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Materials Science Engineering Jobs in California

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$43

How much do materials science engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for materials science engineering in California is $26.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $32.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is materials science engineering?

Materials science engineering is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on understanding, designing, and developing materials with specific properties and functions. Engineers in this field study the structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Their work is crucial in industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and biomedical devices, where material selection and innovation can impact product performance and sustainability.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a materials science engineer?

To thrive as a Materials Science Engineer, you need a solid background in chemistry, physics, and engineering principles, often supported by at least a bachelor's degree in materials science or a related field. Familiarity with materials characterization tools (such as SEM, XRD), CAD software, and laboratory information management systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication distinguish top performers in this field. These competencies are crucial for developing innovative materials, ensuring product quality, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to meet industry needs.

What are some common challenges materials science engineers face when working on product development teams?

Materials Science Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing material performance with cost, manufacturability, and sustainability requirements. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams means effectively communicating complex material properties to non-specialists and integrating feedback from design, manufacturing, and quality assurance departments. Staying current with rapidly evolving material technologies and regulations can also be demanding, but it offers opportunities for innovation and career growth.

What is the difference between Materials Science Engineering vs Materials Engineering?

AspectMaterials Science EngineeringMaterials Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science or EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science or Materials Engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing, R&D departmentsManufacturing plants, quality control, product development
Industry UsageResearch institutions, aerospace, automotive, electronicsManufacturing, production, quality assurance
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Materials Science Engineering and Materials Engineering are closely related fields. Both require similar educational backgrounds and are used across industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics. However, Materials Science Engineering tends to focus more on the fundamental properties and research of materials, while Materials Engineering emphasizes practical application, manufacturing processes, and product development.

Is materials science engineering a good career?

Materials science engineering is a viable career that involves developing and testing materials used in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics. It requires strong knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering principles, often involving laboratory work and technical problem-solving. Job prospects are generally good, especially with advanced degrees and experience in specialized materials or manufacturing processes.

Is materials science engineering high paying?

Materials Science Engineering is generally considered a well-paying field, with median salaries often above the national average for engineering roles. Salaries can vary based on experience, location, and industry, with specialized skills and advanced degrees potentially increasing earning potential.

What do you do as a materials science engineer?

A materials science engineer researches, develops, and tests materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites to improve their properties and performance. They often work in laboratories or manufacturing environments, using tools like microscopes and software for material modeling, and may require knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering principles.

What jobs can you do with materials science engineering?

Materials Science Engineering graduates can work as materials engineers, research scientists, quality control managers, or product development engineers. They often work in industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, and manufacturing, utilizing skills in testing, characterization, and materials selection to improve product performance and durability.

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

The most popular types of Materials Science Engineering jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Materials Science Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Materials Science Engineering job openings:

Materials Science Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Materials Science Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,840 per year, or $26.4 per hour.

Materials Science Ai Engineer

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Cardinal Integrated Technologies Inc
IT Services • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Cardinal Integrated Technologies Incexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Cardinal Integrated Technologies Inc is seeking a Materials Science AI Engineer to join their team in developing and supporting materials discovery and design. The ideal candidate will focus on building AI-based solutions and collaborating with scientists and engineers to integrate analytics into core R&D workflows.
Responsibilities:
• Design, develop and deploy multi-modal AI, ML, and hybrid physical-based models to solve ground-breaking material physics and design problems.
• Aggregate, process, transform and quality-control experimental and simulation data for modeling and analysis.
• Design, develop, and maintain data workflows to support materials informatics initiatives. Optimize data pipelines and model execution on parallel cloud systems (e.g., Azure, GCP, AWS).
• Collaborate with materials scientists, chemists, and software engineers to integrate analytics and predictive modeling into core R&D workflows.
• Document code, workflows, and best practices to support reproducible research.
• Apply AI and data analytics to optimize material synthesis and processing parameters in real-time, minimizing defects, improving consistency.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Strong proficiency in programming languages like Python and C++.
• Experience with machine learning and deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience with data cleansing, preprocessing, and feature engineering
• Graduate or undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 2-4 years of work experience (depending on educational degree) in data science, AI, machine learning, or data engineering roles.
• A strong foundation in the principles of materials science is essential to understand the underlying science and set up meaningful problems for AI.
• Expert in Python and data science libraries (e.g., pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow or PyTorch).
• Expertise in use of cloud-based compute environments and tools for parallel or distributed computing.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
Preferred:
• Design, develop and deploy multi-modal AI, ML, and hybrid physical-based models to solve ground-breaking material physics and design problems
Company:
We are a company of IT professionals who passionately believe that good quality products & services are delivered by great resources. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in Monmouth Junction, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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