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Lead Infrastructure Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

We are looking for a Lead Infrastructure Solution Engineer for our client. The selected candidate for the role will handle core deployment, integrating infrastructure, and automation duties for the ...

Infrastructure Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$129K - $169K/yr

Define, lead, and own the hands-on creation of reliable data pipelines and DevOps infrastructure - expect to spend ~80% of your time performing hands-on development, with the remaining 20 ...

Infrastructure Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$129K - $169K/yr

Define, lead, and own the hands-on creation of reliable data pipelines and DevOps infrastructure - expect to spend ~80% of your time performing hands-on development, with the remaining 20 ...

Infrastructure Engineer

Corona, CA · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

The Infrastructure Engineer will work directly with the client analyzing complex and unique technical support assignments and lead or collaborate with other system administrators, cybersecurity ...

Infrastructure Engineer

Corona, CA · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

The Infrastructure Engineer will work directly with the client analyzing complex and unique technical support assignments and lead or collaborate with other system administrators, cybersecurity ...

Infrastructure Engineer

Glendale, CA · Hybrid

$130K - $175K/yr

Role overview Reveleer is hiring an Infrastructure Engineer to lead the next generation of IT infrastructure - one that runs on automation, integrates AI-powered tooling, and connects systems through ...

Infrastructure Engineer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Role overview Reveleer is hiring an Infrastructure Engineer to lead the next generation of IT infrastructure one that runs on automation, integrates AI-powered tooling, and connects systems through ...

Showing results 41-60

Lead Infrastructure Engineer information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$125.4K

$179.6K

How much do lead infrastructure engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead infrastructure engineer in California is $125,402.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,100.00 and $139,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lead infrastructure engineer?

Lead Infrastructure Engineers are senior professionals responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of an organization's IT infrastructure. They guide teams in building and managing systems such as servers, networks, cloud platforms, and security protocols. Their role often includes strategic planning, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring that infrastructure supports business goals efficiently and securely. Lead Infrastructure Engineers also mentor junior staff and collaborate with other departments to align technology with organizational needs.

How does a lead infrastructure engineer typically collaborate with other IT teams and stakeholders?

A Lead Infrastructure Engineer often acts as a bridge between infrastructure teams, application developers, and business stakeholders. They coordinate with network, security, and DevOps teams to ensure that infrastructure solutions align with organizational needs and project goals. Regular communication, cross-functional meetings, and collaborative planning are crucial aspects of the role. This collaboration helps to proactively identify potential issues, streamline deployments, and ensure that infrastructure changes meet both technical and business requirements.

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

To thrive as a Lead Infrastructure Engineer, you need a deep understanding of network architecture, cloud platforms, automation, and systems administration, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Expertise with tools such as AWS, Azure, Terraform, Kubernetes, and relevant certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Cisco CCNA is highly valuable. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills set top candidates apart, enabling effective team management and cross-functional collaboration. These skills and qualifications are essential to ensure infrastructure reliability, efficient project delivery, and alignment with organizational technology goals.

What is the difference between Lead Infrastructure Engineer vs Infrastructure Engineer?

AspectLead Infrastructure EngineerInfrastructure Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, certifications like AWS, Cisco, or VMwareBachelor's degree in CS, IT, or related field; certifications are a plus
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, designs infrastructure architectureSupports infrastructure setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Industry UsageUsed across tech, finance, healthcare, and enterprise sectorsCommon in similar industries, often as a supporting role

The main difference is that the Lead Infrastructure Engineer oversees infrastructure projects and teams, while the Infrastructure Engineer focuses on implementing and maintaining infrastructure components. The lead role involves more strategic planning and leadership, whereas the infrastructure role is more technical and hands-on.

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

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

Infographic showing various Lead Infrastructure Engineer job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 28% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,402 per year, or $60.3 per hour.

Staff Engineer, IT Infrastructure, Platforms

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

PacBio
Biotechnology Research and Development • 501 - 1,000 employees

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Job description

Staff Engineer, IT Infrastructure, Platforms
Position Summary
The Staff Engineer, IT Infrastructure, Platforms provides technical leadership for the engineering, automation, security, and operational excellence of PacBio's hybrid infrastructure platform supporting enterprise, research, and scientific computing workloads.
This role partners closely with Research, Bioinformatics, Software Engineering, Information Security, and IT Operations to design, build, automate, secure, and continuously improve infrastructure platforms spanning enterprise Linux, hybrid cloud, virtualization, enterprise storage, High Performance Computing (HPC), and modern platform services.
The ideal candidate combines deep operational expertise with a platform engineering mindset, balancing day-to-day operational ownership with long-term modernization through Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation, infrastructure security, and engineering best practices.
Responsibilities
Infrastructure Strategy & Platform Engineering
  • Provide technical leadership for PacBio's enterprise infrastructure platforms.
  • Define infrastructure architecture, engineering standards, and operational best practices.
  • Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives focused on automation, scalability, resiliency, and operational excellence.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements that enhance operational efficiency, security, scalability, and resiliency.
  • Develop reusable infrastructure services and engineering standards supporting long-term platform evolution.

