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Controls Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

BoxPower, Inc.

Head of Microgrid Controls

Grass Valley, CA · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

BoxPower's engineering culture integrates AI tools (Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and others) throughout our workflow for code, documentation, analysis, and design assistance. As Head of Controls, you ...

Wunderlich-Malec

Controls Engineer

Calabasas, CA · On-site

$88K - $114K/yr

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most ... This position is responsible for controls engineering project requirements: * Designs, develops ...

Wunderlich-Malec

Controls Engineer

Calabasas, CA · Hybrid

$88K - $114K/yr

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most ... This position is responsible for controls engineering project requirements: * Designs, develops ...

Leprino Foods Company

Controls Supervisor

Tracy, CA

$89K - $116K/yr

Partner with maintenance, utilities, engineering, and production teams to align controls priorities with operating needs. * Reinforce safe work practices, change management discipline, and ...

Leprino Foods Company

Controls Supervisor

Tracy, CA · On-site

$89K - $116K/yr

Partner with maintenance, utilities, engineering, and production teams to align controls priorities with operating needs. * Reinforce safe work practices, change management discipline, and ...

Leprino

Controls Supervisor

Tracy, CA

$89K - $116K/yr

Partner with maintenance, utilities, engineering, and production teams to align controls priorities with operating needs. * Reinforce safe work practices, change management discipline, and ...

Anode

Senior Controls Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$114K - $150K/yr

S. in Software Engineering, Mech Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline * 5+ years of experience in controls engineering for complex electromechanical or energy systems * Strong ...

Anode

Senior Controls Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$114K - $150K/yr

S. in Software Engineering, Mech Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline * 5+ years of experience in controls engineering for complex electromechanical or energy systems * Strong ...

Anode

Senior Controls Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$114K - $150K/yr

S. in Software Engineering, Mech Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline * 5+ years of experience in controls engineering for complex electromechanical or energy systems * Strong ...

ALTEN Technology USA

Controls Engineer

Marina, CA · On-site

$120K - $145K/yr

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to ... Marina, CA We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support a manufacturing data integration project.

ALTEN Technology USA

Controls Engineer

Marina, CA

$120K - $145K/yr

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to ... Marina, CA We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support a manufacturing data integration project.

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Controls Engineering information

See California salary details

$54.3K

$95.3K

$129.3K

How much do controls engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for controls engineering in California is $95,309.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,400.00 and $106,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is controls engineering?

Controls engineering is a specialized field of engineering that focuses on designing, developing, and implementing systems that manage, command, direct, or regulate the behavior of other devices or systems. Controls engineers use principles from electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering to automate processes, improve efficiency, and ensure safety in industries such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy. Their work often involves programming controllers, designing feedback systems, and integrating sensors and actuators to achieve precise control over machinery and processes.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Controls engineers typically do not earn $500,000 annually; such high salaries are more common in executive or specialized roles within engineering fields. Senior engineers with extensive experience, advanced certifications, or leadership positions in large corporations may approach high six-figure incomes, but reaching $500,000 is rare for controls engineering professionals alone.

What does a controls engineer do?

A controls engineer designs, develops, and maintains control systems used in manufacturing, automation, and industrial processes. They work with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, and software to ensure systems operate efficiently and safely, often requiring knowledge of electrical engineering and programming. Controls engineers typically analyze system performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement improvements to optimize operations.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Controls engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in automation, and specialized certifications can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries or senior leadership roles. Such compensation often includes bonuses, profit sharing, or stock options, and typically requires years of expertise and a strong technical background in automation systems and control theory.

How does a Controls Engineer typically collaborate with other engineering disciplines during a project?

