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Pharmaceutical Process Engineer Jobs in California

Wafer Fab Process Engineer

Goleta, CA · On-site

$90K - $121K/yr

... pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the ... engineering wafer fab processes including plasma etch, thin film deposition, lithography, and wet ...

... pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins. Position Summary Process Integration Engineer is a hands ...

... pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins. Position Summary Process Integration Engineer is a hands ...

... Pharmaceutical, or similar technical market sectors such as Industrial, Healthcare, or Higher ... process piping, industrial ventilation standards and codes, and construction/engineering Excellent ...

Engineer (Mechanical & Process)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$86K - $114K/yr

Engineer, Mechanical / Process About Us At AlfaTech we believe in more than just engineering ... Pharmaceutical, or similar technical market sectors such as Industrial, Healthcare, or Higher ...

Engineer, Mechanical / Process About Us At AlfaTech we believe in more than just engineering ... Pharmaceutical, or similar technical market sectors such as Industrial, Healthcare, or Higher ...

Engineer, Mechanical / Process About Us At AlfaTech we believe in more than just engineering ... Pharmaceutical, or similar technical market sectors such as Industrial, Healthcare, or Higher ...

Senior Optical Process Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$118K - $153K/yr

Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials ... Thisrolerequiresengineeringdisciplinesinpackaging,processing,andassociatedqualifications,astrong ...

... pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the ... Join Teledyne Imaging Sensors as a Quality Engineer! Are you ready to launch your career to the ...

Process Quality Engineer

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$77K - $103K/yr

... pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the ... Join Teledyne Imaging Sensors as a Quality Engineer! Are you ready to launch your career to the ...

Showing results 41-60

Pharmaceutical Process Engineer information

See California salary details

$30

$34

$38

How much do pharmaceutical process engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for pharmaceutical process engineer in California is $34.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32.74 and $36.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Pharmaceutical Process Engineer vs Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technician?

AspectPharmaceutical Process EngineerPharmaceutical Manufacturing Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, chemistry, or related field; often includes certifications in process validationHigh school diploma or associate degree; on-the-job training or technical certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, optimize, and oversee manufacturing processes in labs or production facilitiesOperate equipment, monitor production lines, and ensure quality in manufacturing settings
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, contract manufacturing organizationsPharmaceutical manufacturing plants, biotech production facilities

The main difference is that Pharmaceutical Process Engineers focus on designing and improving manufacturing processes, requiring higher technical credentials, while Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technicians handle day-to-day production tasks and equipment operation. Both roles are essential in pharmaceutical production but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

What does a pharmaceutical process engineer do?

A pharmaceutical process engineer reviews the requirement to produce a pharmaceutical product and develops a process for manufacturing. In this career, your duties vary from employer to employer but usually include tasks such as providing technical specifications for machinery and equipment, working to estimate costs for production, and undertaking a negotiation for the procurement of necessary materials and ingredients. Your responsibilities as a process engineer may include providing analysis of the process to ensure efficiency, safety, and compliance with relevant regulations.

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

To thrive as a Pharmaceutical Process Engineer, you need a strong background in chemical or process engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and regulatory compliance, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with process simulation software (such as Aspen Plus), GMP standards, and quality management systems is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for optimizing processes and ensuring product quality. These competencies are vital for developing efficient, safe, and compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing processes that meet industry standards.

What are some common challenges faced by pharmaceutical process engineers when scaling up production from laboratory to manufacturing scale?

Pharmaceutical Process Engineers often encounter challenges when translating lab-scale processes to full-scale manufacturing, such as maintaining product quality, ensuring process consistency, and meeting strict regulatory requirements. Controlling variables like temperature, pressure, and mixing at a larger scale can introduce unforeseen issues that require innovative problem-solving. Collaboration with cross-functional teams—including quality assurance, validation, and production staff—is essential to address these challenges efficiently. Adaptability and attention to detail are crucial in ensuring a smooth and compliant scale-up process.

What does a pharmaceutical process engineer do?

A Pharmaceutical Process Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing processes used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. They ensure that production methods are efficient, safe, and compliant with regulatory standards. Their work involves troubleshooting process problems, implementing new technologies, and collaborating with other departments to improve product quality and production efficiency. They play a critical role in scaling up laboratory processes to full-scale manufacturing while maintaining product integrity and safety.
What are popular job titles related to Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in California? For Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in CA? For Pharmaceutical Process Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Pharmaceutical Process Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,350 per year, or $34.8 per hour.

Wafer Fab Process Engineer

Teledyne FLIR LLC

Goleta, CA • On-site

$90K - $121K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Be visionary
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.
We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.
Job Description
About the job
We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.
Job Summary:
As part of the uncooled detector (focal plane array) research and development team, the successful candidate will have responsibility for engineering wafer fab processes including plasma etch, thin film deposition, lithography, and wet cleans for next generation infrared detector designs. Candidate will design and implement new processes and automate or improve existing ones to support aggressive technology development goals. They will also own different tools and associated modules in the area. Candidate will characterize wafers and devices using SEM and or FIB/SEM. As part of process development, hands-on wafer fabrication and characterization of pilot lots is required. This is the right place for a self-directed, goal-oriented, collaborative engineer. The work is varied and challenging where creative problem-solving opportunities are many. Our culture is collaborative, supportive, and fun. The work environment is mixed general office and clean room/lab.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Innovate new processes to enable the technology roadmap
  • Design and execute experiments, analyze data, draw conclusions, document, and communicate results
  • Own tools and process modules in the area
  • Establish feasibility of new processes through hands-on processing of pilot lots on production equipment
  • Characterize results using quantitative metrology tools
  • Automate or improve established processes
  • Document methods and workflows in MES-ready format
  • Plan for statistical process control (SPC) practices as appropriate
  • Evaluate production yield challenges and recommend improvements

Job Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in related technical discipline required
  • 0-5 years of related experience desired
  • Proficient computer skills - Word, Excel & Outlook
  • Ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English
  • Strong data analysis skills (fluency in Excel, MatLAB JMP, Python, SQL, or equivalent is helpful)
  • Ability to use inspection equipment (microscopes, FIB/SEM, interferometers), semiconductor fabrication equipment, and wet bench chemistry
  • Direct experience with one or more key wafer fabrication processes
  • Familiarity and/or strong desire to learn microelectronic/semiconductor and MEMS fabrication techniques
  • Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or Perm Resident

Desired Background
  • Wafer processing tools for semiconductor or MEMS fabrication
  • Infrared detector technology
  • Statistical Process Control and Design of Experiments familiarity desired
  • Lean Six Sigma or other problem solving/decision making methods (8D, Kepner-Tregoe, or equivalent)

What We Offer
  • Competitive Salary & Benefits Package
  • Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance starting Day 1
  • Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
  • 401(k) with Company Match
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition Reimbursement for Education
  • Fun Employee Events throughout the year

Salary Range:
$90,800.00-$121,100.000
The anticipated salary range listed for this role is only an estimate. Actual compensation for successful candidates is carefully determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, location, local regulations (such as minimum wage), education/training, work experience, key skills, and type of position.
Teledyne and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.
Teledyne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic or non-merit based factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.