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Junior Operations Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Junior DevOps Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$62.25 - $85/hr

Junior DevOps Engineer Company Overview: M & D Mechanical Contractors is a leading mechanical contracting company based in San Francisco, CA. We specialize in providing high-quality mechanical ...

Lead DevOps Engineer

Rocklin, CA · On-site

$70 - $75/hr

Mentor junior engineers and drive DevOps best practices. Interview Focus * Linux & Kubernetes * GitLab/Jenkins CI/CD * Terraform * Python Automation * AWS & Azure * Monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana ...

Sr. DevOps Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$61.50 - $84.25/hr

Drive automation and mentor junior engineers on DevOps best practices. Requirements * 6+ years in DevOps or Release Engineering. * Hands-on experience with DevOps , InstallShield , Jenkins , and CI ...

Jr. DevOps Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$62.25 - $85/hr

Company Description Intelliswift Software, Inc 1+ years of professional services experience on automation and/or integration projects 3+ years of programming experience in C# and/or Java Experience ...

DevOps Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$62.25 - $85/hr

... junior engineers and establish best practices as a key member of the DevOps team. Qualifications : Required : • Expert-level experience with AWS services such as EC2, ECS, RDS, and Lambda. • ...

DevOps Engineer

Newark, CA · On-site

$59.25 - $81.25/hr

Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior members of the organization. * Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in MLOps, DevOps and cloud technologies and share them with the ...

DevOps Engineer

Newark, CA · On-site

$59.25 - $81.25/hr

Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior members of the organization. * Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in MLOps, DevOps and cloud technologies and share them with the ...

Sr DevOps Engineer - Lead

Irvine, CA · On-site

$112 - $191/hr

Collaborate closely with development teams to foster a DevOps mindset and provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members. * Troubleshooting and Optimization: Identify and resolve complex ...

Sr DevOps Engineer - Lead

Irvine, CA · On-site

$112 - $191/hr

Collaborate closely with development teams to foster a DevOps mindset and provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members.* **Troubleshooting and Optimization:** Identify and resolve complex ...

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Junior Operations Engineer information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$70.9K

$108.1K

How much do junior operations engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior operations engineer in California is $70,859.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,900.00 and $79,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Junior Operations Engineer vs Operations Technician?

AspectJunior Operations EngineerOperations Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or related fieldTechnical diploma or associate degree, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentOffice and field, involved in planning and troubleshootingField-based, hands-on equipment maintenance and monitoring
Employer & Industry UsageUtilities, manufacturing, energy sectorsManufacturing plants, energy facilities, industrial sites
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for entry-level roles with technical focusCompared for operational support and maintenance roles

The Junior Operations Engineer typically focuses on planning, analysis, and troubleshooting within engineering frameworks, requiring a degree. Operations Technicians are more hands-on, performing maintenance and monitoring tasks. Both roles are essential in industrial settings but differ mainly in their responsibilities and required qualifications.

What is a junior operations engineer?

Junior Operations Engineers are entry-level professionals who support the daily operations of a company's technical infrastructure. They assist in monitoring systems, identifying and resolving operational issues, and ensuring that hardware and software systems run smoothly. Junior Operations Engineers often work under the guidance of senior engineers, learning essential system administration, troubleshooting, and process optimization skills. Their role is crucial in maintaining system reliability and supporting business continuity.

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

To thrive as a Junior Operations Engineer, you need a solid understanding of computer systems, networking fundamentals, and basic scripting or programming, typically supported by a relevant degree or certification. Familiarity with monitoring tools, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and configuration management systems is often required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring reliable operations, quick issue resolution, and smooth collaboration within technical teams.

What are some common challenges faced by junior operations engineers in their first year, and how can they be overcome?

Junior Operations Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing unfamiliar systems, adapting to on-call rotations, and troubleshooting issues under time pressure. To overcome these, it's helpful to actively seek mentorship from senior team members, document new processes, and participate in regular team knowledge-sharing sessions. Building strong communication skills and a foundational understanding of the organization's infrastructure will also ease the transition and lead to faster problem-solving.

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

The most popular types of Operations Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Junior Operations Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Junior Operations Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Junior Operations Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,859 per year, or $34.1 per hour.

$65K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

About Science and Technology Corporation (STC): Founded in 1979, Science and Technology Corporation (STC) delivers an extensive range of award-winning advanced scientific, engineering, and technical support services to the U.S. Government and Industry customers. Our proven expertise and experience span scientific research, development, test and evaluation in areas such as earth and atmospheric sciences, engineering, data science and software engineering

Will you join our world-class team. Employment Category: Full-Time/Regular Scheduled: 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 9/80 compressed schedule Work Environment: Work performed in office, hangar, and flight test environments Travel: Occasional extended hours or travel required to support mission operations Location: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Edwards AFB, CA Security Clearance: Eligible for Secret Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen Salary: $65,000 - $90,000 Job Summary The Junior Operations Engineer supports aircraft operations, flight test activities, and mission execution at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC)

This role focuses on assisting with planning, integration, and execution of flight and ground operations to ensure safe and effective mission performance. You will work alongside engineers, pilots, and technicians in a hands-on environment where concepts transition quickly from planning to test to flight. Primary Responsibilities Operations Support Support planning and execution of flight and ground test operations Assist with development of procedures, checklists, and flight cards Participate in mission planning including logistics and safety considerations Support real-time mission operations and control room activities Engineering Support Assist with requirements decomposition and concept of operations development Support airworthiness assessments and verification & validation (V&V) activities Support integration and testing of aircraft systems and experimental payloads Assist with maintenance planning and configuration tracking Documentation & Analysis Document test results, lessons learned, and operational findings Support post-flight data review and analysis Prepare technical inputs for reports and briefings Key Benefits and Impact Work directly on flight operations and real aircraft systems Gain hands-on experience in flight test and mission execution Collaborate with a high-performing multidisciplinary team Contribute to advanced aerospace research and flight programsMinimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Physical Science 0-2 years of relevant experience (internships acceptable) Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment U.S

Citizenship required Preferred Qualifications Exposure to flight operations or aircraft systems Familiarity with systems engineering or flight test processes Experience with data analysis or test planning Strong communication skillsMinimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Physical Science 0-2 years of relevant experience (internships acceptable) Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment U.S. Citizenship required Preferred Qualifications Exposure to flight operations or aircraft systems Familiarity with systems engineering or flight test processes Experience with data analysis or test planning Strong communication skills.