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Manufacturing Systems Engineering Jobs in California

Onto

Staff Manufacturing Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$85K - $109K/yr

The ideal candidate combines strong systems engineering fundamentals with hands-on troubleshooting capability across optics, motion systems, controls, software, electronics, and manufacturing ...

Hermeus

Manufacturing Systems Specialist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $226K/yr

As a Manufacturing Systems Specialist, you will become the internal authority for our Manufacturing ... You will work directly with technicians, engineering, quality, inventory, and supply chain teams to ...

Hermeus

Manufacturing Systems Specialist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

As a Manufacturing Systems Specialist, you will become the internal authority for our Manufacturing ... You will work directly with technicians, engineering, quality, inventory, and supply chain teams to ...

Stratolaunch

Systems Manufacturing Engineer

Mojave, CA · On-site

System manufacturing processes to define company practices and preferred manufacturing methods ... Liaison engineering support manufacturing shop to provide technicians with sufficient support to ...

Vast

Manufacturing Engineer - Fluid Systems

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$160K - $230K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a ... Strong understanding of fluid systems. * Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to ...

Intuitive

Manufacturing Engineer - Systems

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or other similar field. Required Skills and Experience * 3+ ... Knowledge and execution of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). * Excellent documentation skills and ...

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Manufacturing Systems Engineering information

See California salary details

$40K

$108.8K

$156.4K

How much do manufacturing systems engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for manufacturing systems engineering in California is $108,773.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,900.00 and $140,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

In manufacturing systems engineering, senior professionals with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually. These high salaries are often associated with executive-level positions, specialized expertise, or roles in large corporations with complex manufacturing operations.

What does a manufacturing systems engineer do?

A manufacturing systems engineer designs, analyzes, and improves manufacturing processes and systems to increase efficiency, quality, and safety. They often use tools like CAD software and data analysis, and may work on automation, production planning, and process optimization to ensure smooth operations in manufacturing environments.

What is the difference between Manufacturing Systems Engineering vs Manufacturing Process Engineering?

AspectManufacturing Systems EngineeringManufacturing Process Engineering
FocusDesign and optimization of entire manufacturing systems, including automation and integrationDevelopment and improvement of specific manufacturing processes and workflows
CredentialsBachelor's or master's in engineering, often with systems or industrial focusBachelor's or master's in engineering, often with process or industrial focus
Work EnvironmentFactories, manufacturing plants, systems design labsFactories, process development labs, production lines
Industry UsageUsed across manufacturing sectors for system-level improvementsUsed for process-specific enhancements within manufacturing

Manufacturing Systems Engineering focuses on designing and optimizing entire manufacturing systems, while Manufacturing Process Engineering concentrates on improving specific processes. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in manufacturing environments, but their scope and focus differ significantly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Manufacturing Systems Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Manufacturing Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in industrial or mechanical engineering, systems analysis, and process optimization, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Six Sigma methodologies, and certifications such as Lean Manufacturing or PMP are highly beneficial. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and ensuring smooth production flows. These abilities are crucial for improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining high-quality standards in competitive industrial environments.

What can I do with a manufacturing engineering degree?

A manufacturing systems engineering degree prepares individuals for roles such as manufacturing engineer, process engineer, quality engineer, or production manager. Graduates work in designing, optimizing, and managing manufacturing processes, often using tools like CAD and Lean methodologies, and may pursue certifications like Six Sigma to enhance their careers.

What is Manufacturing Systems Engineering?

Manufacturing Systems Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on designing, analyzing, and improving manufacturing systems and processes. It combines principles from mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering to optimize production efficiency, quality, and flexibility. Professionals in this field work on integrating people, machines, materials, information, and energy to create effective manufacturing operations. They may also leverage automation, robotics, and data analytics to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

How does a Manufacturing Systems Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during process improvements?

Manufacturing Systems Engineers frequently work alongside professionals from production, quality assurance, supply chain, and IT to implement process improvements. They facilitate communication between departments to ensure that changes are both technically feasible and align with overall business objectives. This collaboration often involves leading meetings, analyzing workflow data, and coordinating the integration of new technologies or systems. Being proactive and adaptable in cross-team environments is essential for driving successful, sustainable improvements.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior manufacturing systems engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in automation, and specialized certifications can reach salaries of $500,000 or more, especially in high-demand industries or leadership roles. Achieving this level often requires a combination of technical expertise, management responsibilities, and sometimes stock options or bonuses.
What are the most commonly searched types of Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California? The most popular types of Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California? For Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs in California are:
Manufacturing Systems Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Manufacturing Systems Engineering job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,773 per year, or $52.3 per hour.

Principal Engineer, Manufacturing Systems

Neros Technologies

Torrance, CA • On-site

$100K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Who we are
Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America's drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.
As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.
What you will be doing
  • Own technical architecture for internal manufacturing systems, MES workflows, integrations, and enterprise system boundaries
  • Design and build production software for factory execution, including work orders, routing, material issue/consume, completion, serialization, genealogy, rework, and exception handling
  • Define system boundaries across ERP, MES, QMS, CRM, internal applications, integrations, and operational data services
  • Establish engineering standards for APIs, data models, permissions, audibility, observability, testing, release management, and operational reliability
  • Build integration patterns that are reliable, supportable, and resilient to future system changes
  • Partner directly with factory, quality, supply chain, warehouse, finance, and business systems stakeholders to translate operational complexity into simple, usable software
  • Mentor future engineering hires and help shape the technical culture of the Manufacturing Systems team

You should have the following
  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant backend, platform, internal tools, systems, or infrastructure work
  • Experience designing, building, and shipping production software in ambiguous or fast-changing environments
  • Strong hands-on coding ability and recent experience contributing to production systems
  • Experience designing APIs, data models, service boundaries, integration patterns, and reliable system-to-system workflows
  • Strong judgment around build-vs-buy decisions, technical tradeoffs, and long-term system maintainability
  • Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders outside engineering, including operations, manufacturing, warehouse, supply chain, quality, finance, or business systems teams
  • Ability to reason about permissions, auditability, traceability, genealogy, data ownership, error handling, observability, and supportability
  • Ability to operate as the first senior technical leader in a new function: hands-on, practical, and comfortable without a large team around them
  • Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical decisions clearly to non-technical stakeholders
  • Ability to work onsite with operational teams and support a fast-moving manufacturing environment

Nice to have
  • Experience with MES, manufacturing execution, shop-floor systems, QMS, WMS, ERP, CRM, or enterprise integrations
  • Experience in hardware, aerospace, defense, robotics, drones, logistics, electronics, or high-volume manufacturing environments
  • Experience with serialization, genealogy, traceability, routing, work orders, rework, material consumption, barcode scanning, or warehouse/manufacturing workflows
  • Experience with workflow systems, audit trails, RBAC, event-driven systems, message queues, ETL/ELT, CDC, or integration platforms
  • Experience building software in compliance-sensitive, audit-heavy, or regulated environments
  • Experience leading or mentoring engineers without needing to move fully into people management

US Salary Range
$100,000 - $190,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.
We're an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

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