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Plastics Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA

$163K - $246K/yr

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA

$194K - $293K/yr

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

Partners Personnel

Plastics Process Engineer

Beaumont, CA · On-site

$77K - $80K/yr

Process Engineer - Plastic Injection Molding (Direct Hire) Location: Beaumont, CA Job Type: Full-time | Direct Hire 3PM-11PM Job Summary We are seeking a Process Engineer (Direct Hire) to support and ...

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

Apple

Materials Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$150K - $225K/yr

As a Materials Engineer within the Product Design organization, you will drive the development of new plastic materials and processes to meet the structural and aesthetic requirements across a wide ...

Bausch+Lomb Companies Inc.

The engineer will drive the design, qualification, and continuous improvement of primary plastic ... Serve as the plastics packaging and sustainability SME on project teams, providing guidance on ...

Hologic

Supplier Engineer 3 - Plastics

San Diego, CA · On-site

Position Summary The Plastics Consumables Engineer 3 will be an essential team member supporting internal manufacturing by managing and validating projects, often with suppliers, for new injection ...

ATR International

Senior NPI Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$87/hr

A strong background in plastic injection molding, mold design, mold qualification, scientific molding, and process validation is essential. Responsibilities * Lead manufacturing engineering ...

Currier Plastics

Automation Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Summary MOS Plastics Inc., a Currier company is a medical-focused company specializing in precision ... We are seeking a hands-on Entry-Level Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and ...

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All JobsPlastics Engineer JobsPlastics Engineer Jobs in California

Plastics Engineer information

See California salary details

$36K

$64.4K

$107.1K

How much do plastics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for plastics engineer in California is $64,411.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,900.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by plastics engineers in managing material selection for new products?

Plastics Engineers often encounter challenges when selecting materials for new products, as they must balance performance requirements, cost constraints, manufacturability, and environmental impacts. Navigating the vast array of plastic resins and additives requires a deep understanding of how different materials behave under various conditions. Additionally, engineers must collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure chosen materials meet industry standards and customer expectations. Staying updated with advances in sustainable plastics and recycling technologies is also increasingly important in this role.

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

To thrive as a Plastics Engineer, you need a solid background in polymer science, materials engineering, and manufacturing processes, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry standards such as ASTM or ISO, as well as certifications like Six Sigma, are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of high-quality, cost-effective plastic products and successful collaboration with cross-functional teams.

What do plastics engineers do?

Plastics Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and manufacture products made from plastic materials. They work on selecting appropriate plastics, developing new materials, and optimizing manufacturing processes to produce durable, efficient, and cost-effective products. Their responsibilities often include testing materials, troubleshooting production issues, and ensuring products meet safety and quality standards. Plastics Engineers play a key role in industries such as automotive, packaging, medical devices, and consumer goods.

What is the difference between Plastics Engineer vs Materials Scientist?

AspectPlastics EngineerMaterials Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Materials ScienceBachelor's or higher in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, R&D labs, product design facilitiesResearch labs, academic institutions, industrial R&D
Industry UsagePlastic product manufacturing, packaging, automotive, consumer goodsMaterial development, research, quality testing across industries

Plastics Engineers focus on designing, developing, and testing plastic products and processes, often working directly in manufacturing settings. Materials Scientists conduct research on materials' properties and develop new materials, typically in research or academic environments. While both roles require a background in materials, Plastics Engineers are more application-oriented, whereas Materials Scientists focus on fundamental research.

What is a plastics engineer?

As a plastics engineer, you design and develop products and goods made with plastic material. You find ways to improve the manufacturing process, lower the cost of manufacturing, design molding for plastic products, establish parameters and specifications for new designs, and collaborate with plastics engineers and other colleagues. The qualifications for a career as a plastics engineer are a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or plastics engineering and a professional engineering (PE) license. You need an understanding of the properties of plastics and strong math skills to get jobs in plastics engineering.

More about Plastics Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Plastics Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Plastics Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Plastics Engineer jobs in California? For Plastics Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Plastics Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Plastics Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Plastics Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Plastics Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Plastics Engineer jobs in CA? For Plastics Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Plastics Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plastics Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,411 per year, or $31 per hour.

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.
The people here at Apple don't just build products - they craft the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries. It's the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.
Description
Lead the development of new plastic injection tooling projects to meet a wide range of product performance and cosmetic requirements.
Lead Apple suppliers to design and produce world-class plastic tooling. Lead tool design and build, tool and process development and tool qualifications at the supplier.
Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling designs.
Serve as Apple's internal plastic tooling and manufacturing authority by demonstrating a thorough understanding of properties of various mold-making materials and tool component fabrication techniques.
Institute continuous process improvement measures from initial product design through production ramp of new products.
Proficient with the use of Design For Manufacturing, SPC, DOE and Six Sigma techniques.
Take the leading role in driving the improvement of productivity and quality of plastic part manufacturing, molding and tooling techniques.
Train engineers at supplier plants in Asia to utilize new tooling materials and fabrication techniques.
Develop collaborative relationships with Apple suppliers through training and quality control visits. Advise supplier plants on maintaining correct controls on the processes.
Minimum Qualifications
Position requires 10+ years in the mold making and molding industry
25% Travel required
Preferred Qualifications
Extensive experience in tooling design and manufacturing required.
Knowledge of plastic materials and design for manufacturing in terms of geometry and cosmetic quality.
Lens and optical tooling experience
Experience in developing plastic processing parameters.
Experience in leading complex development programs with overseas vendors (Asia) is preferred.
Excellent written and oral communication skills are necessary.
BS or MS Plastics Engineer preferred

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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