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Principal Controls Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Associate Controls Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$92K - $119K/yr

ENR Top 500 Firm We have an Associate Controls Engineer opportunity available in Pleasanton, CA ... They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Showing results 41-60

Principal Controls Engineer information

See California salary details

$73K

$145.3K

$209.7K

How much do principal controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal controls engineer in California is $145,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,900.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges principal controls engineers face when managing complex automation projects?

Principal Controls Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new automation technologies with legacy systems, ensuring that all safety and compliance standards are met, and coordinating across multidisciplinary teams. They must also address unexpected troubleshooting issues quickly to minimize downtime, and effectively communicate technical requirements to both engineering and non-technical stakeholders. Successfully managing these challenges requires strong leadership, adaptability, and a deep understanding of both hardware and software controls systems.

What is a principal controls engineer?

A Principal Controls Engineer is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing control systems used to operate machinery and processes in various industries. They lead projects, mentor junior engineers, and ensure that control systems meet safety, reliability, and efficiency standards. Principal Controls Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate new technologies, troubleshoot complex automation issues, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Their work is critical in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and automotive, where precise control and automation are essential.

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

To thrive as a Principal Controls Engineer, you need advanced expertise in control system design, automation engineering, and a relevant engineering degree, often with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA systems, HMI software, and industry standards like IEC 61131 is typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and clear communication are critical soft skills for managing projects and mentoring teams. These competencies ensure the successful delivery of complex automation solutions, operational efficiency, and technical leadership within engineering organizations.

What is the difference between Principal Controls Engineer vs Controls Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Controls EngineerControls Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's degree in Engineering or related field; PE license optional
Work EnvironmentLead projects, oversee design and implementation, coordinate teamsDesign, develop, and troubleshoot control systems under supervision
Industry UsageUsed in large-scale manufacturing, automation, and industrial facilitiesCommon in manufacturing, automation, and process industries

The Principal Controls Engineer typically holds more experience, leads projects, and oversees teams, while Controls Engineers focus on designing and implementing control systems. Both roles require similar technical credentials and are integral to automation projects, but the Principal role involves higher-level responsibilities and leadership.

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Controls Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Principal Controls Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Controls Engineer jobs in California? For Principal Controls Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Principal Controls Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,292 per year, or $69.9 per hour.

Project Controls - Engineer III/Lead Engineer

PerkinElmer

Pasadena, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 23 hours ago


PerkinElmer rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs. With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job TitleProject Controls - Engineer III/Lead Engineer
Location(s)Customer Site - CA, Customer Site - OR, Customer Site - TX, Pasadena, CA, San Diego, CA, South San Francisco, CA

Job Description

This is a full-time salaried position with Project Farma, a PerkinElmer company. The successful candidate will reside in one of Project Farma's primary markets and be willing to travel domestically to meet client project requests.

Project Farma's purpose is to improve patient lives by accelerating the delivery of life-changing therapies. We accomplish this through the successful execution of high-quality life sciences projects across the full project lifecycle. Project Farma (PF) team members collaborate with cross-functional teams to build trusted client relationships, deliver an exceptional customer experience, and contribute to business growth by identifying opportunities and applying data-driven insights to support project planning, cost, schedule, and performance management.

All team members are expected to embody Project Farma's values by being curious, personable, and unselfish, while maintaining a strong commitment to a Patient Focused and People First mindset.

The Project Controls - Engineer III / Lead Engineer is an advanced individual contributor with demonstrated depth in their technical discipline and a growing record of leading complex workstreams. This role applies strong subjectmatter expertise to solve highimpact technical and operational challenges, supports technical decisionmaking, and contributes to the evolution of standards, methods, or best practices within their area. The Principal Engineer works with a high degree of independence, mentors junior and peer engineers, and partners closely with project and people leaders-while remaining focused on technical delivery rather than formal people management.

