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Zoo Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Zoo

Technical Customer Support Specialist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$60K - $80K/yr

... Zookeeper features * Investigate customer-reported bugs, gather reproduction steps, and partner with engineering to resolve issues * Escalate complex technical issues while maintaining clear ...

Zoo

Technical Customer Support Specialist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$60K - $80K/yr

... Zookeeper features * Investigate customer-reported bugs, gather reproduction steps, and partner with engineering to resolve issues * Escalate complex technical issues while maintaining clear ...

Zoo

General Application

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

About Us Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware ... Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows ...

Zoo

Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $195K/yr

You will partner closely with engineering and leadership to establish a world-class design standard across every touchpoint. What You'll Do * Own our next phase of design across Zoo's full ecosystem ...

Zoo

Senior Software Engineer, Frontend

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $195K/yr

About Us Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware ... Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows ...

Zoo

Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... Zoo, you will lead the development and operation of our manufacturing systems, machine shop, and hardware production workflows that power the future of engineering design. You will serve as a ...

Zoo

Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$109K - $117K/yr

You will partner closely with engineering and leadership to establish a world-class design standard across every touchpoint. What You'll Do * Own our next phase of design across Zoo's full ecosystem ...

Zoo

Senior Systems Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $195K/yr

About Us Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware ... Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows ...

Zoo

Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

... Zoo, you will lead the development and operation of our manufacturing systems, machine shop, and hardware production workflows that power the future of engineering design. You will serve as a ...

Zoo

CAD Graphics Engine Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $195K/yr

About Us Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware ... Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows ...

Zoo

Lead Machinist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $45/hr

... at Zoo, you will own day-to-day operations of our machine shop and help build the physical hardware systems that power the future of engineering design. You will lead machining efforts across CNC ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsZoo Engineering JobsZoo Engineering Jobs in California

Zoo Engineering information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$144.9K

$171.7K

How much do zoo engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for zoo engineering in California is $144,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Zoo Engineering vs Zoo Technician?

AspectZoo EngineeringZoo Technician
Required CredentialsDegree in engineering, environmental science, or related fieldTechnical diploma or associate degree in animal care or related field
Work EnvironmentDesigning and maintaining zoo infrastructure, working with engineers and architectsAnimal care, habitat maintenance, and supporting zoo operations
Employer & Industry UsageZoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, often involved in project planningZoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, focused on daily animal care and habitat upkeep

Zoo Engineering primarily involves designing and maintaining zoo infrastructure, requiring engineering or environmental science credentials. Zoo Technicians focus on animal care and habitat maintenance, with technical or animal care training. Both roles are essential in zoo operations but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

How much does a zoo engineer make?

Zoo engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $60,000 to $80,000, depending on experience, education, and location. They often work with specialized tools and may require engineering certifications or degrees in mechanical, civil, or environmental engineering.

Do zoos hire engineers?

Zoo engineering involves designing and maintaining infrastructure such as animal enclosures, exhibits, and facilities. Engineers in this field typically have backgrounds in civil, mechanical, or environmental engineering and work closely with zoo staff to ensure safe, functional, and sustainable environments for animals and visitors.

What is the highest paying job in a zoo?

The highest paying job in a zoo is typically a zoo director or zoo executive, responsible for overall management and strategic planning. These roles often require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership skills, and they can earn six-figure salaries depending on the size and location of the zoo.

What is a zoo engineer?

A zoo engineer is a professional responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining enclosures, facilities, and infrastructure within a zoo. They often have skills in engineering, architecture, or construction, and may work with environmental and animal welfare considerations to ensure safe and functional habitats.

What is Zoo Engineering?

Zoo engineering is a specialized field that combines principles of engineering with animal science to design, build, and maintain zoological facilities. Professionals in this area work to create safe, enriching, and sustainable habitats for animals, while also ensuring the safety and engagement of visitors. This work involves collaborating with architects, animal care staff, and biologists to meet strict regulatory standards for animal welfare and public safety. Zoo engineers may be involved in projects like designing animal enclosures, water filtration systems, and visitor pathways. Their work is crucial in supporting conservation, education, and research activities within zoos.

