Senior Associate, Material Process Engineer
L3Harris · Canoga Park, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Base pay
- $77k–$142k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 10 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at L3Harris (aerospace & defense) in Canoga Park, CA. L3Harris is an industry-recognized leader in propulsion systems for space, missile defense, tactical missile and armament customers.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, Machining, Welding, Casting
- Base pay
- $77k–$142k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $116k–$171k. This one lists $77k–$142k.
Median of the low and high ends of 67 live postings that list pay, out of 112 process engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 111 other live process postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 24% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $116k–$171k, from 64 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 46%
- SPC 28%
- DOE 26%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 24%
- ✓ Team leadership 22%
- ✓ New product launch 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Machining, Welding, Casting, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Process team at L3Harris
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: L3Harris in Canoga Park
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Senior Associate, Material Process Engineer at L3Harris in other locations
L3Harris lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from L3HarrisAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Essential Functions
- ◆Support the evaluation and selection of metallic materials — including titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, stainless steels, high-strength steels, and aluminum alloys — for missile system components in accordance with applicable engineering standards and program requirements.
- ◆Assist in developing, reviewing, and optimizing manufacturing processes for metallic components including machining, welding, heat treatment, forming, and surface treatment operations.
- ◆Support non-conformance report (NCR) dispositions by collecting, evaluating, and documenting material property data in accordance with applicable specifications and engineering standards, applying practical experience to identify and address issues within own job area.
- ◆Support failure analysis and root cause investigations on non-conforming metallic materials and hardware, contributing to data collection, documentation, and disposition of findings.
- ◆Review and interpret material specifications and standards (AMS, ASTM, MIL-SPEC) to ensure compliant and traceable material usage across design and production activities.
- ◆Assist in the preparation and maintenance of process specifications, work instructions, and engineering documentation in support of missile program requirements.
- ◆Work with cross-functional teams including design engineering, stress analysis, manufacturing, and quality to ensure metallic material and process solutions meet program and customer requirements.
- ◆Evaluate material and process data for validity, consistency, and compliance with applicable specifications, identifying and addressing general problems drawing from prior experience and standard procedures.
- ◆Prepare technical reports, data packages, and process documentation in support of metallic materials programs.
- ◆Must be able to obtain and maintain a United States (U.S.) security clearance if required by program needs.
- ◆Ability to obtain a US Secret level clearance.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 2 years of prior related material process engineering experience. Graduate Degree or equivalent with 0 to 2 years of prior related material process engineering experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 6 years of prior related material process engineering experience.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.
L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Job Title: Senior Associate, Material Process Engineer
Job Location: Canoga Park, CA
Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off
Job Description
L3Harris is an industry-recognized leader in propulsion systems for space, missile defense, tactical missile and armament customers. Seventy years of L3Harris proven products continue to drive success for a wide variety of launch vehicles, missile defense systems, and strategic operations for the defense and advancement of our nation.
The Missile Solutions segment at the L3Harris Canoga Park, CA site is seeking a Senior Associate, Materials Process Engineer to join the engineering materials process team.
We are looking for an intermediate-level materials and process engineer with practical knowledge of metallic materials and manufacturing processes. Works under moderate supervision from senior engineers to support metallic materials design and production activities for missile programs. Contributes to day-to-day engineering efforts related to material process development, design support, non-conformance resolution, and materials documentation across missile system programs.
Preferred Additional Skills
- +Bachelor's Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or related engineering discipline .
- +Prior industry experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments is preferred.
- +Familiarity with ASTM, AMS, or MIL-SPEC material and process standards is preferred.
- +Familiarity with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods such as ultrasonic, radiographic, penetrant, or magnetic particle inspection is preferred.
- +Experience with data analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, or Excel for processing and presenting engineering data is preferred.
- +Familiarity with common aerospace manufacturing processes for metallic materials such as forging, casting, machining, welding, heat treatment, shot peening, and chemical surface treatment is preferred .