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Automation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Purpose The Automation Engineer supports the daily operations across all of our Robotic Work Centers, including Assembly, Part inspection, Anodize, & post processing lines, for Divergent's flexible ...

Purpose The Automation Engineer supports the daily operations across all of our Robotic Work Centers, including Assembly, Part inspection, Anodize, & post processing lines, for Divergent's flexible ...

Automation Engineer Manager

Salinas, CA · On-site

$144.50 - $170/hr

Job Title Automation Engineer Manager Summary About the Role : As the Automation Engineer Manager, you will lead a team in driving equipment reliability and operational excellence across our ...

We are seeking a hands-on Entry-Level Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and robotics. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with equipment, troubleshooting ...

Purpose The Automation Engineer supports the daily operations across all of our Robotic Work Centers, including Assembly, Part inspection, Anodize, & post processing lines, for Divergent's flexible ...

Job Title: Sr. Automation Engineer Job Location: Oakland, CA Job Type: Contract * 12+ years of experience * Strong experience with ASP.NET & Selenium, minimum 7 years or more * Design, develop, and ...

Automation Engineer

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Hill International is seeking an Automation Engineer in Berkeley, California Hill is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support the design, development, and implementation of safety ...

Jsat Automation is hiring a Sr Automation Engineer.This position is a hybrid role and requires travel to client sites. * As a member of the project Team, the successful candidate will be required to ...

We are seeking a hands-on Entry-Level Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and robotics. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with equipment, troubleshooting ...

Automation Engineer Location: Must be hybrid onsite - Open to either Santa Clara, CA or Pleasanton, CA offices, only locals Duration: Through 1/31/25 - TBD on extension or conversion Interview ...

The Automation Engineer is responsible for the performance, equipment reliability, uptime percentage, design, development, and optimization of complex automation systems, and processes to improve ...

Automation Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$114K - $157K/yr

The " Automation Engineer " would oversee continuously driving a culture of excellence in the organization and enabling waste removal activities using lean and six sigma approaches and tools and ...

The Automation Engineer is responsible for the performance, equipment reliability, uptime percentage, design, development, and optimization of complex automation systems, and processes to improve ...

Automation Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$114K - $157K/yr

The " Automation Engineer " would oversee continuously driving a culture of excellence in the organization and enabling waste removal activities using lean and six sigma approaches and tools and ...

Showing results 21-40

Automation Engineer information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$105.7K

$160.9K

How much do automation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for automation engineer in California is $105,723.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,400.00 and $121,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an automation engineer?

Automation Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and implement automated systems and processes to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity in various industries. They work with technologies such as robotics, control systems, and software to automate repetitive or complex tasks. Their responsibilities often include programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining automation equipment, as well as collaborating with other engineers to optimize workflows. Automation Engineers are employed in sectors like manufacturing, IT, automotive, and pharmaceuticals.

What does an automation engineer do?

As an automation engineer, your job is to design and develop automated machines for your company. Your responsibilities may include determining the best way to implement automation, creating devices that meet the company's needs and specifications, testing robots to ensure they perform as designed, and monitoring existing automation to check if repair or replacement is needed. Many duties of this job vary by industry. For example, automation engineers work in areas like the automotive industry, food preparation and packaging, electronics production, and appliance production, and each of these fields has different materials and objectives. However, regardless of industry, most automation engineers work with both hardware and software.

What are some common challenges automation engineers face when integrating new systems into existing workflows?

Automation Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating new automation solutions with legacy systems, including compatibility issues and data migration complexities. Coordinating with cross-functional teams—such as IT, operations, and production—can require extensive communication to ensure seamless implementation. Additionally, balancing the need for system reliability with innovation and minimizing downtime during transitions are key concerns. Proactively addressing these challenges through thorough planning and testing helps ensure successful integration.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an automation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Automation Engineer, you need a strong grasp of control systems, programming (such as PLC, Python, or C++), and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with automation platforms like Rockwell, Siemens, or SCADA systems, as well as certifications like ISA or relevant vendor-specific credentials, is highly valued. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with diverse teams and troubleshooting complex issues. These skills and qualifications are critical for designing efficient automated solutions, minimizing downtime, and ensuring seamless integration of systems.