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

To thrive as a Zoo Engineer, you need expertise in civil or mechanical engineering, facility design, and an understanding of animal habitats, typically supported by an engineering degree and relevant licensure. Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools, and building codes related to animal enclosures is essential. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate with animal care staff and address unique design challenges. These abilities ensure that zoo environments are safe, functional, and conducive to animal well-being and visitor engagement.
What are popular job titles related to Zoo Engineering jobs in California? For Zoo Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Zoo Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Zoo Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Zoo Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Zoo Engineering job openings:
Zoo Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Zoo Engineering job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,945 per year, or $69.7 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, CAD Interoperability

Zoo

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

$145K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

About Us
Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware products are designed, developed, and built. Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows, helping teams design, iterate, and manufacture products faster than ever before. We are headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with both a local and remote team. We were founded and incubated by Embedded Ventures in 2021.
About You
We're looking for curious, innovative, and ambitious self-starters to join our growing team to help us bring our mission to life. We think you'll thrive on our team if you're:
  • Curious at your core, with an eagerness to learn and do things differently
  • Customer-focused, always thinking about ways to improve the user experience
  • Able to operate autonomously and work asynchronously, while also being an effective team player

About The Role
We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer, CAD Interoperability, who can help build the systems that convert native and proprietary CAD formats into Zoo's KCL, our new programming language for 3D design. You'll work at the intersection of CAD data extraction, geometry processing, and code generation, turning models from third-party CAD systems into structured KCL representations. This role is for someone who enjoys digging into complex CAD systems, working with CAD SDKs and APIs, and building robust import pipelines that preserve model structure and design intent as much as possible.
What You'll Do
  • Design, implement, and maintain import pipelines that convert native and proprietary CAD formats into Zoo's KCL.
  • Build systems for extracting feature information from CAD files and applications, including sketches, dimensions, constraints, parameters, feature trees, assemblies, metadata, PMI, and related design intent.
  • Develop extractors using native CAD application APIs and toolkits where interoperability SDKs are insufficient.
  • Translate extracted CAD structure, geometry, parameters, and feature information into KCL that faithfully represents the original model.
  • Build validation, testing, and comparison tools to measure conversion quality across geometry, topology, feature information, assemblies, and generated KCL output.
  • Handle edge cases across proprietary formats, CAD versions, modeling kernels, malformed files, incomplete metadata, and inconsistent vendor API behavior.
  • Collaborate with the file format, modeling, and product teams to improve Zoo's CAD import experience and expand support for real-world customer files.
What You'll Need
  • B.S. in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Strong professional experience in software engineering, ideally involving CAD, geometry, file formats, code generation, or data extraction systems.
  • Experience working with complex technical data formats, application APIs, SDKs, or translation pipelines.
  • Proficiency in a systems programming language such as Rust or C++, with comfort working across language boundaries and vendor SDKs.
  • Experience building automated tests, validation tools, and debugging workflows for complex technical systems.
  • Ability to work autonomously, investigate unfamiliar systems, and make pragmatic technical decisions in a fast-moving environment.
Nice to Have
  • Strong understanding of CAD model structure, including parts, assemblies, sketches, constraints, dimensions, features, parameters, B-rep geometry, and tessellated representations.
  • Experience with CAD interoperability SDKs such as HOOPS Exchange, CoreTechnologie 3D_Kernel_IO, Open Design Alliance, CAD Exchanger, Datakit, or similar tools.
  • Experience with native CAD APIs such as SOLIDWORKS API, Creo TOOLKIT, NX Open, CATIA CAA/API, Inventor API, or similar.
  • Experience with STEP, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS, JT, glTF, STL, or other CAD and 3D exchange formats.
  • Experience generating structured source code from model data, especially for DSLs or domain-specific modeling languages.
  • Familiarity with KCL or other programmatic CAD workflows.

The salary range for this role is provided below. The final offer will depend on multiple factors including candidate experience, skills, expertise, and market data. Compensation may vary by geography. In addition to salary, we offer competitive equity as well as a full benefits package which may vary by geography as well.
Salary Range
$145,000-$195,000 USD
Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Zoo team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals from across the globe. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, Veteran status, age, or any other trait that unfairly targets a group of people. We encourage everyone interested in our mission to apply!

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