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Turnaround Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... engineering disciplines, ideally within industrial outage or turnaround environments. * Strong working knowledge of LV and HV motors, heaters, power distribution equipment, and preventative ...

... or engineering disciplines, preferably with experience in industrial outages, LV & HV Motors, heaters, power distribution equipment, and general preventative maintenance on various electrical ...

As a Senior Electrical Engineer you will provide Electrical Engineering and Maintenance leadership ... Accountable for all electrical turnaround and outage work scope. * Develop temporary power designs ...

Proven experience in complex and fast turnaround programming activities * Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and analytical skills The salary range for this position is: $169 ...

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Turnaround Engineer information

See California salary details

$37.5K

$89.4K

$148.5K

How much do turnaround engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for turnaround engineer in California is $89,353.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,600.00 and $98,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Turnaround Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or chemical engineering, experience in plant maintenance, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with project management software, reliability analysis tools, and industry safety regulations is typically required, along with certifications like PMP or Six Sigma being advantageous. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set top performers apart in coordinating complex shutdowns and ensuring stakeholder alignment. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering projects safely, within budget, and on schedule in high-stakes industrial environments.

What are some typical challenges a turnaround engineer faces during large-scale industrial shutdowns?

Turnaround Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating complex schedules, managing tight deadlines, and ensuring safety compliance during large-scale plant shutdowns. They must effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including contractors, maintenance personnel, and operations staff, to minimize downtime and control costs. Proactive communication and quick problem-solving are essential, as unexpected equipment issues or logistical delays can arise. Successfully navigating these challenges is crucial to meeting project goals and ensuring the facility resumes operation on schedule.

What is a turnaround engineer?

Turnaround Engineers are professionals responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing maintenance shutdowns, turnarounds, or outages in industrial facilities such as refineries, chemical plants, and power plants. Their primary goal is to ensure that all maintenance, repair, and inspection activities are completed safely, on time, and within budget, minimizing downtime and maximizing plant efficiency. They work closely with various departments, contractors, and vendors to develop detailed schedules, allocate resources, and manage risks associated with the turnaround process.

What is the difference between Turnaround Engineer vs Maintenance Engineer?

AspectTurnaround EngineerMaintenance Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in project management or process improvementEngineering or technical diploma, certifications in maintenance or equipment repair
Work EnvironmentProject-based, focused on large-scale shutdowns and plant overhaulsDaily operational maintenance within facilities, ongoing equipment care
Industry UsageCommon in oil & gas, petrochemical, and heavy industries during plant turnaroundsUsed across manufacturing, utilities, and facilities for routine upkeep

While both roles require engineering knowledge, a Turnaround Engineer specializes in planning and executing large-scale plant shutdowns and overhauls, whereas a Maintenance Engineer focuses on ongoing equipment maintenance and operational reliability. The roles often overlap in technical skills but differ in scope and project focus.

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Turnaround Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,353 per year, or $43 per hour.

I&E Turnaround Planner

Airswift

Martinez, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Job Title: I&E Turnaround Planner
Duration: 2 years
Workload: M-F 5/8s during planning phase, 7/12s during turnaround execution
Setup: Hybrid (Remote/On-site turnaround support)
Location: Wilmington, CA / Martinez, CA
This opportunity sits within a major industrial gases and related equipment environment supporting outage and turnaround activity across complex plant operations. The role focuses on electrical and instrumentation planning, work package development, contractor coordination, and safe execution support in a technically demanding maintenance setting. This position offers the chance to contribute to high-impact turnaround delivery while working across E&I drawings, P&IDs, preventative maintenance scope, and field execution activities.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead an assigned portion of turnaround scope through planning and execution stages.
  • Develop scope for assigned work orders, identifying supporting disciplines where required.
  • Create detailed job packages for each work order, including tasks, manpower, durations, and discipline allocation.
  • Prepare planning packages for internal and external field use, including drawings, P&IDs, bills of materials, tools, safe work procedures, quality requirements, and applicable standards.
  • Organise materials through expediting, quote gathering, and ensuring correct parts are available for planned work.
  • Provide daily schedule updates during execution activities.
  • Coordinate contractors on site during outage execution and support safe work practices and quality assurance processes.
  • Support management of change activities by recognising plant changes and maintaining accurate documentation.
  • Maintain effective communication with craftspeople, contractor representatives, and material suppliers.
  • Promote high standards of housekeeping and carry out formal housekeeping inspections in plant areas.
  • Complete close-out and documentation activities in line with company standards and procedures.
Must-Have Skills:
  • Prior electrical and instrumentation planning experience essential.
  • Ability to read and interpret Electrical & Instrumentation drawings and P&IDs.
  • Experience preparing and reviewing test packages and work packages for field issue.
  • 10+ years of Electrical & Instrumentation package planning experience, or 10+ years of E&I journey-level maintenance experience.
  • 10+ years of experience in maintenance and/or engineering disciplines, ideally within industrial outage or turnaround environments.
  • Strong working knowledge of LV and HV motors, heaters, power distribution equipment, and preventative maintenance on electrical components.
  • Working knowledge of process instrumentation including flow, level, pressure, and temperature devices.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, SAP, Primavera P6, and Adobe.
  • Strong organisational, interpersonal, planning, and leadership skills.
  • Ability to work without close supervision and remain effective in demanding operational environments.
  • Commitment to teamwork, continuous improvement, and professional communication across site teams.
  • Ability to travel approximately 25-35% as project and turnaround schedules require.
  • Ability to work varied schedules, including Monday to Sunday 7/12s during execution periods, in line with fatigue management expectations.
  • OSHA certification (Required).
  • TWIC certification (Required).
  • Ability to meet applicable state and federal certification requirements where needed.
  • Ability to work in an industrial environment where bending, climbing, crawling, lifting, and shift work may be required.
  • Commitment to high ethical standards, worker safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection.
Nice-to-Have:
  • Local availability within the Wilmington, CA or Martinez, CA area (Preferred).
About Airswift:
Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries. Airswift serves as a strategic partner to clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects by aligning with unique project needs. With over 1000 employees and 9,000 contractors operating in over 60 countries, Airswift's geographical reach and pool of talent available is unmatched in the industry.
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