Senior Automation Controls Engineer
Anduril Industries · Santa Ana, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Anduril Industries (aerospace & defense) in Santa Ana, CA. Design and develop PLC-based control systems for automated manufacturing equipment, robotic cells, and integrated production lines.
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Robotics, Automation, CNC, MES
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $124k–$179k.
Median of the low and high ends of 56 live postings that list pay, out of 109 controls engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 108 other live controls postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $124k–$179k, from 54 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 66%
- ✓ PLC 47%
- ✓ Robotics 43%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 38%
- Python 33%
- Root cause 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CNC, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
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- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Anduril Industries
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- What does a normal week look like on your team?
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- 5
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This plant: Anduril Industries in Santa Ana
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Full description from Anduril IndustriesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you'll do
- ◆Design and develop PLC-based control systems for automated manufacturing equipment, robotic cells, and integrated production lines.
- ◆Write, test, and debug PLC programs for various platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.) to control manufacturing processes.
- ◆Develop intuitive HMI interfaces that optimize operator efficiency and provide real-time process visibility.
- ◆Create documentation for control systems, including electrical schematics, control narratives, and operator instructions.
- ◆Integrate manufacturing equipment with higher-level systems, including MES, SCADA, and data collection platforms.
- ◆Implement data acquisition systems that capture process parameters for analysis and continuous improvement.
- ◆Troubleshoot and optimize existing control systems to improve reliability and performance.
- ◆Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop control
requirements
for new manufacturing processes.
- ✓Support commissioning and startup of new automated equipment, including debugging and optimization.
- ✓Implement industry best practices for control system security, reliability, and maintainability.
- ✓Stay current with emerging technologies in industrial automation and control systems.
Required qualifications
- ✓8+ PLC Programming , define specs ,development from scratch & Troubleshooting : Fluent in programming from scratch and live troubleshooting across variety of PLCs, Rockwell ControlLogix/CompactLogix and FANUC PMC. Siemens and Beckhoff , etc.
- ✓Demonstrated expertise with major PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.) and associated programming software.
- ✓SCADA/HMI Initiate ,define architecture and Development , Ignition Platform : Full-cycle SCADA delivery on Ignition: tag provider design, UDT architecture, Perspective development, gateway scripting, named queries, historian configuration, and alarm pipeline setup. End-to-end ownership from device connectivity through validated historian tags. FactoryTalk View ME/SE , FT Optix experience is welcome too.
- ✓Industrial Architecture & Networking : Strong understanding of SCADA architecture and common industrial communication protocols. Able to configure and maintain OPC-based connectivity across mixed equipment.
- ✓Multi-Protocol Integration: Bridges heterogeneous controllers and CNC equipment into a unified SCADA/historian layer.
- ✓Documentation & Standards Development Develops and maintains programming standards, SOPs, and SCADA design documentation.
- ✓Independent development , Commissioning & Maintenance Self-motivated. Developing , programming , troubleshooting systems end-to-end with minimum support . Equally effective working independently or at pace within a dynamic cross-functional team.
- ✓Define technical specifications and interface directly with vendors and OEMs
- ✓Safety Assessment (Plus) Performance Level (PL) and Category assessment per ISO 13849.
- ✓Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Experience CNC & Robotics (Plus) Experience with CNC machine integration and robotic cell coordination.
- ✓Knowledge of motion control systems and servo applications.
- ✓Experience with machine vision systems and their integration with control systems.
- ✓Background in SCADA systems and data acquisition architectures.
- ✓Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts and IIoT implementations.
- ✓Experience with simulation tools for control system validation.
- ✓Knowledge of cybersecurity principles for industrial control systems.
- ✓Experience in maritime or defense manufacturing environments.
$146,000 — $220,000 USD
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. O
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
About the team
Anduril's Manufacturing Technology, Maritime Team is seeking a Sr. Automation Controls Engineer to join our team. The Maritime Manufacturing Technology Team is responsible for rapidly developing and implementing manufacturing technologies and processes for cutting-edge defense hardware, including deployable static and moving surface, undersea and sea to air vehicles and scaling these products in our new manufacturing facilities.
About the job
As a Sr. Automation Controls Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing advanced control systems for automated manufacturing equipment and processes. The right person for this role has extensive experience with industrial automation control systems, including programming PLCs, HMI development, and system integration across a range of manufacturing applications. If you are passionate about creating innovative control solutions that optimize manufacturing processes and enable next-generation production capabilities, this role is for you.