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Senior Composite Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ascentaerospace

Composite Technician

Santa Ana, CA

Interface with leads, supervisors, and engineers to solve problems and improve processes. * Perform composite repairs under supervision of more senior staff. * Fabricate composite molds and parts as ...

Ascent Aerospace

Composite Technician

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

Interface with leads, supervisors, and engineers to solve problems and improve processes. * Perform composite repairs under supervision of more senior staff. * Fabricate composite molds and parts as ...

Swift Engineering

Senior Engineer, Design

San Clemente, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Description Sr. Engineer, Design has strong composites processing and manufacturing experience ... Strong emphasis on Composite Tool / fixture design * Create and maintain detailed manufacturing ...

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All JobsComposite Engineer JobsSenior Composite Engineer JobsSenior Composite Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Composite Engineer information

See California salary details

$32.2K

$139.1K

$211.6K

How much do senior composite engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior composite engineer in California is $139,136.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,400.00 and $164,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior composite engineer?

Senior Composite Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and optimize materials made from two or more constituent substances—known as composites—for use in a variety of industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and sports equipment. They lead projects involving the selection, testing, and manufacturing of composite materials to ensure they meet specific performance and safety standards. These engineers often supervise teams, collaborate with other departments, and use advanced software tools to analyze material behaviors. Their expertise helps create lighter, stronger, and more durable products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior composite engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Composite Engineer, you need expertise in composite materials, structural analysis, and manufacturing processes, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering and several years of industry experience. Familiarity with CAD software, finite element analysis (FEA) tools, and industry-specific standards like ASME or ASTM is often required. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills are crucial for managing projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure innovative, reliable composite solutions and successful project execution in high-performance engineering environments.

What are some common challenges faced by senior composite engineers in managing multidisciplinary project teams?

Senior Composite Engineers often collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, such as design, manufacturing, and quality assurance. A common challenge is ensuring effective communication between team members with different technical backgrounds, which is crucial for integrating composite materials into complex products. Balancing project timelines while addressing technical hurdles, such as material selection or process optimization, also requires strong project management skills. Proactively facilitating cross-functional meetings and providing clear documentation can help navigate these challenges and keep projects on track.

What is the difference between Senior Composite Engineer vs Composite Technician?

AspectSenior Composite EngineerComposite Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, certifications in composites (e.g., NDT, FAA certifications)High school diploma or technical training, certifications in composite layup and safety
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, R&D labs, manufacturing facilitiesManufacturing floors, composite layup stations, quality control areas
Employer & Industry UsageAircraft, aerospace, automotive, sports equipment industriesComposite manufacturing and assembly facilities in similar industries
Common Search & ComparisonSenior Composite Engineer vs Composite Technician

The Senior Composite Engineer typically holds a higher level of education and oversees design, analysis, and development of composite materials. In contrast, the Composite Technician focuses on hands-on manufacturing, layup, and quality control. Both roles are essential in composite manufacturing but differ in responsibilities, credentials, and work environment.

How much do senior composite engineers make in the US?

Senior composite engineers in the US typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often require specialized knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, and CAD tools, with higher salaries generally found in aerospace and automotive sectors.

What are the most commonly searched types of Composite Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Composite Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Composite Engineer jobs in California?

For Senior Composite Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Composite Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Composite Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Composite Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Composite Engineer job openings:

Senior Composite Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Composite Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,136 per year, or $66.9 per hour.

Senior Composite Design & Release Engineer, Body Systems

Czinger

Torrance, CA • On-site

$42 - $48/hr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Purpose

Czinger Vehicles is developing groundbreaking hypercars rooted in the integration of 3D printing technologies. The Body Systems team is responsible for realizing the design of the composite chassis and body panels, as well as the mechanisms and systems associated with interior and exterior vehicle systems. We are seeking a talented and experienced individual to join the Body Systems team as we embark on the development of the next generation of Czinger vehicles. 

The Role
  • Refine and generate technical solutions for vehicle systems, such as Interior and Exterior composite body panels, 3D printed components, body hardware, etc.
  • Develop engineering concepts and designs, drive 3D packaging, generate manufacturing drawings and installation procedures using CAD tools.
  • Lead collaborative development of systems with Design, Crash Testing, Manufacturing, Vehicle Attributes, CAE, and other interfacing vehicle sub-system teams.
  • Drive material selection, laminate development, and manufacturing process integration of composite parts.
  • Responsible for part and assembly releases throughout the program lifecycle.
  • Provide hands-on technical support for components and technology during the development cycle as well as supporting prototype and production build activities.
  • Manage parts and suppliers from initial concept through development, prototype stages and into production while developing lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
  • Lead Electrical and Software teams with the functional integration of hardware.
  • Create design supporting documents like subsystem and component specifications, BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, etc.
  • Communicate information with internal and external customer organizations.
  • Adhere and deliver to program timing, quality, mass, and budget plans.
  • Work cross-functionally to implement cost reduction methods and product improvements.
  • Support supply chain team with sourcing of suppliers by suggesting potential suppliers, creating SOW's, attending technical reviews, and creating purchase requests.
Basic Qualifications
  • BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent and 5+ years of experience in the automotive or motorsport industry.
  • Experience with composite/lightweight materials and tooling development required.
  • Prior product development experience with interior, exterior, or closures systems.
  • Knowledge of design requirements to deliver high quality products of the above-mentioned vehicle systems.
  • Hands-on experience with troubleshooting and root causing issues occurring during component and system validation.
  • Proven ability to deliver quality systems on time and within budget.
  • Able to generate business cases for design proposals and provide recommendations.
  • Is self-sufficient when modeling 3D CAD geometry and creating 2D part drawings.
  • Highly self-motivated and able to prioritize and execute tasks in a fast paced, start-up environment.
  • Solid interpersonal skills - ability to work cross functionally with engineering and interfacing groups to understand system and component requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with motorsport chassis or aerodynamic component design.
  • Experience with 3D printing manufacturing for prototype and production.
  • Experience modeling and managing digital data with Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
Work Environment
  • This position is on-site at our offices in Torrance, CA.
  • Some work will be done in our production factory which is also on-site.
  • Travel may be required at times to visit suppliers and test facilities.
Compensation

At Czinger, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels Senior - Staff as evaluated through our interview process.

  • Senior Engineer / E05: $128,520 - $176,720
  • Staff Engineer / E06: $148,430 - $204,090

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