Controls Engineers frequently work alongside mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to ensure seamless integration of automated systems. They are responsible for developing and implementing control strategies that meet project specifications, which often involves coordinating with design, installation, and commissioning teams. Effective communication and teamwork are crucial, as Controls Engineers must align their solutions with the overall project goals and troubleshoot cross-disciplinary issues that arise during development and testing phases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Controls Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Controls Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, automation, and process control, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI development, and industry certifications such as Certified Automation Professional (CAP) are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you excel in troubleshooting and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills are essential to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of automated systems in industrial environments.

How much do control engineers get paid?

Control engineers typically earn a median annual salary between $70,000 and $100,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Salaries can increase with specialized skills in automation, PLC programming, and certifications such as Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST).
What are popular job titles related to Controls Engineering jobs in California? For Controls Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Controls Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Controls Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Controls Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Controls Engineering job openings:
Controls Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Controls Engineering job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,309 per year, or $45.8 per hour.
Head of Microgrid Controls

Head of Microgrid Controls

BoxPower, Inc.

Grass Valley, CA • On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

The Head of Microgrid Controls is the technical owner of BoxPower's controls platform and the future leader of BoxPower's controls engineering team. This role has two interlocking arcs: a hands-on individual-contributor phase now, and a player-coach leadership phase over the next 12-18 months as BoxPower scales the controls function and hires additional engineers under this role's direction.
In the near term, you will operate primarily as an IC - owning the architecture, software design, and evolution of the controls systems that run every BoxPower microgrid. You will translate scope documents, control narratives, and state machine definitions into working control logic and validated systems. You will define and evolve the software architecture, evaluate and select compute platforms, build simulation and testing environments, and integrate emerging AI-driven development practices into the controls engineering workflow. Your work spans from factory acceptance testing at BoxPower's facility through on-site commissioning and startup of utility-grade microgrid systems.
Over the medium term, you will build and manage a controls engineering team - hiring, mentoring, and developing direct reports as project volume grows. You will set technical direction for the discipline, partner with the VP of Technology on roadmap decisions, and represent the controls function in cross-functional planning. Project sizes range from 100 kW to 20 MW and include solar PV, BESS, generators, and other distributed energy resources.
You will work closely with the Applications Engineer (who owns broad design and analysis work) and the Senior Field Commissioning Engineer (who owns physical-plant commissioning), with the Head of Microgrid Controls owning the controls platform and integration end-to-end.
BoxPower's engineering culture integrates AI tools (Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and others) throughout our workflow for code, documentation, analysis, and design assistance. As Head of Controls, you will help shape how BoxPower's engineering org uses AI in production controls work.
Key Responsibilities
Platform Architecture and R&D
  • Define and evolve BoxPower's controls software architecture for scalability, maintainability, and reuse across project types.
  • Architect a modular, reusable code base that accelerates deployment across BoxPower's standard and custom products.
  • Evaluate, select, and develop on SEL RTAC/PLC, industrial PCs, embedded PCs, and other compute platforms for controls applications.
  • Develop and maintain integration libraries for batteries, solar PV inverters, generator controllers, fuel cells, wind, and emerging DER types.
  • Build simulation and testing environments for validating controls logic across diverse interconnection configurations.
  • Integrate AI tools and methods into controls software development, testing, and documentation workflows.
  • Develop and enhance remote monitoring, control, and diagnostics capabilities for deployed microgrid assets.
  • Build tools and workflows that enable remote commissioning support, reducing on-site time and travel requirements over time.

Controls Engineering and Programming
  • Own the design, programming, and configuration of PLC/RTAC-based control systems for microgrid applications.
  • Program and configure industrial PCs, HMIs, and SCADA/HMI platforms.
  • Develop and implement DER/microgrid control logic including generator paralleling, BESS charge/discharge management, solar PV curtailment, load management, and black start sequences.
  • Translate control narratives, state machine documents, and sequences of operation into tested, validated control code.
  • Program breaker controls, protective relay settings, and paralleling/synchronization logic.
  • Configure communication protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, IEC 61850) and verify addressing, mapping, and data flow between field devices and controllers.

