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Process Development Engineer Jobs in Hayward, CA

Abbott

Sr Process Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$122K - $158K/yr

As the Sr Process Development Engineer, you will serve as the primary engineering personnel supporting manufacturing operations. The individual performing this role will have strong collaboration ...

Abbott

Sr Process Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$122K - $158K/yr

As the Sr Process Development Engineer, you will serve as the primary engineering personnel supporting manufacturing operations. The individual performing this role will have strong collaboration ...

Abbott

Sr Process Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$122K - $158K/yr

As the Sr Process Development Engineer, you will serve as the primary engineering personnel supporting manufacturing operations. The individual performing this role will have strong collaboration ...

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All JobsProcess Development Engineer JobsProcess Development Engineer Jobs in Hayward, CA

Process Development Engineer information

See Hayward, CA salary details

$52.2K

$116.5K

$174.8K

How much do process development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for process development engineer in Hayward, CA is $116,497.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,300.00 and $136,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial or executive positions, or possessing rare expertise and certifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Process Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Process Development Engineer, you need a solid foundation in engineering principles, process optimization, and problem-solving, typically supported by a degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Familiarity with process simulation software (such as Aspen Plus or MATLAB), Six Sigma methodologies, and relevant industry certifications is often required. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork skills help you excel in cross-functional projects and drive continuous improvement. These skills and qualities are crucial for designing efficient processes, ensuring product quality, and supporting organizational competitiveness.

What Is a Process Development Engineer?

A process development engineer designs and plans production systems to be cost-effective, safe, and meet quality requirements for their industry. These professionals often work as part of a quality assurance team or a production management department for industrial companies, such as manufacturing or mining businesses. As a process development engineer, your job duties include reviewing the company's current production processes and designing modifications to the current system or creating new systems to increase productivity. Once you have installed or implemented the system, you make sure to test and troubleshoot it to ensure they run properly.

What are some common challenges faced by Process Development Engineers when scaling up from laboratory to production environments?

One of the main challenges Process Development Engineers encounter is ensuring that processes which work efficiently at a laboratory scale can be reliably and safely replicated in full-scale manufacturing. Differences in equipment size, process dynamics, and raw material variability can lead to unforeseen issues such as inconsistent product quality or unexpected safety hazards. Effective communication and collaboration with both R&D and production teams are essential to troubleshoot problems and optimize process parameters. Engineers often need to adapt quickly, apply problem-solving skills, and implement robust validation protocols to ensure successful scale-up.

What does a process development engineer do?

A process development engineer designs, tests, and optimizes manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. They analyze production methods, develop new procedures, and often use tools like statistical analysis and process simulation to ensure scalable and reliable operations.

What is the difference between Process Development Engineer vs Manufacturing Engineer?

AspectProcess Development EngineerManufacturing Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and optimizing manufacturing processes for new productsOverseeing and improving existing manufacturing processes
Work EnvironmentR&D labs, pilot plants, early-stage productionProduction floors, plant operations
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in engineering, experience in process designBachelor's or higher in engineering, experience in manufacturing
Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, electronics, chemicals, biotechAutomotive, consumer goods, electronics, industrial manufacturing

While both roles involve process optimization, Process Development Engineers focus on creating and refining new manufacturing processes, often in early development stages. Manufacturing Engineers typically work on maintaining and improving existing production processes to ensure efficiency and quality in ongoing operations.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

While most process development engineers earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, some senior or specialized engineers in high-demand industries or with extensive experience can earn over $200,000. Earning $500,000 typically requires executive-level roles, such as director or VP of engineering, or highly specialized positions with significant responsibilities and bonuses.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Certain specialized roles, managerial positions, or engineers with advanced certifications and leadership responsibilities can also reach or exceed this salary level.
More about Process Development Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Process Development Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Process Development Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA are:
What cities near Hayward, CA are hiring for Process Development Engineer jobs? Cities near Hayward, CA with the most Process Development Engineer job openings:
Process Development Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Process Development Engineer job openings in Hayward, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,497 per year, or $56 per hour.
Principal Process Development Engineer

Principal Process Development Engineer

QuantumScape Corporation

San Jose, CA • On-site

$217K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

QuantumScape is on a mission to transform energy storage with solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. The company's next-generation batteries are designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future.
About the team: The Cobra Hardware & Process team develops the heat treatment equipment and process for scale-up of the Cobra ceramic separator manufacturing process. We custom design most of our tools in-house to the needs of our unique process and materials system. The team consists of both hardware and process engineers, who work closely together to identify and implement novel solutions for improving throughput, quality and robustness.
What we need: The Cobra team is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Process Development Engineer to help develop our next-generation processes and tools. We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in processing or materials, who also has experience working on equipment and can interface seamlessly with mechanical and controls engineers on the team. In this position, your input will be critical in guiding which new design and process approaches are prototyped, get deployed on production tooling, and become part of our long-term roadmap, making this a pivotal role for shaping the future of our separator manufacturing.
What You'll do:
  • Design and execute experiments for fabricating ceramic films on prototype heat treatment equipment
  • Analyze materials characterization data, prepare reports for colleagues, and make recommendations for process and hardware improvements
  • Suggest, oversee and evaluate effects of hardware modifications to existing processing equipment
  • Bring up, debug and transfer processes to new production equipment
  • Identify potential process or hardware failure modes and develop robust mitigation strategies

Skills You'll Need:
  • PhD in engineering or science with 6+ years of experience, preferably in an industrial process R&D setting. MS and BS candidates with equivalent industry experience in process research and development will also be considered.
  • Experience in materials characterization techniques (e.g. XRD, SEM, FIB, EDS)
  • Experience in hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical systems, preferably processing equipment for battery, semiconductor, or related fields
  • Familiarity with mechanical design, including at least one major CAD package, e.g. SolidWorks, AutoDesk Inventor
  • Working knowledge of statistics and proficiency in data analysis software, e.g. JMP, Python, or equivalent
  • Capability to drive projects to completion with little oversight

Nice to have:
  • Experience in web handling
  • Deep familiarity with high temperature processing and equipment, e.g. Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP)
  • Experience fabricating or characterizing ceramic materials or thin films, especially solid electrolyte or energy materials
  • Experience in process and/or manufacturing scale-up

Physical requirements:
  • Work is performed in a dry room or lab area, requiring the use of fine motor skills
  • Sitting or standing for extended periods of time
  • Reaching and twisting motions with hands
  • Lifting up to 25 lbs.

ONSITE: This position is required to work onsite 5 days per week to meet the minimum essential duties and requirements of this position. As an on-site R&D and manufacturing operations organization, in-person face to face interaction is essential to building authentic relationships, trust, teamwork, and collaboration.
Compensation & Benefits: Expected salary range for this role is from $ 161,500 to $217,450, and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's experience and educational background. QuantumScape also offers an annual bonus and a generous RSU/Equity package as part of its compensation plan. In addition, we do offer a tremendous benefits plan including employee paid health care, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and other benefits.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.

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