Key Responsibilities

As a Project Controls Engineer III / Lead Engineer, you will work collaboratively with clients, vendors, contractors, and other Project Farma Team Members to support projects related to biomanufacturing across the entire engineering lifecycle.Youwill apply your advanced technical skills to meet project team and client needs for developing /maintainingproject schedules and monitoring project performance. This work will include interfacing directly with project management, clientmanagementand site personnel for the development of detailed integrated schedules.Youwillbe responsible fordelivering high quality work,formingandmaintainingvaluable, long-term relationships with our clients, and continually strengthening your technical and industry knowledge. This position will lead keyproject controlsdeliverablesincludingbut not limited to:

  • Summary project plans and milestone management reports
  • Detailedproject execution schedules
  • Activity tracking and variance reports
  • Budget estimates, projectcost reportsand forecast trend analysis reports
  • Issue, risks and scenario analysis reports
  • Scope and change managementimpact analysis reports
  • Comprehensive monthly project status reports

PROJECT CONTROLS EXECUTION

  • Analysis of complexprojectdata and then deliver clear,articulateand concise messages in a compelling mannerto support decision making.
  • Communicate project informationinternallyin a timely mannerandrelay in-fieldproject decisions to highlight long-range,down-stream project and team impacts.
  • Independently prepare project controls reports, dashboards, and management summaries
  • Utilize inputs from Project Coordinators, field teams, and other disciplines whileretainingaccountability for final project controls outputs
  • Provide hands-on supportand troubleshootingfor clientsnavigating theengineeringlife cycle ofcutting-edgeequipment and manufacturing processes.
  • Maintain project tools such as site dashboards, detailed schedules, deliverable trackers, etc.
  • Perform due diligence and quality checksonsubject domains to generatehigh-qualityproject deliverables.
  • Proactivelyidentifyand escalateroadblocks andutilizecritical thinking skills and knowledge of problem-solving skills toidentifycreative solutions to those problems and roadblocks.
  • Create alignmentwith cross-functionalclientdepartments includingbut not limited toDesign, Construction,Validation, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering groups.
  • Continually develop a technical aptitude of project controls serviceswithin the life-science spaceincluding but not limited to:
  • Capitalproject management(CAPEX) for new/existing facility builds
  • Facility shutdowns/turnarounds
  • Technology transfers
  • Enterprise system integrations
  • Validation Life Cycle,includingCommissioning and Qualification,Process Validation, Computer System Validation, etc.
  • Quality, Regulatory, and Compliance
  • GxPAutomated Systems
  • Quality Control,includingcommercialand construction
  • Operational readiness

SCHEDULE, COST & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

  • Directly develop,maintain, and update project schedules, cost models, progress tracking tools, and performance reports
  • Perform detailed schedule logic updates, progress status, forecasting, variance analysis, and recovery planning
  • Maintain the integrated project schedule, including baseline management, updates, and look-ahead planning
  • Track installed quantities, productivity, and earned value to supportaccuratecost and schedule forecasting
  • Monitor cost performance, change impacts, and forecast trends in coordination with the Project Manager
  • Identifyschedule and cost variances, risks, and opportunities, and recommend mitigation or recovery actions

REPORTING & ANALYTICS

  • Prepare and issue weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc internal and external project controls reports
  • Develop andmaintainproject dashboards and performance metrics aligned with project and corporate requirements
  • Conduct in-depth analysis of schedule, cost, and performance data to support proactive decision-making

SYSTEM, STANDARDS & DATA INTEGRITY

  • Implement andmaintainapproved project controls systems, coding structures, and procedures on the project
  • Ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity of all project controls data across systems and reports
  • Provide guidance to project teams on project controls processes, data requirements, and reporting standards
  • Support continuous improvement of project-level controls workflows and reporting efficiency

Experience Required

  • Bachelor's Degree (and/or Masters) in technical Sciences, Engineering, Regulatory or related discipline OR a combination of equivalent experience project controls, general construction, cGMP facility start-up, projectmanagementand/or comparable military experience.
  • Advanced experiencewithMicrosoft Excel; Microsoft Project, Oracle Primavera P6, and/or Smartsheeta plus.
  • 2-7 Years of Experience required
  • Willingness to travel as required for client project assignments.

Other Preferred

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

Project Farma is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We will not sponsor applicants for current or future work visas for this position. This position may require significant travel to support project and business needs. We cannot employ anyone with an invalid driver's license.

The annualcompensation range for this full-time position is $(79,000) to $(118,000). The final base pay offered to the successful candidate will be determined by factors including internal equity, work location, as well as individual qualifications, such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

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