Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. logo

Engineering Manager, Hardware

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc.

San Luis Obispo, CAJob$130–210K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$130–210K/yr
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Hardware Engineering Manager oversees mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines and contributes to engineering product development strategy, budgets, team development, and evaluation. The role manages and mentors engineering professionals, supports active projects and emerging opportunities, and helps resolve program challenges. It is fully on-site in San Luis Obispo, California, and requires proof of authorization to work in the United States and a background check.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

SolidWorksSolidWorks ElectricalAltiumConfiguration ManagementElectromechanical IntegrationAerospace SystemsAvionicsFlight Control SystemsPayloadsTechnical EvaluationSystems AnalysisDesign PlanningCommunicationOrganizationFacilitationConflict ResolutionNegotiationAerospace Defense ContractingMulti-Disciplinary Analysis and OptimizationModel-Based EngineeringProblem SolvingLeadershipRisk Assessment

Qualifications

BS in Engineering or EquivalentMaster's Degree10+ Years Designing Complex Systems3+ Years Building and Integrating Designs3+ Years Leading TeamsWork Authorization ProofBackground Check

Full job description

Engineering Manager, Hardware

Summary

The Hardware Engineering Manager is an experienced individual within the aerospace, technology, or related industry with extensive knowledge in a fast-paced organization. As a member of the Engineering management team, the Hardware Manager oversees the Mechanical and Electrical disciplines and participates in defining and executing the overall engineering product development strategy, budget, team development and evaluation.

Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Manages a group of electrical and mechanical engineering professionals, including staffing, training, coaching, performance evaluation, and career development. Provides support and mentorship to engineers across a wide portfolio of development projects.

  • Is responsible for engagement and quality output of the team.

  • Directly supports the development of active projects as well as generation of concepts and material for emerging opportunities including proposals for new projects.

  • When it matters, will jump into problems, and help identify solution paths that are possible given the constraints of a program.

  • Responsible for managing permanent and temporary resources to meet project demands and partners in recruiting of individuals to support advanced development team.

  • Maintains a high level of customer satisfaction with both internal and external customers.

  • Participates in group level leadership discussions and decision-making regarding budgets, schedule, and work plans.

  • Shows passion and respect for all team members and stakeholders.

  • Assists with communicating business priorities as it relates to team’s area of responsibilities in order to help facilitate a clear vision of priorities and risks.

  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

  • BS degree in Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, etc.) is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

  • Master’s degree is preferred.

  • Minimum of 10+ years’ experience in designing complex systems (aerospace preferred).

  • Minimum of 3 years building and integrating their own designs.

  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience leading high performing teams and subject matter experts.

  • Extensive Experience with SolidWorks.

  • Experience with SolidWorks electrical and Altium or equivalent.

  • Experience with configuration management and tailoring approach to fit specific program needs.

  • Demonstrated experience with electro-mechanical integration.

  • Broad experience and knowledge of developing aerospace systems preferred including, avionics, flight control systems, and payloads at a development and integration level.

  • Broad based technical knowledge and experience in order to understand and evaluate design and development activity across the engineering disciplines.

  • Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and success to deliver products that meet requirements on time and on budget.

  • Ability to analyze the assigned project, break down work into functional disciplines and/or subsystems and create design/develop plans.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  • Strong organization, facilitation, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.

  • Familiarity with aerospace military/defense contracting environment highly desirable.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

  • Skilled at anticipating problems and develops sound solutions through implementation of action plans to ensure success

  • Drives for results, action oriented. Displays organizational and leadership skills.

  • Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances.

  • Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

  • Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision

  • Experienced in and knowledgeable of Multi-Disciplinary-Analysis & Optimization (MDAO) and Model Based Engineering

  • Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity.

Physical Demands:

  • Ability to work in an office and onsite environment (Frequent)

  • Ability to support field testing and integration assignments. (Infrequently)

  • Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Company Overview:

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to the industry. We specialize in cutting-edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, we don’t just build products, we engineer solutions that propel

the aerospace industry forward.

This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA


ESAero is an equal opportunity employer.

E-Verify participation required for employment.

Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Must be able to pass background check.

Pay Range: $130,000 - $210,000 Salary Exempt

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How this job compares

Set against the 5,619 open Engineering Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$130–210K/yr
  • California median$192–285K/yr921 salary ranges
  • US median$148–257K/yr4,521 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $170K, is 28% below the California median midpoint ($236K) — in the lowest quarter of Engineering Manager salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 1,072 open Engineering Manager jobs in California and 5,619 across the US. 6% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience; Engineering Manager postings that state a minimum ask for 7 years at the median (4,969 postings).
Education
2,480 of the 5,619 open Engineering Manager jobs (44%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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