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Military Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Slope

Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

$146 - $194/hr

S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology ... You will also be leading a team of engineers, and establishing robust design, integration, testing ...

Saalex

Engineering Technician II

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$23.71/hr

The Engineering Technician II will provide hands-on technical support for the installation ... Military technical training or prior military electronics experience. Education / Years of ...

Saalex

Engineering Technician II

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$23.71/hr

The Engineering Technician II will provide hands-on technical support for the installation ... Military technical training or prior military electronics experience. Education / Years of ...

Saalex

Engineering Technician II

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$23.71/hr

The Engineering Technician II will provide hands-on technical support for the installation ... Military technical training or prior military electronics experience. Education / Years of ...

US Department of the Air Force

ENGINEERING

Edwards, CA · On-site

$55K/yr

Professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering ... military credit, etc, you cannot qualify based on GPA; c) Election to membership in a national ...

Moog Military Aircraft LLC

Systems Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$100 - $135/hr

Management, Systems Engineering Work Schedule: Hybrid - Torrance, CA Join Moog's Military Aircraft Group and help develop the next generation of flight control technologies for advanced military ...

New

Saalex

Engineering Technician III

Ridgecrest, CA · On-site

$24.17 - $29.94/hr

Saalex is seeking an Engineering Technician, III in Ridgecrest, CA (China Lake). to provide ... Ability to travel in support of military test events. Desired: * Experience supporting UAS ...

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All JobsMilitary Engineering JobsMilitary Engineering Jobs in California

Military Engineering information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$144.9K

$171.7K

How much do military engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for military engineering in California is $144,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is military engineering?

Military engineering is a specialized field that involves designing, constructing, and maintaining structures and systems to support military operations. This includes building fortifications, bridges, roads, airfields, and other infrastructure essential for defense and combat effectiveness. Military engineers also handle tasks like demolitions, minefield clearance, and providing logistical support to ensure the mobility, survivability, and effectiveness of armed forces in various environments.

What are the qualifications to get a military engineering job?

The qualifications for a military engineering job differ by position. To be a military engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in a specific type of engineering, such as civil, hydraulic, or architectural engineering. Many positions also require you to have at least some experience before employment with the federal government. You need strong technical skills, including experience with CAD software. Some military engineering jobs are only open to specific groups, such as those currently enlisted in the armed forces or military spouses.

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

To thrive as a Military Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, mathematics, and physical sciences, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and military training. Familiarity with CAD software, GIS systems, and military construction standards, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), is often required. Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork skills help individuals excel in challenging and dynamic environments. These skills and qualities ensure mission readiness, the safety of personnel, and the successful completion of critical infrastructure projects under demanding conditions.

What are some common challenges military engineers face while working on active deployment sites?

Military engineers often encounter unique challenges on active deployment sites, such as unpredictable environmental conditions, limited access to supplies, and the need to quickly adapt plans to changing mission requirements. Working under strict security protocols and tight deadlines is common, and collaboration with military personnel from diverse backgrounds is essential for successful project completion. Adaptability, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are crucial in overcoming logistical obstacles and ensuring that infrastructure and support systems are safely and efficiently constructed or maintained.

What is the difference between Military Engineering vs Civil Engineering?

AspectMilitary EngineeringCivil Engineering
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, military clearance, specialized trainingEngineering degree, professional licensure
Work EnvironmentMilitary bases, field operations, combat zonesConstruction sites, urban and rural infrastructure projects
Employer & Industry UsageMilitary organizations, defense contractorsConstruction firms, government agencies, private sector

Military Engineering focuses on designing and constructing military facilities, fortifications, and infrastructure in challenging environments, often requiring security clearances. Civil Engineering involves planning, designing, and maintaining public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and buildings. While both fields require engineering degrees, Military Engineering emphasizes defense-related projects and field operations, whereas Civil Engineering centers on civilian infrastructure development.

Do military engineers get paid well?

Military engineers typically receive competitive salaries that include base pay, allowances, and benefits such as housing and healthcare. Their compensation varies based on rank, experience, and service length, and they often have opportunities for career advancement and specialized training.

How do I become a military engineer?

To become a military engineer, you typically need to meet the military branch's enlistment requirements, obtain a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field, and complete specialized training or officer candidate programs. Skills in problem-solving, technical knowledge, and proficiency with engineering tools are essential, and security clearances may be required.

What do military engineers do?

Military engineers design, construct, and maintain infrastructure such as bridges, roads, fortifications, and facilities to support military operations. They also analyze terrain, develop engineering solutions, and may work with specialized tools like surveying equipment and construction machinery in challenging environments.

What military engineering jobs are there in the military?