What is the difference between Automation Engineer vs Control Systems Engineer?

AspectAutomation EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, certifications like PLC or SCADABachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering, similar certifications
Work EnvironmentManufacturing, industrial plants, automation companiesIndustrial facilities, manufacturing, process control environments
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, manufacturing, automation service providersIndustrial sectors, process industries, automation firms
Common Search & Comparison IntentYesYes

The main difference between Automation Engineers and Control Systems Engineers lies in their focus areas. Automation Engineers typically design and implement automated systems across various industries, emphasizing software and hardware integration. Control Systems Engineers concentrate on designing and maintaining control systems for industrial processes, often with a stronger emphasis on control theory and hardware. Both roles require similar qualifications and are often found working in manufacturing and industrial environments, but their specific responsibilities and focus areas differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Automation Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Automation Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Automation Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Automation Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Automation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Contract. Highlights an 46% In-person, and 54% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,723 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Automation Engineer Manager

Cushman & Wakefield

Salinas, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 10 days ago


Cushman & Wakefield rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 159 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

113th of 209 rated real estate companies


Job description

Job Title
Automation Engineer Manager
Job Description Summary
Job Description
About the Role:
As the Automation Engineer Manager, you will lead a team in driving equipment reliability and operational excellence across our fulfillment centers. You'll monitor and support their work in controls automation and technical support while ensuring they effectively troubleshoot complex control systems and analyze performance metrics. You'll guide their leadership of continuous improvement projects and ensure they provide mentorship to junior engineers. You'll work with state-of-the-art technology, including conveyors, sortation systems, scanners, cameras, print and apply systems, and SCADA devices and programs. Through your technical leadership and design optimization efforts, you'll directly contribute to ensuring our customers receive their orders with Amazon's signature speed and accuracy while building team capabilities and driving operational excellence.
Key job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Apply Subject Matter Expertise (SME) on troubleshooting and dive deeps for engineering issues, supporting automation engineers to investigate the root cause and planning actions to eliminate/mitigate the downtime of critical assets
- Program and source coding for in-house built solutions based in PLC or PC controllers and SCADA/OEE platforms - Understand, maintain and troubleshoot material handling control systems, including PLC/PC controllers and industrial networks such as Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Profibus, motor control systems, servo drives, frequency drives, and electrical distribution systems - Monitor MHE metrics and partner with maintenance/operations to address system performance issues and provide analysis across all operations - Provide escalation support to automation engineers, during and after business hours, troubleshooting locally and remotely, to ensure that all hardware or controls software within the building is repaired on time
- Establish training plans and mentor a team of automation engineers - Appropriately escalate downtime situations to vendors or senior leadership for support to restore equipment operation
- Provide 24/7 on-call rotational support for hardware and software systems for the site
- Travel up to 10-20%
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, automation engineering, or equivalent, or 7+ years of PLC programming or automation engineering experience - Work a flexible schedule/shift/work area, including weekends, nights, and/or holidays
- 7+ years of experience working in industrial controls and automation - 7+ years of process or production environment related PLC-controlled automation and issue diagnosis experience - 7+ years of robotics work cells and control systems experience - 7+ years of Siemens, Allen-Bradley or Codesys Ladder Logic and structure programming experience - 7+ years of electrical theory, robotics, controls components, and automated equipment experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in computer science, electrical engineering, automation engineering - Experience with HMI and control network components, including maintenance, troubleshooting, programming and design - Experience with programming software such as RSLogix5000, Studio 5000, FT View, and other controls software platforms
- MBA or other Master's degree and/or Six Sigma Black Belt Certification a plus - Manufacturing or complex industry experience leading Control
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate's experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $ 144,500.00 - $170,000.00
C&W Services is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at C&W Services, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
INCO: "C&W Services"

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