Automation Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Role Automation Manager

Location Sacramento, CA

Department Manufacturing

Reports To Head of Automation

Position Type Full-time

About Peak Energy

Peak Energy Technologies is the first American venture to advance globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. Sodium-Ion is cheap, readily available and safe, making it the leading contender in a rapidly evolving market.

We're a team of about 105 today growing rapidly as we move from pilot through commercial scale-up. We operate with modern tooling, including a company-wide AI platform and a builder-first culture that rewards taking ownership end-to-end.

Our leadership team is powered by decades of expertise in scaling gigawatt-level innovation at world-class companies such as Tesla, Northvolt, Apple, Powin, Enovix, Zipline, Solid Power, and Fluence. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners such as Xora, Eclipse Ventures, and TDK Ventures.

We are a team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, and partners driven by a shared ambition to set the new performance standard for renewable energy and grid resilience.

About the Role: Automation Manager

The Automation Manager is responsible for building and leading the automation and controls infrastructure that keeps Peak Energy's sodium-ion battery manufacturing facility running at full capacity, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across a 4-shift operation. This role is both strategic and deeply technical: you'll have direct input into the architecture of our control systems, hire and develop a team of Controls Engineers and Technicians, participate in the acquisition and commissioning of new industrial manufacturing equipment, and create the operational procedures that ensure rapid, reliable response when systems need attention.

Our Sacramento manufacturing facility is in the planning and build-out phase. This person will be hired to help open it. That means participating in equipment design reviews and international Factory Acceptance Tests as manufacturing equipment is selected and commissioned, and building the controls team, procedures, and documentation standards the facility will run on from day one. There is no existing playbook to inherit; this person will write it.

This role requires someone who is comfortable operating at both the technical and organizational level: debugging a control system issue and then writing the procedure that prevents the next one.

What You'll Do

• Lead the controls and automation function for Peak Energy's Sacramento manufacturing facility, maintaining system uptime across a 24/7, 4-shift production schedule

• Participate in design reviews for the acquisition of industrial manufacturing equipment, providing critical input on automation architecture, PLC platform compatibility, and control system specifications

• Lead and participate in international Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) for newly acquired industrial manufacturing equipment, ensuring systems meet Peak Energy's requirements before shipment and installation

• Build, hire, and develop a team of Controls Engineers and Controls Technicians (7–12 team members) sized and structured to support continuous 4-shift, 24/7 operations

• Define and own shift coverage models, escalation protocols, and response procedures; create all documentation governing how the controls team responds to automation issues at any hour

• Establish and maintain PLC architecture standards across the facility, with Beckhoff TwinCAT as the primary platform

• Design and implement connectivity between PLCs and MES systems to enable real-time production data, traceability, and process monitoring. Evaluate the existing architecture implemented at Peak's Burlingame manufacturing facility and incorporate applicable elements where appropriate.

• Create, maintain, and continuously improve all automation documentation: control system designs, change management procedures, operator manuals, and maintenance protocols

• Collaborate with equipment engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing leadership to ensure automation systems align with production goals and support ramp objectives

• Own controls and automation KPIs: system uptime, mean time to repair (MTTR), alarm rationalization, and preventive maintenance compliance

• Establish and enforce safety standards for control systems, including emergency shutdown procedures, safety interlocks, and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements

• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities in automation that reduce manual intervention, improve yield, and increase throughput

What You'll Bring

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing Controls Engineers in an industrial manufacturing environment, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams

• Hands-on technical experience with Beckhoff PLCs and TwinCAT v3; comfortable writing code and assessing the code of others

• Demonstrated experience establishing connectivity between PLC/SCADA systems and MES platforms for production traceability and real-time data acquisition

• Direct experience participating in equipment design reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), including international travel to vendor facilities

• Proficiency with SCADA systems, HMI design, and industrial data acquisition platforms

• Proven ability to define and document operational procedures (escalation protocols, shift response standards, maintenance routines) that a 24/7 team can execute reliably

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience

• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to translate complex system knowledge into clear procedures and reports for both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Comfort with the scheduling, staffing, and coordination demands of continuous manufacturing operations

• Willingness to travel internationally (up to 25%) for Factory Acceptance Tests and equipment commissioning

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in battery manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, or other high-precision industrial environments

• Familiarity with Ignition by Inductive Automation for SCADA and data acquisition

• Experience at a company successfully scaling from pilot production to commercial-scale manufacturing

• Familiarity with energy storage system architecture and battery manufacturing processes

• Comfort using modern AI tools in day-to-day workflow; we operate with Claude as a company-wide platform and reward leaders who use these tools to compound their leverage

Diversity and Inclusion

Peak Energy is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. We value skills, potential, and perspective over specific credentials. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't look perfect on paper, we still want to hear from you.

Our Core Values

• Speed Through Focus. Move fast but understand why. Focus on the goal, don't sacrifice quality.

• Mission Over Self. It's about the greater good; confident humility. Take ownership and accountability.

• Face the Brutal Truth. Transparency, honesty, big picture curiosity. Fearless decision making.

• Be a Good Person. Kindness, collaboration and teamwork.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $160,000 - $185,000, with actual pay varying based on work location, experience, and skills. Our competitive benefits package includes:

• Flexible time off

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Strong 401(k) plan

• Equity opportunities

• Many great work perks

Join us to thrive in a supportive environment while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Peak Energy Technologies Inc., we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a more capable, innovative, and competitive company. We welcome people who represent diversity in their backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Peak Energy Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, aiming to reach our company's full potential by cultivating an inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.