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Metal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TriMas Corporation

Sheet Metal Mechanic II

El Cajon, CA · On-site

$30 - $33/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Sheet Metal Mechanic II Company: TriMas Company LLC Primary Location: 1451 N Johnson Ave, El Cajon ... Fabricate parts to dimensional tolerances as required by engineering drawings. * Responsible for ...

ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO INC

Sheet Metal Mechanic

Torrance, CA

$22 - $35/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Robinson Helicopter Company, located in Torrance, CA, is an engineering-focused organization that ... We are actively seeking a Sheet Metal Mechanic in our Assembly Department, reporting to the Manager ...

Neill Aircraftv

Sheet Metal Fabricator

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$18.50 - $25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

Fabricate, trim, drill, form, shape, and fit sheet metal components according to engineering drawings and work instructions. * Lay out and scribe parts using shop aids, fixtures, blueprints, and ...

Neill Aircraftv

Sheet Metal Fabricator

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$18.50 - $25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

Fabricate, trim, drill, form, shape, and fit sheet metal components according to engineering drawings and work instructions. * Lay out and scribe parts using shop aids, fixtures, blueprints, and ...

Hermeus

Sheet Metal Shop Technician

Los Angeles, CA

$30 - $50/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Sheet Metal Shop Technician to support precision fabrication of complex, tight ... Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and flat patterns to ensure all fabricated ...

Hermeus

Sheet Metal Shop Technician

Los Angeles, CA

$30 - $50/hr

We are seeking a Sheet Metal Shop Technician to support precision fabrication of complex, tight ... Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and flat patterns to ensure all fabricated ...

Phizenix

Digital Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$180K - $250K/yr

Write firmware and bare-metal diagnostics on embedded RISC CPU IP to configure and control on-chip ... S. in Electrical/Electronics or Computer Engineering (or related), with relevant digital ASIC ...

Hermeus

Sheet Metal Shop Technician

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $50/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Sheet Metal Shop Technician to support precision fabrication of complex, tight ... Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and flat patterns to ensure all fabricated ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsMetal Engineer JobsMetal Engineer Jobs in California

Metal Engineer information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$94.5K

$125.8K

How much do metal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for metal engineer in California is $94,542.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,900.00 and $114,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a metal engineer?

Metal engineers, also known as metallurgical engineers, specialize in the study, design, and development of metals and their alloys for use in various products and structures. They work to improve the properties of metals, such as strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, by studying their physical and chemical behaviors. Metal engineers play a crucial role in industries like automotive, aerospace, construction, and manufacturing, ensuring materials meet safety and performance standards. Their work often involves both laboratory research and practical application in production environments.

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

To thrive as a Metal Engineer, you need a solid background in metallurgy, materials science, and engineering principles, usually supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in materials or metallurgical engineering. Familiarity with CAD software, metallurgical analysis tools, and industry-specific certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is typical. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate across teams and address complex material challenges. These skills are crucial for ensuring material performance, safety, and innovation in manufacturing and engineering projects.

What are some typical challenges metal engineers face when working on large-scale construction projects?

Metal Engineers working on large-scale construction projects often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring materials meet stringent safety and quality standards, and resolving issues related to fabrication or installation delays. They must also stay updated on evolving industry codes and regulations to guarantee compliance. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as Metal Engineers frequently collaborate with architects, project managers, and contractors to deliver successful outcomes.

What is the difference between Metal Engineer vs Materials Engineer?

AspectMetal EngineerMaterials Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Metallurgical or Materials Engineering, certifications varyBachelor's in Materials Science or Engineering, certifications vary
Work EnvironmentFactories, labs, manufacturing plants focused on metalsResearch labs, manufacturing, and development settings for various materials
Industry UsageMetal production, processing, and designDevelopment of new materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics

Metal Engineers primarily focus on the properties, processing, and application of metals, working closely with manufacturing and metal production. Materials Engineers have a broader scope, working with various materials including metals, polymers, and ceramics, often in research and development. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, but their work environments and industry applications differ slightly.

What cities in California are hiring for Metal Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Metal Engineer job openings:
Metal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Metal Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,542 per year, or $45.5 per hour.

Senior Materials Engineer (Metal 3D Printing)

Freeform

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

SENIOR MATERIALS ENGINEER (METAL 3D PRINTING)
Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.
As a Senior Materials Engineer at Freeform, you will have the unique opportunity to establish the company's M&P infrastructure, strategy, and best practices for our advanced metal 3D printing technology. We are looking for someone with solid fundamentals in materials engineering, an understanding of metals, and a keen interest in working on the cutting edge of additive manufacturing development. In this role, you will own materials engineering efforts from cradle to grave, including hands-on sample testing, analysis of findings, and strategic process improvements. If you want to make an impact at a rapidly growing company that's revolutionizing metal additive manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you!
Success here doesn't hinge on 3D printing experience. Instead, we seek intelligent, motivated, and collaborative engineers who thrive on solving challenging problems and creating groundbreaking technology!
Responsibilities:
  • Establish Freeform's M&P best practices, and materials testing infrastructure and strategy
  • Operate equipment to measure material properties such as tensile strength, surface roughness, and microstructure
  • Generate and track quality metrics of printed customer parts such as dimensional accuracy, defect distribution, and surface roughness
  • Organize, analyze and interpret data and present key findings
  • Work with process development team to tie key materials findings into improvement of upstream printing processes, including training our advanced machine learning models
  • Establish and optimize processes and procedures for measuring and quantifying material quality
  • Create automation for M&P procedures to take human out of the loop
  • Strategize continuous improvement plans to enhance system performance, reliability, and scalability

Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in material science, materials engineering, metallurgy, or mechanical engineering
  • 7+ years of professional materials engineering experience (with at least three years in metals)
  • Experience developing and optimizing metallurgical sample preparation techniques such as cutting, grinding, polishing, acid etching, and optical microscopy

Nice to Have:
  • Master's or PhD in in material science, materials engineering, metallurgy, or mechanical engineering highly preferred
  • 10+ years of materials engineering experience
  • Experience with metal additive manufacturing highly preferred
  • Experience with laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processes
  • Experience in process development
  • Experience operating complex materials equipment
  • Familiarity with processing large datasets and statistical data analysis software such as R, JMP, or Minitab
  • Passion for improving the state of metal 3D printing

Location:
  • Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA's deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country.
  • Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions.

What We Offer:
  • We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions.
  • We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology.
  • Benefits
    • Significant stock option packages
    • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)
    • Life insurance
    • Traditional and Roth 401(k)
    • Relocation assistance provided
    • Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
    • Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent
    • Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette
    • Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events
  • Compensation
    • As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company's current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.
    • In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $125,000-$200,000. The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact.
  • Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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