholders alike

People & culture
  • Recruit, hire, and mentor a world-class engineering team across backend, frontend, infrastructure, and security
  • Build a culture where shipping fast (excellence), learning continuously (curiosity), and being good humans (kindness) can coexist
  • Foster an environment of intellectual humility, open source contribution, and AI-native development practices

What We're Looking For
Required
  • Significant experience building and leading engineering teams at early-stage or high-growth companies
  • Genuine fluency with AI coding tools: you already use them daily, to solve real problems, not just experimentally
  • Deep hands-on expertise with cloud-native architectures
  • Some experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP), agentic frameworks, or AI-tool integration patterns
  • A track record of scaling and shipping production systems under real constraints, not just designing them, but delivering them
  • Ability to operate with high autonomy in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment
Preferred
  • Experience with our stack or adjacent: Node.js/TypeScript, AWS Lambda/CDK/Step Functions, PostgreSQL, Cloudflare
  • Experience scaling teams through key growth inflection points (e.g., 5 → 20 engineers)
  • Familiarity with ML infrastructure, vector search, or document processing pipelines (added bonus for experience in research/academia)
  • Familiarity with auth systems (e.g. OAuth) and observability tooling

Apply