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Lead Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lead Engineer

Daly City, CA

$118K - $156K/yr

Lead Engineer Daly City, CA We are searching for a Lead Engineer in the California area. Someone who has Plumbing design skills and is a leader by nature. Responsibilities for Lead Engineer: Ensure ...

Lead Engineer

Fullerton, CA

$106K - $140K/yr

Lead Engineer Fullerton, CA We are searching for a Lead Engineer in the California area. Someone who has Plumbing design skills and is a leader by nature. Responsibilities for Lead Engineer: Ensure ...

Lead Engineer

Del Mar, CA

$107K - $142K/yr

Lead Engineer Del Mar, CA We are searching for a Lead Engineer in the California area. Someone who has Plumbing design skills and is a leader by nature. Responsibilities for Lead Engineer: Ensure ...

Lead Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$110K - $145K/yr

We're looking for a Lead Engineer / Technical Director to help drive both project success and engineering excellence across our co-development engagements. This role is to start work as the Lead on ...

Lead Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Lead Engineer Location-Type: Onsite LA Start Date Is: ASAP Duration: (contract, perm, etc) FTE Perm Compensation Range: $130K-150K - 12% performance based Benefits: Eligible for Health, Dental ...

Lead Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

The Lead Engineer will guide engineering design decisions, coordinate validation and test activities, and partner with operations, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure a seamless transition ...

Lead Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

The Lead Engineer will guide engineering design decisions, coordinate validation and test activities, and partner with operations, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure a seamless transition ...

Lead Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

The Lead Engineer will guide engineering design decisions, coordinate validation and test activities, and partner with operations, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure a seamless transition ...

Lead Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

The Lead Engineer will guide engineering design decisions, coordinate validation and test activities, and partner with operations, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure a seamless transition ...

Lead Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$110K - $145K/yr

We're looking for a Lead Engineer / Technical Director to help drive both project success and engineering excellence across our co-development engagements.This role is to start work as the Lead on ...

The Lead Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership in the design, development, and implementation of HVAC systems for commercial and residential projects. This role oversees ...

LEAD ENGINEER

Alameda, CA · On-site

$35/hr

The Lead Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership in the design, development, and implementation of HVAC systems for commercial and residential projects. This role oversees ...

Lead Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$116K - $153K/yr

For this role, we're looking for a Head of Engineering to help lead the rapid development and growth of PatternAI's automated ML/AI platform across 3 interoperating areas: software engineering, data ...

Lead Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$139K - $199K/yr

You will lead engineering efforts in a dynamic, AI-enhanced development lifecycle (AIDLC), collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact solutions. Key Responsibilities * Lead the ...

Lead Engineer

San Mateo, CA · Remote

$116K - $153K/yr

For this role, we're looking for a Head of Engineering to help lead the rapid development and growth of PatternAI's automated ML/AI platform across 3 interoperating areas: software engineering, data ...

Lead Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$48.07 - $52.88/hr

Lead Operating Engineer - JLL What this job involves: Join JLL as a Lead Operating Engineer and play a key role in supporting facility operations and engineering excellence within a commercial real ...

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Showing results 1-20

Lead Engineer information

See California salary details

$41.9K

$122.2K

$178.1K

How much do lead engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead engineer in California is $122,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,200.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lead engineer?

A lead engineer oversees a team of engineers who work on maintaining and streamlining corporate projects. In this job, your primary duties and focus is on the equipment, technology, and infrastructure that make up the company’s operating system. Educational qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in engineering and specialization in the company’s industry. You hone your skills as a junior engineer before gaining enough experience to advance your career to a lead engineer position.

What does a lead engineer do?

A Lead Engineer is responsible for overseeing technical projects, guiding engineering teams, and ensuring that design and development processes meet organizational goals. They serve as both a technical expert and a team leader, providing mentorship, setting project timelines, and coordinating with other departments. Lead Engineers often participate in decision-making, problem-solving, and quality assurance to deliver successful engineering outcomes.

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

To thrive as a Lead Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in engineering principles, project management experience, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with industry-standard design tools, version control systems, and certifications like PMP or Six Sigma are often required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure effective project delivery, team coordination, and technical excellence in complex engineering environments.

What are some common challenges lead engineers face when managing cross-functional teams?

Lead Engineers often face the challenge of aligning technical teams with stakeholders from other departments, such as product management or quality assurance. Balancing project deadlines with technical excellence can require strong communication and negotiation skills. It's also common to encounter differences in priorities or technical understanding, so building consensus and fostering collaboration are key. Adapting to shifting project requirements while maintaining team morale is another important aspect of the role.

What job categories do people searching Lead Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Lead Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Lead Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Lead Engineer jobs in CA?

For Lead Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Lead Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,163 per year, or $58.7 per hour.

$118K - $156K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Lead Engineer Daly City, CA We are searching for a Lead Engineer in the California area. Someone who has Plumbing design skills and is a leader by nature. Responsibilities for Lead Engineer: Ensure work is completed by the department.

Assign Projects to various group members. Able to prepare estimates if required. Ready to prepare budgets.

Work should be checked and meet or exceed expectation. Requirements for Lead Engineer: 10- 20 years' experience in HVAC and/or Plumbing design. Ability to communicate complex problems clearly and simply to clients, engineers and architects Knowledge of HVAC systems in all areas is required Preferred 4 years B.S.M.E

degree. Local to San Mateo and San Francisco County Area. So if you are a remarkable Lead Engineer in the San Mateo and San Francisco County area.

Apply now. www.mechanicalrecruiters.com


Gulfstream Strategic Placements logo

About Gulfstream Strategic Placements

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Gulfstream Strategic Placements, based in Los Angeles, CA, US, is a prominent company specializing in the recruitment and executive search industry. Their area of specialty lies mainly in the construction industry. With a keen eye for talent and a focus on fulfilling employers' talent needs, Gulfstream Strategic Placements is an industry leader connecting various businesses with well-suited, skilled professionals. They take great pride in their long-standing reputation for delivering quality candidates that help businesses thrive.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

1 - 10 Employees

Headquarters location

Corona, CA, US

Year founded

2014

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