1

Senior Process Development Engineer Jobs in La Jolla, CA

Sr. Manufacturing Development Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$96K - $132K/yr

As a Sr. Manufacturing Development Engineer you'll lead and coordinate projects and improvements ... Manufacturing process development and factory capabilities analysis to ensure factory readiness and ...

What you'll do The Senior Process Engineer plays a critical role in advancing Global IT from an asset and processcentric organization to a serviceoriented operating model. This role is accountable ...

Senior Process Mechanical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $131K/yr

As a Senior Process Mechanical Design Engineer specializing in water and wastewater projects, you ... You will drive the development of comprehensive construction documents and detailed specifications ...

They will support senior team members on technical and engineering matters for assigned projects ... Contribute to process and design tool improvement initiatives for more accurate cost estimate and ...

... senior leadership. * Mentor and foster the growth of junior engineers as a technical lead within the team. Track key performance indicators for developed processes, including yield, purity ...

... senior leadership. * Mentor and foster the growth of junior engineers as a technical lead within the team. Track key performance indicators for developed processes, including yield, purity ...

Senior Legal Process Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Position Summary Senior Legal Process Engineer Cooley is seeking a Senior Legal Process Engineer to ... Familiarity with product development methodologies (Agile, Lean, etc.) and experience working ...

Senior Legal Process Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$110K - $142K/yr

Senior Legal Process Engineer Cooley is seeking a Senior Legal Process Engineer to join the ... Familiarity with product development methodologies (Agile, Lean, etc.) and experience working ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Process Development Engineer information

See La Jolla, CA salary details

$78.6K

$127K

$178.8K

How much do senior process development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior process development engineer in La Jolla, CA is $126,983.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior process development engineer do?

A Senior Process Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. They often lead teams in scaling up processes from the laboratory to full production, troubleshoot technical issues, and implement new technologies or methods. Additionally, they collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, quality assurance, and production, to ensure processes meet regulatory and safety standards. Their expertise helps companies maintain competitive advantages and meet production goals.

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

To thrive as a Senior Process Development Engineer, you need a strong background in chemical or mechanical engineering, process optimization, and project management, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, process simulation tools (such as Aspen Plus or MATLAB), and Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing certifications is often required. Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help you coordinate cross-functional teams and drive continuous improvement. These skills are crucial for developing efficient, scalable processes that meet quality standards and business goals.

What are some common challenges a senior process development engineer may face when scaling up a new process from the lab to full production?

Senior Process Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as maintaining product quality and consistency when transitioning from small-scale laboratory experiments to large-scale manufacturing. This process typically involves troubleshooting equipment limitations, optimizing process parameters, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as R&D, manufacturing, and quality assurance, is crucial to address these challenges and achieve a smooth scale-up. Adaptability and problem-solving skills are essential to navigate unexpected issues that may arise during this transition.

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

AspectSenior Process Development EngineerProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering; experience in process developmentBachelor's degree in Engineering or related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentResearch and development labs, manufacturing facilities, cross-functional teamsManufacturing plants, production lines, process optimization teams
Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotech, manufacturingManufacturing, chemical processing, consumer goods

The main difference is that Senior Process Development Engineers focus on developing and optimizing new processes, often in R&D settings, while Process Engineers typically oversee existing manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and quality. Senior roles involve more strategic planning and innovation, whereas Process Engineers focus on day-to-day process operations.

What cities near La Jolla, CA are hiring for Senior Process Development Engineer jobs?

Cities near La Jolla, CA with the most Senior Process Development Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Process Development Engineer job openings in La Jolla, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,983 per year, or $61 per hour.

Manager of Robotic Process Development Engineering (opens in a new tab)

Monarch Quantum

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Lead the translation of optical and mechanical product designs into scalable manufacturing processes, including process architecture, equipment requirements, work instructions, process controls, measurement strategies, and verification/validation plans

  • Manage and develop a team of robotic process development engineers to support engineering projects and manufacturing goals

  • Oversee the execution of engineering process development projects from requirement development through verification, validation, and qualification


Job description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Manager of Robotic Process Development Engineering. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth. Your key responsibilities are as follows:

  • Recruit, develop and manage a team of robotic process development engineers.
  • Lead the translation of optical and mechanical product designs into robust, scalable manufacturing processes, including process architecture, equipment requirements, work instructions, process controls, measurement strategies, and verification/validation plans
  • Partner with Design Engineering to identify design-for-manufacturability and design-for-automation opportunities, resolve process/design conflicts, and ensure products can be reliably built to specification.
  • Contribute to design, integration, verification and leads transition to production for complex laser and photonic systems.
  • Create and maintain active optic alignment engineering processes and tools.
  • Responsible for execution of engineering process development projects from requirement development and architecting to verification, validation and qualification.
  • As a member of cross-functional leadership team they are responsible for planning and execution of company projects on schedule and to budget.
  • Export Control:This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. ยง 1324b(a)(3).
Experience
  • Bachelorโ€™s degree in engineering or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including experience in optical, photonics, robotics, automation, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, or a closely related field
  • Demonstrated experience leading and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams, preferably teams consisting of optical, mechanical, robotics, automation, controls, or manufacturing engineers.
  • Proven ability to translate complex optical and mechanical product designs into executable manufacturing and process-development strategies, including defining process steps, equipment requirements, alignment strategies, critical process parameters, inspection methods, and acceptance criteria.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and implementing automated processes for precision optical or photonic assemblies, including applications involving robotics, machine vision, precision motion, optical measurement, or closed-loop feedback.
  • Understanding of optical alignment and photonic assembly processes, including fiber coupling, precision component alignment, optical measurement, alignment sensitivity, tolerancing, and sources of process variation.
  • Demonstrated experience with process characterization, optimization, and qualification, including appropriate use of tolerance analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, root-cause analysis, process capability, and data-driven decision making.
  • Proven ability to design, build, integrate, and verify automated equipment and processes, with an emphasis on demonstrating repeatability, robustness, and performance before deployment.
  • Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent, technically complex engineering programs, balancing technical performance, schedule, resources, and risk.
  • Experience establishing process verification and validation strategies, including development of test methods, measurement systems, fixtures, instrumentation, and data-analysis methods needed to demonstrate process capability.
  • Experience developing and utilizing process development kits to influence upstream optical, mechanical, electrical, and software design teams to resolve them.
  • Strong cross-functional leadership skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with Optical, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations teams to deliver integrated hardware/software solutions.
  • ยทDemonstrated ability to use engineering tools for quantitative analysis, programming, instrumentation, measurement, data collection, analysis, and technical documentation.

The expected annual salary range for this position is $125,000-$175,000 (commensuratewith experience).

As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarchโ€™s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
  • 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
  • 13 paid company holidays
  • 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch Quantum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.

#J-18808-Ljbffr