Automation Engineer, General
Anduril Industries · Costa Mesa, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Anduril Industries (aerospace & defense) in Costa Mesa, CA. Design & Architect Automated Systems: Lead and support the design, development, simulation, and deployment of full-lifecycle automated assembly, testing, and material-handling workcells from concept through high-volume production.
- They ask for
- degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- PLC, Robotics, Automation, Tooling, SolidWorks, AutoCAD
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 SolidWorks, 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
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Anduril Industries
We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Andy → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa
156 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in controls roles at Anduril Industries.
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Full description from Anduril IndustriesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Required qualifications
- ✓Experience & Education: Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience across automated manufacturing environments).
- ✓Core Technical Competencies: Demonstrated practical experience or technical foundation in one or more of the following areas:
- ✓Controls & Automation: Experience programming and commissioning PLCs, HMIs, and motion control systems (e.g., Beckhoff, Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley).
- ✓Robotics & Motion Control: Hands-on exposure to industrial or collaborative robotic platforms (e.g., Fanuc, Kuka, ABB, UR), robot path planning, kinematic modeling, or multi-axis gantry systems.
- ✓Software & Tooling: Proficiency in software development using Python, C++, C#, or ROS/ROS 2, alongside CAD/modeling tools (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, EPLAN).
- ✓Electrical & Safety Systems: Understanding of industrial fieldbuses, sensor systems, motor sizing, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and machinery safety protocols.
- ✓Problem-Solving & Agility: Strong hands-on troubleshooting abilities, proactive initiative, and the capability to thrive in rapid-iteration, ambiguous, and hardware-intensive environments.
- ✓Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
This job post is inclusive of openings within various teams. Successful candidates will be matched to a specific team at a subsequent stage of the recruitment process.
The roles considered for this job post may require travel. The extent of travel will vary by role.
$115,000 — $171,000 USD
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits .
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help
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 job
At Anduril, our Automation Engineers are the builders of modern defense manufacturing, transforming complex hardware designs—including autonomous air, ground, maritime, and sensor systems—into high-rate automated production realities. You will step into a fast-paced environment where you will design, program, commission, and scale greenfield automated workcells, robotics, and advanced controls platforms across our multi-site manufacturing footprint. We are seeking talented Automation Engineers across all experience levels (Associate, Mid, Senior, and Staff) with expertise across industrial robotics, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), electro-mechanical design, and custom software integration.
What you’ll do
- •Design & Architect Automated Systems: Lead and support the design, development, simulation, and deployment of full-lifecycle automated assembly, testing, and material-handling workcells from concept through high-volume production.
- •Program & Integrate Controls Platforms: Develop, debug, and optimize robust PLC, HMI, and SCADA code across modern industrial platforms (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley) utilizing IEC 61131-3 languages and industrial networking protocols (EtherCAT, Profinet, Ethernet/IP).
- •Integrate Industrial Robotics & Motion: Program, calibrate, and simulate multi-axis industrial and collaborative robots (e.g., Fanuc, Kuka, ABB, Universal Robots, Staubli), implementing advanced trajectory planning, sensor integration, vision guidance, and functional safety systems (e.g., DCS, SafeOperation).
- •Drive Electro-Mechanical & Safety Standards: Design electrical schematics, panel layouts, and safety circuits using CAD tools (e.g., EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, SolidWorks), ensuring strict compliance with industry standards such as NEC, NFPA 70E, and UL508A.
- •Bridge Software & Hardware Systems: Integrate custom tooling, vision inspection systems, and edge devices using high-level programming languages (Python, C++, C#) to interface production equipment directly with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and telemetry databases.
- •Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering teams to implement Design for Automation (DFA) principles, streamline new product introduction (NPI), and eliminate operational bottlenecks.