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Controls And Automation Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Lead Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$117K - $154K/yr

The Lead Automation Engineer will act as the technical specialist responsible for developing ... controls, and operational procedures. Qualifications BA/S in a relevant technical field preferred.

Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$106K - $139K/yr

CDM Smith is seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Engineer to join a great team of motivated Automation engineers in our Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions! The successful candidate will be ...

Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Fairfax, VA · Hybrid

$106K - $139K/yr

CDM Smith is seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Engineer to join a great team of motivated Automation engineers in our Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions! The successful candidate will be ...

Platform Automation Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$106K - $136K/yr

Purpose and Scope: eSimplicity is seeking a skilled Platform Automation Engineer to support a ... Experience implementing security controls aligned with Zero Trust principles and secure software ...

Platform Automation Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$106K - $136K/yr

Purpose and Scope: eSimplicity is seeking a skilled Platform Automation Engineer to support a ... Experience implementing security controls aligned with Zero Trust principles and secure software ...

Purpose and Scope: eSimplicity is seeking a skilled Platform Automation Engineer to support a ... Experience implementing security controls aligned with Zero Trust principles and secure software ...

Showing results 21-40

Controls And Automation Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$52.1K

$111.2K

$159.1K

How much do controls and automation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for controls and automation engineer in Washington, DC is $111,205.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,600.00 and $125,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Controls And Automation Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectControls And Automation EngineerElectrical Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in electrical, control systems, or automation engineering; certifications like PLC programming or control system design are commonRequires a degree in electrical engineering; licensure may be required for certain roles
Work EnvironmentDesigning, programming, and testing control systems in manufacturing, industrial, or automation settingsDesigning electrical systems, power distribution, and circuitry in various industries
Industry UsageCommon in manufacturing, automation, and process control industriesWidespread across power, construction, manufacturing, and consulting sectors

Controls And Automation Engineers focus on designing and implementing control systems and automation solutions, while Electrical Engineers have a broader scope including power systems and electrical infrastructure. Both roles require electrical knowledge but differ in specialization and application areas.

What is a controls and automation engineer?

Controls and Automation Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain systems that automate processes in industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation. Their main goal is to improve efficiency, safety, and reliability by implementing control systems like PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), and robotics. They work closely with other engineering disciplines to integrate hardware and software solutions, troubleshoot system issues, and ensure optimal operation of automated processes. These engineers play a vital role in modern industrial settings by enabling advanced automation and data-driven decision-making.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a controls and automation engineer?

To thrive as a Controls and Automation Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, automation systems, and process control, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with PLC programming, SCADA systems, and industrial network protocols is essential, and certifications like Certified Automation Professional (CAP) are advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills set top performers apart in this field. These competencies ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of automated systems in industrial environments.

What are some common challenges controls and automation engineers face when integrating new systems into existing processes?

One common challenge Controls and Automation Engineers encounter is ensuring that new automation systems are compatible with existing legacy equipment and processes. This often requires careful planning, extensive testing, and sometimes custom interface development to avoid disruptions in production. Additionally, balancing the need for increased automation with maintaining system reliability and safety standards can be complex. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as IT, production, and maintenance, is crucial to address these integration hurdles effectively.
What are popular job titles related to Controls And Automation Engineer jobs in Washington, DC? For Controls And Automation Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Controls And Automation Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Controls And Automation Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:
Infographic showing various Controls And Automation Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,205 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

DEVSECOPS & EVIDENCE-AUTOMATION ENGINEER

Zermount, Inc

Arlington, VA • On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

DevSecOps & Evidence-Automation Engineer
Position Overview
We are looking for a highly talented, technical, hands-on DevSecOps & Evidence-Automation Engineer to help accelerate our growing Professional Services business within the Government Sector. This is a 100% remote position. You will build the CI/CD security pipeline and the automated evidence collectors that shift a federal continuous Authorization to Operate (cATO) program from periodic, manual evidence collection to near-real-time, machine-generated control evidence.
Duties & Responsibilities
  • CI/CD Security Pipeline: Build and operate a pipeline (SAST, DAST, SCA, container scanning, SBOM, secrets) integrated across source, build, test, release, deploy, and runtime.
  • Evidence Automation: Write evidence collectors (Python/boto3, serverless functions, Go) that pull cloud, scanner, and SIEM data and map it to security controls (NIST SP 800-53).
  • Source-Control Governance: Establish review gates and attestation formats.
  • Integration: Build and maintain API/connector integrations and event-driven data flows feeding the evidence and GRC layer.
  • Identity & Secrets: Engineer identity, PKI, and secrets workflows (HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager) supporting control evidence.

Qualifications
  • High level of attention to detail, needs minimal guidance, effective verbal and written communication.
  • 7+ years building cloud-native, event-driven services and automation on AWS (serverless, Terraform/IaC, Docker).
  • Strong in Go and/or Java (Spring Boot); Apache Kafka or equivalent event streaming.
  • CI/CD pipeline engineering (Jenkins/GitHub Actions) and infrastructure-as-code.
  • PKI/X.509 and secrets-management engineering (HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager).
  • Ability to map technical evidence to security controls (NIST SP 800-53).
  • SBOM generation and container signing a plus.

Education
  • Bachelor of Science (or higher) in computer engineering, computer science, information technology, cyber security, or a related field.
  • Another major will be considered, provided it clearly addresses at least one of the following: cyber security engineering, systems administration, information systems security, software development security, systems engineering, information systems, or information technology.

Clearance Level
  • No Clerance required, but an active Secret Clearance is preferred.

Work Location
  • Primary location(s) are Arlington and Alexandria VA. Remote work is authorized, but the employee may have to report to one of the primary sites occasionally or as requested by management or the client.

Hours of Operation
  • 6:00 am ET - 6:00 pm ET

SALARY RANGE
  • $145,000-$175,000
  • Ability to pass a minimum background investigation.