Integration and Commissioning
  • Confirm all equipment for controls integration: verify specifications, communication maps, protocols, and addressing prior to programming.
  • Align scope documents, control documents, and state machine definitions with actual hardware configurations and project requirements.
  • Perform factory acceptance testing (FAT) at BoxPower's facility and support site acceptance testing (SAT) at project locations.
  • Integrate BoxPower control systems with third-party generators, BESS (including Tesla Megapack), solar PV inverters, fuel cells, wind, and other DERs.
  • Commission and start up microgrid control systems on-site, including point-to-point verification, functional testing, and performance validation.
  • Work safely on electrical control equipment, including energized panels, switchgear, and protection systems.

Team Leadership and Development
  • Build the controls engineering team over time: scope hiring needs, lead recruiting for direct reports, and onboard new engineers.
  • Mentor and develop direct reports and field technicians on controls topics; set performance expectations and conduct regular 1:1s as the team grows.
  • Set technical direction for the controls discipline at BoxPower; partner with the VP of Technology on roadmap and resourcing decisions.

Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Coordinate with the Applications Engineer on design intent and the Senior Field Commissioning Engineer on commissioning execution.
  • Interface with external clients, vendors, and subcontractors on controls integration requirements and commissioning activities.
  • Support sales engineering and estimating with controls-specific technical inputs for proposals and RFPs.

Documentation and Standards
  • Create and maintain controls documentation including control system architecture drawings, I/O lists, communication diagrams, and programming documentation.
  • Develop and maintain standard controls templates, libraries, and reusable code modules for BoxPower's product lines.
  • Support project engineering with controls-specific inputs for electrical plansets, cable/conduit schedules, and panel schedules.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
  • 8+ years of experience in controls engineering, power systems controls, or industrial automation, with significant focus on microgrid, DER, or power generation applications.
  • Demonstrated track record as a platform or software architecture owner for industrial controls or microgrid systems - not just project delivery experience.
  • Demonstrated experience programming PLCs or automation controllers for power/energy applications. SEL RTAC experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong software architecture and development skills with the ability to design modular, reusable code for production controls platforms.
  • Working knowledge of communication protocols used in power systems (Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, IEC 61850).
  • Experience with structured text, codesys, ladder logic, linux, python, javascript, etc
  • Ability to read and interpret single-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, relay settings, and protection schemes.
  • Experience with generator paralleling controls, breaker controls, and protection relay coordination.
  • Hands-on experience commissioning and troubleshooting electrical control systems in the field.
  • Ability to work safely on energized electrical control equipment.
  • Demonstrated interest in or experience with people leadership: mentoring junior engineers, leading project teams, or formally managing direct reports.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information to engineers, executives, and external stakeholders.
  • Willingness to travel 10-25% based on project demands.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience formally managing a small engineering team (1-4 direct reports).
  • Combined software and electrical engineering background.
  • Experience with SEL RTAC, SEL-735, SEL-700G, SEL-751, or similar SEL devices.Experience with Ignition SCADA platform by Inductive Automation.
  • Experience with industrial PCs or embedded PCs in control system architectures.
  • Familiarity with AWS IoT, cloud data pipelines, or remote monitoring architectures for distributed energy assets.
  • Experience integrating Tesla Megapack or other utility-scale BESS into microgrid control systems.
  • Experience with solar PV, wind, fuel cells, or other DER integration.
  • Experience developing controls simulation or digital twin environments for testing and validation.
  • Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT) for accelerating engineering development workflows.
  • S. Navy Nuclear (ELT, ET, EM, or MM) background with reactor plant controls, electrical distribution, and power generation experience.
  • Experience working at an EPC, system integrator, or OEM in the energy sector.
  • Familiarity with NEC/CEC, NFPA, IEEE, ANSI, UL codes and standards for microgrid and BESS applications.
  • Familiarity with project management tools such as ClickUp, Asana, or equivalent.

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