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Professional Engineer Jobs in Ridgecrest, CA (NOW HIRING)

QA Engineer Lead

California City, CA · On-site

$158K/yr

Company Description 360 IT Professionals is a Software Development Company based in Fremont ... We use Objective C and Swift programming languages to create native applications for iPhone ...

Nuclear Engineer

Onyx, CA

$93K - $112K/yr

Job Title: Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component: Officer • Active ... professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields. Entry through the ...

Nuclear Engineer

Inyokern, CA

$97K - $117K/yr

Job Title: Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component: Officer • Active ... professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields. Entry through the ...

Nuclear Engineer

Ridgecrest, CA

$97K - $117K/yr

Job Title: Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component: Officer • Active ... professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields. Entry through the ...

JSSA Software Engineer

Ridgecrest, CA · On-site

$73K - $95K/yr

Salary Range: $73,160 - $95,500 Provide software engineering/programming services to the T-45 JSSA ... Ability to speak/write clearly and professionally. Employment Type: Full Time

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Professional Engineer information

See Ridgecrest, CA salary details

$46.2K

$96.4K

$135.6K

How much do professional engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional engineer in Ridgecrest, CA is $96,394.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $109,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional engineer?

Professional Engineers (PEs) are licensed engineers who have met the education, experience, and exam requirements established by their state or country. They are legally authorized to sign off on engineering projects, offer their services to the public, and take responsibility for the safety and integrity of engineering work. Becoming a PE typically involves earning an accredited engineering degree, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gaining relevant work experience, and passing the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. The PE license signifies a high standard of competence and ethics in the engineering profession.

What can professional engineers do?

Professional engineers design, develop, and evaluate systems, structures, and processes across various industries such as construction, manufacturing, and technology. They apply scientific and mathematical principles, often hold licensure, and are responsible for ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency in their projects.

What is the difference between Professional Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectProfessional EngineerMechanical Engineer
CredentialsRequires PE license, degree, work experience, examRequires degree, possibly fundamentals exam, but not license
Work EnvironmentDesign, review, sign off on projects, often in consulting or engineering firmsDesign, analysis, manufacturing, and testing in various industries
Industry UsageLicensed in engineering projects, legal responsibilityCommonly employed in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and more

The main difference between a Professional Engineer and a Mechanical Engineer is that the PE is licensed and authorized to sign off on engineering projects, ensuring legal and safety standards are met. Mechanical Engineers typically hold the necessary education and experience but do not have licensing requirements unless they pursue PE licensure. Both roles work closely in engineering fields, but the PE designation signifies a higher level of responsibility and legal accountability.

What does a professional engineer do?

A professional engineer uses mathematics and science to create safe and efficient buildings, machines, and applications. Engineers typically specialize in a particular field, such as aerospace, mechanical, or structural engineering. Your job duties vary depending on your area of expertise and employer but may include creating plans, designing machinery, or building skyscrapers. This career often involves a combination of office and field work. Frequent travel is an additional job requirement for many professional engineering jobs. Long hours and overtime work are also expected to meet deadlines.

What are some common challenges professional engineers face when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Professional Engineers often juggle several projects at once, which can present challenges in prioritizing tasks, coordinating with diverse teams, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Effective time management and clear communication are essential to handle shifting deadlines and resource allocation. Collaborating closely with project managers, clients, and other engineers helps maintain project momentum and quality, while regular progress reviews ensure that no critical detail is overlooked.

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

To thrive as a Professional Engineer, you need a solid grasp of engineering principles, problem-solving skills, and a degree in engineering, typically complemented by a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, or project management tools, along with ongoing continuing education, is often required. Strong communication, teamwork, and project management abilities help engineers deliver effective solutions and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. These skills and qualifications ensure engineers can design safe, efficient systems and maintain high professional standards in complex technical environments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Engineer jobs in Ridgecrest, CA? The most popular types of Engineer jobs in Ridgecrest, CA are:
What cities near Ridgecrest, CA are hiring for Professional Engineer jobs? Cities near Ridgecrest, CA with the most Professional Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Professional Engineer job openings in Ridgecrest, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,394 per year, or $46.3 per hour.

INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEER/SCIENTIST (PROGRAM MANAGER)

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

China Lake, CA • On-site

$104K/yr

Other

Posted 10 days ago


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 537 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

28th of 49 rated military and defense


Job description

You will serve as the SSM (Surface to Surface Missiles) Technical Project Office's (TPO) Deputy Director in the Targeting and Kinetic Effects Group (TAKE-G) of NAVAIRWARCENWPNDIV CHINA LAKE.Qualifications:In Addition to meeting the Basic Educational Requirements:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (DP-03) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector as a professional Engineer or Scientist performing some or all of the following: 1) applying systems engineering principles to oversee the technical integrity, requirements definition, and test and evaluation of complex weapons systems; 2) Program and/or project management within the defense acquisition process, specifically involving the balancing of budgets, schedules, and resources while evaluating contract deliverables and technical data packages; 3) Ability to formulate innovative approaches to resolve unprecedented technological problems and identify critical risks related to system performance, cost, and schedule; 4) Experience directing the technical efforts of senior and journey-level personnel, to include dividing complex areas of engineering effort among staff, reviewing the work of other engineers, and providing final technical approval for advanced deliverables, specification change notices, and technical review data packages.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf; https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/operations-research-series-1515/; https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/mathematics-series-1520/;/https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:Applicants must meet the following basic education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: (BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS visit opm:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/operations-research-series-1515/
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/mathematics-series-1520/
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/
A transcript must be submitted with your application. See Required Documents for additional information.
Employment Type: OTHER

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