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Controls Systems Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

The Role: The Systems Engineer position is part of Mainstay Medical's Product Development ... Ensure all stakeholder needs, requirements, and risk controls are satisfied; and traceability is ...

Staff Controls Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$134K - $193K/yr

Develop and execute test plans for controls features and system behavior * Validate controls code ... Partner with controls engineers to improve test coverage and design for testability * Support ...

Staff Controls Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$134K - $193K/yr

Develop and execute test plans for controls features and system behavior * Validate controls code ... Partner with controls engineers to improve test coverage and design for testability * Support ...

Showing results 41-60

Controls Systems Engineer information

See California salary details

$54.3K

$95.3K

$129.3K

How much do controls systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for controls systems engineer 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 a controls systems engineer?

Control Systems Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain systems that manage, regulate, and automate processes in industries such as manufacturing, power generation, and transportation. They use principles of engineering, mathematics, and computer science to ensure that machines and processes operate efficiently, safely, and reliably. Their work often involves programming controllers, designing feedback loops, and integrating sensors and actuators to optimize system performance.

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

To thrive as a Controls Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, automation, and process control, typically with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI software, and relevant certifications like Certified Automation Professional (CAP) are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication skills help you work effectively with cross-functional teams and troubleshoot complex systems. These skills are vital for designing, implementing, and maintaining reliable automation solutions that optimize safety and efficiency in industrial environments.

What are some common challenges a controls systems engineer faces when working on multidisciplinary projects?

Controls Systems Engineers frequently collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software teams, which can pose coordination challenges due to differing design methodologies and project timelines. Ensuring seamless integration of control systems with various hardware and software components often requires effective communication and adaptability. Additionally, troubleshooting issues that arise during commissioning or operation—often under tight deadlines—demands strong problem-solving skills and a thorough understanding of both the control systems and the larger system architecture.

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

AspectControls Systems EngineerAutomation Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, certifications like CSCP or ISABachelor's in Engineering, certifications like Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
Work EnvironmentIndustrial plants, manufacturing facilities, control system designManufacturing, process industries, robotics, and system integration
Industry UsageHeavy industry, process control, manufacturingAutomation, robotics, process optimization

Controls Systems Engineers focus on designing, developing, and maintaining control systems for industrial processes, while Automation Engineers concentrate on implementing automation solutions, including robotics and software. Both roles require similar credentials and often work in overlapping environments, but their primary focus differs: control system design versus automation implementation.

What cities in California are hiring for Controls Systems Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Controls Systems Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Controls Systems Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,309 per year, or $45.8 per hour.

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA • On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Salary Range: $90,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually

This position is onsite in San Diego.

Mainstay Medical

Mainstay Medical is a medical device company focused on marketing an innovative implantable neurostimulation system, ReActiv8®, for people with disabling chronic mechanical Low Back Pain. The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with subsidiaries operating in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The Role:

The Systems Engineer position is part of Mainstay Medical’s Product Development department. Your contributions at Mainstay are at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, software and biomedical engineering and draws from principles from each discipline. The Systems Engineer is primarily responsible for successfully supporting projects through a structured and regulated product development program, working closely with other functional leads in Engineering, Regulatory/Quality and Marketing.

Position Responsibilities:
  • Collaborate with fellow engineers in the Product Development group as well as partners in Quality, Regulatory and Marketing to support project execution through various phases of the product development life cycle.
  • Leverage your background in biomedical, systems, software, and/or other engineering fields to support the execution of design control activities and tasks for existing products and new products from concept to launch.
  • Be responsible for eliciting stakeholder needs, goals and objectives and translate them into formal customer, clinical, regulatory, and business requirements.
  • Decompose high level stakeholder needs into singular, testable, unambiguous, necessary, feasible, complete, and consistent system and subsystem requirements.
  • Support risk management activities by following ISO 14971 and similar processes.
  • Lead design reviews and verification/validation and related activities including planning, resource allocation, protocol creation, test execution and documentation.
  • Review technical decisions and design strategy for alignment with stakeholder needs, risk minimization, and prevention of subsystem-interface conflicts. Identify tradeoffs of potential design decisions and convey the risks and benefits of those decisions.
  • Support human factors/usability activities according to FDA and MDR guidance and recognized consensus standards.
  • Ensure all stakeholder needs, requirements, and risk controls are satisfied; and traceability is properly documented.
  • Create and maintain design history files.
  • Analyze proposed changes to products and provide a detailed impact analysis to ensure successful and predictable implementation.
  • Support and lead failure investigations including root cause analysis and associated CAPA activities. Participate in troubleshooting issues during product development and post product release.
  • Complete other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Minimum 2 years experience as a Systems Engineer, Validation/Test Engineer or related role under a regulated medical device environment.
  • Minimum Bachelors degree in Biomedical, Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Controls, or other technically relevant field.
  • Demonstrated ability to work cohesively with cross-functional team members to meet common engineering and product development goals.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in an engineering and product development environment.
  • Familiarity with FDA design controls guidance.
  • Knowledge of Risk Management processes following ISO 14971.
  • The ability to quickly learn complicated new systems, accurately describe and diagram those systems, and verbally explain their intricacies and interfaces to a variety of audiences with different technical or non-technical backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated success applying formal Systems Engineering principles and Systems thinking to Engineering and Product Development projects.
  • Experience working with FDA Class III or EU MDR Class III devices.
  • Previous experience with the following additional standards and regulations: EU MDR, TGA EP, UK AIMDD, IEC 60601-1 series, IEC 62304, IEC 62366-1, IEC 20417, ISO 10993, ISO 10974, ISO 11607, ISO 14708-1 / EN 45502-1, AAMI TIR57, 21 CFR 15, RoHS, REACH, EU RED, ETSI series, and AS/NZS 4268.
  • Familiarity with one or more software tools for the management of requirements, (product/project) risks, verification, validation, etc. (e.g., Doors, Polarian, Jama, Matrix).
  • Familiarity with INCOSE and NASA Systems Engineering Handbook.
  • Competent in a programming/scripting language for use in automating data processing, test execution, reporting, and other related activities (e.g, Python, Matlab, VB for Excel, Labview, etc).
  • Experience designing, building, reviewing, and validating fixtures to support testing.
  • Familiarity with the FDA’s cybersecurity guidance, risk management approach, and cybersecurity testing.
  • Software Development and/or Software Testing knowledge and skills, including use of revision control systems.

The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $120,000/year; however, base pay offered will take into account a range of factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package includes a range of medical, dental, vision, financial, and other benefits, as well as equity.

Mainstay Medical is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, color, religious creed, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, and/or protected veteran status. Mainstay Medical participates in E-Verify.

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