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Senior Controls Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

E Tech Group

Senior Controls Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$110/hr

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Senior Controls Engineer to be responsible for leading or contributing to detailed hardware and software design of process automation control systems ...

ASR Group

Sr. Controls Engineer

Crockett, CA · On-site

$101K - $188K/yr

OVERVIEW The Sr. Packaging Controls Engineer is responsible for maintaining instrumentation and control systems in support of plant production, quality, GMP and safety goals. This role designs and ...

S27a

Senior Controls Engineer

Newark, CA · On-site

$109K - $144K/yr

Role Overview CreateMe is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to design next generation automated manufacturing equipment for apparel assembly at our R&D lab and factory in Newark, CA. You will have a ...

Boxbot

Senior Controls Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Controls Engineers establish and maintain our controls standards, lead hardware programming and system commissioning, and oversee the full lifecycle of projects. They also contribute to critical ...

GXO Logistics

Senior Controls Engineer

Tracy, CA · On-site

$115K - $130K/yr

... Senior Automation Engineer, you will be responsible for facility layout and design, manpower ... Develop processes and controls for specialized, high-value inventory with elevated shrink and ...

New

Boxbot

Senior Controls Engineer

Alameda, CA

$150K - $200K/yr

Controls Engineers establish and maintain our controls standards, lead hardware programming and system commissioning, and oversee the full lifecycle of projects. They also contribute to critical ...

GXO Logistics

Senior Controls Engineer

Tracy, CA · On-site

$115K - $130K/yr

... Senior Automation Engineer, you will be responsible for facility layout and design, manpower ... Develop processes and controls for specialized, high-value inventory with elevated shrink and ...

New

Boxbot

Senior Controls Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$109K - $145K/yr

Controls Engineers establish and maintain our controls standards, lead hardware programming and system commissioning, and oversee the full lifecycle of projects. They also contribute to critical ...

Astra Space, Inc.

Sr Controls Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

The Opportunity As a Controls Engineer at Astra, you'll design and implement the control systems that power our automated test and production equipment. From scripting control sequences for custom ...

Blue Origin

Senior Controls Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$156K - $219K/yr

This is a senior-level position that requires a deep understanding of flight dynamics, control ... Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsControls Engineer JobsSenior Controls Engineer JobsSenior Controls Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Controls Engineer information

See California salary details

$71.1K

$113.2K

$152K

How much do senior controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior controls engineer in California is $113,222.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,700.00 and $126,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior controls engineer?

Senior Controls Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and implement control systems for manufacturing processes, machinery, or automation equipment. They are responsible for programming controllers (such as PLCs), troubleshooting control system issues, and ensuring optimal system performance and safety. Senior Controls Engineers often lead project teams, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with other departments to integrate new technologies. Their expertise is crucial for streamlining production, reducing downtime, and maintaining compliance with industry standards.

What are the typical responsibilities of a senior controls engineer in a manufacturing environment?

As a Senior Controls Engineer in a manufacturing setting, you can expect to lead the design, programming, and troubleshooting of automation systems such as PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA. Your responsibilities often include overseeing control system upgrades, optimizing equipment for efficiency, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. You will regularly collaborate with cross-functional teams—including maintenance, production, and IT—to implement solutions and support continuous improvement initiatives. Managing complex projects and mentoring junior engineers are also common aspects of the role.

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

To thrive as a Senior Controls Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, automation, and control systems, often supported by a relevant bachelor's degree and several years of experience in industrial automation. Expertise in PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI development, and knowledge of industry standards and certifications like ISA or PE are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, project management, and excellent communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies ensure the effective design, implementation, and troubleshooting of complex control systems, which are critical for operational safety, efficiency, and project success.

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

AspectSenior Controls EngineerControls Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, experience, possibly certifications like Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, troubleshooting, project leadership in industrial or manufacturing settingsImplementing control systems, programming, testing, and maintenance in similar environments
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, automation, process control companiesSimilar industries, often as entry to mid-level roles within the same sectors

The main difference is experience level and responsibility. Senior Controls Engineers typically lead projects, design complex systems, and mentor junior staff, while Controls Engineers focus on implementing and maintaining control systems. Both roles require similar credentials and work in comparable environments, but the senior role involves more leadership and advanced technical skills.

What are the most commonly searched types of Controls Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Controls Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Controls Engineer jobs in California?