Military engineering jobs include roles such as combat engineers, construction engineers, and explosive ordnance disposal specialists. These positions involve tasks like building infrastructure, demolitions, and providing technical support in various operational environments, often requiring specialized training and security clearances.
More about Military Engineering jobs

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

The most popular types of Military Engineering jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Military Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Military Engineering job openings:

Military Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Military Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $144,945 per year, or $69.7 per hour.

Chief of Staff to COO, Business Operations Lead

Hike Medical

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

About Hike Medical
Hike Medical is building the defining company in musculoskeletal care. We sit at the intersection of AI, robotics, and healthcare, operating across three product lines: a proprietary AI-vision platform that turns a 30 second web-based foot scan into custom 3D-printed orthotics, an AI agent platform that automates the entire DME workflow from pre-visit processing to claims and revenue cycle, and SoleForge, our vertically integrated 3D printing factory producing custom medical devices at a scale the industry has never seen.
Our customers are both the largest employers on earth and the biggest companies in orthotics and prosthetics. On the clinical side, we're live across the industry's largest national providers. On the employer side, Fortune 50 companies trust us to protect their on-their-feet workforces.
But custom insoles are just the wedge. Our long-term vision is bionics: AI-designed, robotically manufactured orthotic and prosthetic devices at scale, replacing a fragmented, manual industry that hasn't changed in decades. Insoles today, full DME tomorrow, bionics by 2040. Read the full vision at bionics2040.com.
We've stealthily raised $22M through Seed and Series A backed by top-tier investors who invested early in companies like OpenAI, Anduril, and Mercury. We run a fast, results first, high ownership culture out of our new SF Rincon Hill office. If you want to work on problems that sit at the frontier of AI, manufacturing, and healthcare, this is the place.
The Opportunity
You'll be the strategic and operational right hand to the founding team, reporting directly to the COO (Jerry Tang) - sitting at the intersection of planning, metrics-driven accountability, and large-scale execution. This role is for a strategy and operations athlete who moves fluidly between building the framework and getting their hands dirty to ship it.
The role spans four critical functions: running the company's management cadence, driving performance culture through data and truth-telling, program-managing major operational rollouts, and owning select partnership relationships. If you've ever been the person in the room who sees the system everyone else is inside of - this is your seat.
This role is perfect for someone who is:
  • Energized by operational rigor and the challenge of scaling a hardware-meets-software business
  • A systems thinker who can define KPIs, own dashboards, and run a weekly review cadence without being told to
  • Comfortable doing the analytical work themselves - not just managing others to do it

What We're Looking For
These are not hard-and-fast requirements - we care more about ownership, execution, and judgment than checking every box.
  • 5-10 years total experience, with at least 2-3 years of direct exposure to manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial operations
  • Has worked inside a company actively going through scale - not just a mature, stable operation
  • Ideally has served as the right hand to a GM, COO, or CEO before - knows how to operate in that leverage role
  • Fluency in unit economics, COGS structure, and contribution margin analysis
  • Experience running S&OP or analogous cross-functional planning processes
  • Understands factory economics: yield, throughput, capacity utilization, capex payback
  • Proven ability to structure ambiguous problems into a rigorous framework and drive to a decision
  • Experience designing and implementing leading and lagging indicator systems
  • Strong executive presence - equally effective with operators on the floor and founders in the boardroom

Ideal Background
The best candidates tend to come from one of four places:
  1. Ops or Industrial Engineering at a scaled hardware/manufacturing company - Thinks in systems and constraints. Apple, Tesla, SpaceX, Medtronic, or similar. Has seen what rigorous operational excellence actually looks like at scale.
  2. Military (engineering or logistics) → MBA → ops - Execution discipline, cross-functional influence without authority, and genuine comfort with ambiguity.
  3. Management consulting → ops or manufacturing role - Gets strategy and structure, and has been tested in implementation. Work product should show operational results, not just decks.
  4. Private equity or portfolio ops - Wired to find COGS and efficiency opportunities, drive metrics discipline, and manage toward milestones. Blend of financial and operational instincts.

What we're not looking for: pure finance backgrounds without operational exposure, or generalist chiefs of staff whose work has been primarily coordination.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Management Cadence: Develop and operate the company's executive operating rhythm - planning cycles, reviews, and decision-making forums
  • Metrics & Truth-Telling: Apolitically drive performance culture through data, dashboards, and honest analysis - with both numbers and anecdotes
  • Program Management: Lead large-scale operational rollouts, cross-functional initiatives, and crisis response
  • Partnership Ownership: Own select partner and supplier relationships end-to-end
  • Operating Model: Build and maintain the company operating model; own make/buy/partner analysis and investment cases
  • Systems Design: Design and run company-wide and operations-wide KPI systems from definition through weekly and monthly review cadence

What You'll Get
  • Competitive cash compensation + equity
  • Full medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • $15K relocation bonus if needed
  • Daily collaboration with the founding team and senior leadership
  • Free custom insoles (of course...)

Apply