Infrastructure Operations
  • Own the operational lifecycle of enterprise infrastructure platforms, including planning, deployment, maintenance, lifecycle management, modernization, capacity planning, disaster recovery, and continuous improvement.
  • Engineer and support enterprise Linux infrastructure supporting production, engineering, and scientific computing environments.
  • Design, implement, and support hybrid cloud and on-premises enterprise infrastructure.
  • Support enterprise storage, virtualization, networking, and High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms supporting research and enterprise workloads.
  • Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex infrastructure issues.
  • Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and operational improvement efforts.

Automation & Infrastructure Engineering
  • Lead Infrastructure as Code (IaC) initiatives using modern automation and configuration management practices.
  • Develop automation that reduces manual operational effort while improving consistency, recoverability, and operational resiliency.
  • Implement GitOps and infrastructure CI/CD practices where appropriate.
  • Continuously improve operational efficiency through automation and engineering best practices.

Security & Operational Excellence
  • Design infrastructure following Secure-by-Design principles.
  • Partner with Information Security to ensure infrastructure aligns with enterprise security standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Improve operational resiliency by reducing manual processes and eliminating single points of failure.
  • Develop and maintain infrastructure documentation, operational runbooks, engineering standards, and knowledge-sharing materials.
  • Support business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational readiness initiatives.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Research, Bioinformatics, Software Engineering, Information Security, and IT Operations.
  • Mentor engineers while promoting collaboration, cross-training, and operational excellence.
  • Lead architecture reviews, infrastructure roadmaps, and technology evaluations.
  • Provide technical leadership when working with strategic vendors, consultants, and professional services organizations.
  • Foster a culture of documentation, automation, operational ownership, and
  • continuous improvement.

Required Experience
  • 10+ years of progressive enterprise infrastructure engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership across complex production environments.
  • Deep experience engineering and supporting enterprise Linux environments.
  • Extensive experience supporting hybrid cloud and on-premises enterprise infrastructure.
  • Strong experience supporting enterprise storage, virtualization, networking, and High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms.
  • Experience implementing Infrastructure as Code, automation, scripting, and configuration management.
  • Strong scripting experience using Python, Bash, PowerShell, or equivalent technologies.
  • Experience with enterprise monitoring, logging, and observability platforms.
  • Strong troubleshooting, communication, documentation, and mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience supporting life sciences, genomics, bioinformatics, AI/ML, or other scientific computing environments.
  • Experience with Platform Engineering, GitOps, Infrastructure CI/CD, Kubernetes, or enterprise container platforms.
  • Experience implementing enterprise infrastructure security frameworks and best
  • practices.
  • Experience supporting regulated environments including ISO 27001, SOX, HIPAA, or GxP.
  • Experience with backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
  • Experience leading enterprise infrastructure modernization initiatives.

What Success Looks Like
The successful candidate will:
  • Deliver secure, scalable, highly available infrastructure platforms supporting enterprise and scientific computing workloads.
  • Improve operational efficiency through automation and Infrastructure as Code.
  • Reduce operational risk through documentation, cross-training, and shared ownership.
  • Improve platform reliability, resiliency, observability, and operational readiness.
  • Build an engineering culture focused on automation, security, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as a trusted technical leader driving the long-term evolution of PacBio's infrastructure platforms.

Candidates must have current authorization to work in the United States without the need for present or future sponsorship.
Non-Field Based Employees are required to be onsite Monday-Thursday (Friday work from home). Depending on the role, some employees may be required to be 100% onsite.
You may be required from time to time to visit and work at PacBio locations and for such times as the Company considers necessary for the proper performance of your duties.
All listed tasks and responsibilities are deemed as essential functions to this position; however, business conditions may require reasonable accommodations for additional tasks and responsibilities.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
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#LI-Onsite
Salary Range:
$148,200.00 - $222,200.00
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at PacBio. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. PacBio does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, PacBio employees or any other company location. PacBio is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact us at 650-521-8000, or careers@pacificbiosciences.com for assistance.
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