Carl James Dorrenbacher began his career in 1950 with the Douglas Aircraft Company as an electronics engineer on the Nike Test Program at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. For the next 14 years, Dorrenbacher held a variety of positions including section chief on the Nike and Thor programs, chief engineer for space systems, and director of manned spacecraft programs. In 1973, due to his managerial abilities, he became vice president of Advanced Systems and Technology. He became vice president-general manager of McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company in 1979 and executive vice president in 1987. In 1990, Dorrenbacher was elected senior vice president - group executive of McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

Dorrenbacher has served as director of the Industrial League of Orange County, as a member of the Executive Round Table at the University of California, Irvine, and as a member of the Orange County Transportation Coalition. He also served as executive chairman of the National Security Industrial Association Cost Reduction and Cost Credibility workshop.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics elected Dorrenbacher a Fellow in 1971, and Purdue awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1989. The Orange County Engineering Council recognized his achievements in the engineering industry as a "strategic, foresighted leader" by honoring him as Engineer of the Year in 1990.

Born in Indiana, Dorrenbacher received his BSEE from Purdue in 1949 and his MSEE from the University of Illinois in 1950.