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Mechanical Engineering Postdoc Jobs in California

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Materials and Process Innovation Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$142 - $243.10/hr

MSc or PhD in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field * 2+ years of industry or postdoctoral experience focused on materials processing, fabrication ...

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Mechanical Engineering Postdoc information

See California salary details

$44.9K

$101.5K

$164.3K

How much do mechanical engineering postdoc jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for mechanical engineering postdoc in California is $101,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,400.00 and $124,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mechanical engineering postdoc?

A Mechanical Engineering Postdoc is a temporary research position for Ph.D. graduates to conduct advanced studies in mechanical engineering. Postdocs work under the supervision of a principal investigator, contributing to projects in areas like robotics, fluid dynamics, materials science, or thermal systems. The goal is to build research expertise, publish findings, and develop skills for academic or industry careers. These positions typically last one to three years and may involve mentoring students or collaborating with other researchers.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a mechanical engineering postdoc?

A Mechanical Engineering Postdoc typically spends their days conducting experiments or simulations, analyzing data, and developing innovative solutions for research projects. They collaborate closely with principal investigators, graduate students, and often industry partners to achieve project objectives and move research forward. Writing research papers, preparing grant proposals, and presenting findings at conferences are also integral parts of the role. This dynamic environment offers postdocs the chance to deepen their expertise, expand their professional network, and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in mechanical engineering.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the mechanical engineering postdoc position?

To thrive as a Mechanical Engineering Postdoc, you need a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, along with advanced research and problem-solving skills. Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software, CAD tools, and programming languages such as MATLAB or Python is highly valued. Strong collaboration, project management, and scientific communication skills help you effectively contribute to multidisciplinary teams and share research findings. These abilities ensure that you can drive innovative research forward, meet project goals, and make meaningful contributions to academic or industry advancements.

What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Engineering Postdoc jobs in California?

For Mechanical Engineering Postdoc jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Mechanical Engineering Postdoc jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Mechanical Engineering Postdoc jobs in California are:

Mechanical Engineering Postdoc jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mechanical Engineering Postdoc job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,531 per year, or $48.8 per hour.

Postdoctoral Researcher-Biomaterials and Hydrogel Engineering

Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

Woodland Hills, CA • On-site

$70K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 hours ago

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated early-career Postdoctoral Research Fellow with strong, hands-on expertise in biomaterials and hydrogel engineering. This position is best suited for a recent PhD graduate or researcher within approximately three years of completing their PhD who is interested in developing hydrogel-based platforms for stem cell culture, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Hydrogel and biomaterials expertise is the primary requirement for this position. Stem cell knowledge is desirable but will not substitute for direct experience in hydrogel formulation, fabrication, and characterization.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must have:
  • A PhD in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, biomaterials, materials science, chemical engineering, polymer science, or a closely related field
  • A PhD completed recently, preferably within the past three years
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, synthesizing, modifying, or optimizing hydrogel systems
  • Experience with hydrogel formulation and crosslinking, including chemical, enzymatic, photochemical, or click-chemistry-based approaches
  • Experience characterizing hydrogel properties using methods such as rheology, mechanical testing, swelling, degradation, gelation kinetics, or structural analysis
  • Experience evaluating cell-material interactions in three-dimensional culture systems
  • A strong publication record relevant to biomaterials, hydrogels, tissue engineering, or regenerative medicine
  • Strong experimental, analytical, written, and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications
Experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
  • GelMA, hyaluronic acid, PEG, thiol-ene, maleimide-thiol, methacrylate, or other covalently crosslinked hydrogel systems
  • Human pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, progenitor cells, or primary cells
  • Stem cell maintenance, differentiation, characterization, or three-dimensional culture
  • Organoids, bioprinting, microfluidics, drug delivery, or tissue-engineered constructs
  • Polymer functionalization, peptide conjugation, controlled release, or bioactive hydrogel design
  • Confocal imaging, flow cytometry, immunostaining, gene-expression analysis, or in vivo biomaterial evaluation

Responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
  • Design, synthesize, optimize, and characterize hydrogel biomaterials
  • Develop hydrogel systems for cell culture, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine applications
  • Investigate hydrogel mechanics, degradation, transport properties, and cell-material interactions
  • Conduct mammalian and stem cell culture experiments
  • Design and execute independent research studies
  • Analyze and interpret experimental data
  • Prepare manuscripts, presentations, reports, and grant-related materials
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and clinicians
  • Mentor junior researchers and contribute to laboratory organization

Important Applicant Guidance
This position requires direct experimental experience with hydrogel biomaterials. Applications focused primarily on stem cell biology, molecular biology, computational biology, clinical research, or general cell culture without substantial hands-on hydrogel experience will not be considered.
Applicants should clearly describe their personal contributions to hydrogel formulation, synthesis, crosslinking, modification, and characterization in their cover letter and curriculum vitae.
Simply using commercially available gels, Matrigel, collagen coatings, or pre-formulated scaffolds does not by itself meet the hydrogel expertise requirement.
Candidates whose experience is limited to culturing cells on biomaterial surfaces, without designing or characterizing the underlying biomaterial, are unlikely to be competitive.

Apply