For Senior Controls Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Controls Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Controls Engineer jobs in California are:

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

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

What are popular job titles related to Senior Controls Engineer jobs in CA?

For Senior Controls Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Senior Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Controls Engineer job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,222 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Senior Controls Engineer - Turbomachinery & Power Systems

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

Approach Venture LLC
See more jobs at Approach Venture LLCexternal

$180K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Senior Controls Engineer - Own the controls architecture for next-generation power systems
Hawthorne, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
Join a well-funded seed-stage energy hardware startup developing compact, modular power generation systems for rapidly growing electricity demand. The company has strong customer traction, hardware actively being built and tested, and a platform designed to generate power using multiple conventional and next-generation heat sources. As a Senior Controls Engineer, you will own the controls architecture, real-time software, protection logic, and operational data acquisition for a megawatt-scale power system. You will develop how the system starts, operates, responds to changing conditions, protects itself during faults, and safely shuts down. This is a hands-on role spanning controls development, hardware integration, simulation, commissioning, and testing.
About Us
We are a well-capitalized, venture-backed energy startup building a new generation of compact power conversion hardware. Our technology is designed to pair with multiple heat sources, supporting near-term power generation as well as future nuclear and renewable energy applications. With experienced turbomachinery engineers, customer demand, and initial hardware moving through build and test, the team is transitioning quickly from development into full-scale system demonstration and deployment.
Job Duties
  • Own the controls architecture for a megawatt-scale power generation system, including controllers, I/O, sensors, actuators, safety systems, and software
  • Develop closed-loop controls governing startup, normal operation, transient conditions, and shutdown
  • Design machine protection and automated trip logic for conditions such as overspeed, unstable operation, loss of load, sensor failures, and other system faults
  • Write, integrate, and debug real-time control software for complex physical hardware
  • Develop bench and hardware-in-the-loop test environments to validate control logic before operating full-scale equipment
  • Own operational instrumentation and data acquisition, including sensor selection, signal conditioning, sampling requirements, logging, and system telemetry
  • Integrate drives, valves, sensors, actuators, and other hardware using industrial and real-time communication networks
  • Work closely with mechanical, electrical, thermofluids, turbomachinery, and test engineers to integrate controls across the full system
  • Support hardware bring-up, commissioning, test campaigns, controls tuning, and troubleshooting directly on the equipment
  • Analyze system data, identify unexpected behavior, and rapidly iterate on software and control strategies
  • Help establish a controls architecture that can mature from development hardware into repeatable field-deployed systems

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related discipline
  • Experience developing real-time controls for complex physical hardware using PLCs, cRIO/PXI systems, industrial controllers, or comparable platforms
  • Strong understanding of closed-loop controls, control-system architecture, state-based sequencing, and machine protection
  • Ability to personally write, integrate, and debug control software using LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, or similar languages and environments
  • Hands-on experience with sensors, instrumentation, signal conditioning, data acquisition, and hardware interfaces
  • Working knowledge of thermal-fluid systems, rotating equipment, turbomachinery, or similarly complex electromechanical systems
  • Experience troubleshooting systems where software, electrical hardware, sensors, actuators, and mechanical hardware interact
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving engineering environment with significant individual ownership

Preferred Experience
  • Controls development for turbomachinery, rotating machinery, power generation equipment, propulsion systems, or other high-energy hardware
  • Experience with industrial communication protocols such as CAN, EtherCAT, Modbus, or similar networks
  • Hardware-in-the-loop testing and plant or system simulation
  • Safety-critical controls, fault management, interlocks, or functional safety practices
  • Experience developing controls for high-pressure, high-temperature, or high-speed rotating systems
  • Building instrumentation and DAQ architectures for new hardware or test systems
  • Commissioning and tuning complex hardware in a laboratory, test facility, or field environment
  • Experience taking a controls system from early prototype through integrated hardware testing
  • Early-stage startup or rapid hardware development experience

Why Join Us
  • Join a well-funded seed-stage company with active customer traction and hardware already moving through build and test
  • Take end-to-end ownership of the controls system for a new power generation platform
  • Work directly with a highly technical team across controls, turbomachinery, thermofluids, electrical systems, mechanical design, and testing
  • Help develop technology capable of generating power from multiple heat sources across both current and emerging energy markets
  • Meaningful equity ownership
  • Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Fully stocked kitchen with snacks, coffee, and lunch

Compensation Details
$180,000 - $220,000
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