Automation Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Automation Engineer jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the Torrey Pines corridor across defense, biotech, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing. Employers hiring right now include Qualcomm, Eli Lilly, and Shield AI. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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- Collaborate with multiple stakeholders, field office teams, project managers, to collect and compile information to ensure timely responses to requests and ad hoc assignments.
- Ability to align data with data analytic tools such as Power BI, Tableau, and Qlik Dashboards.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to understand existing business workflows and identify areas where tools such as Power Apps and Power BI can provide innovative solutions.
- Facilitate the needs, issues, and challenges faced by the clients; perform gap analysis and recommend solutions and can be enabled within the data systems.
- Provide trade-off analyses on technical solutions to determine the best tools and methodologies to solve complex data requests.
- Create project deliverables, including artifacts to ensure adherence to team compliance and quality standards.
- Use source data to assess the effectiveness of projects and business processes.
- Work with all team members to analyze changes in requirements and recommend the most expedient solutions in a timely manner.
- Enable end-user visibility of data and metrics via dashboard creation and metric dissemination
- Leverage advanced analytic skills to translate complicated issues from multiple information sources into a clear picture for mission leadership.
- Bachelor’s Degree (or commensurate experience)
- 5+ years of work experience
- 3+ years of experience work in data and automation client environments
- Microsoft Power Platform Experience (Power Automate, Power BI)
- Ability to translate ICE specific mission needs into practical data elements for analysis.
- Excellent data analytic and communication skills.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
- Ability to work independently in an extremely fast-paced environment.
- Be flexible to change direction on a moment’s notice while also tracking/executing tasks in progress.
- Ability to think “outside of the box” while communicating or dealing with a variety of situations.
- Experience in data exploration, data cleaning, visualization, and overall data analytics
- Experience in data visualization tools such as Qlik or Tableau
- Experience in distributed data and computing tools including Databricks
- Strong evidence of Data modeling, mapping data flows and data design.
- Ability to attain and maintain DHS clearance (US citizenship required)
- Collaborate with multiple stakeholders, field office teams, project managers, to collect and compile information to ensure timely responses to requests and ad hoc assignments.
- Ability to align data with data analytic tools such as Power BI, Tableau, and Qlik Dashboards.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to understand existing business workflows and identify areas where tools such as Power Apps and Power BI can provide innovative solutions.
- Facilitate the needs, issues, and challenges faced by the clients; perform gap analysis and recommend solutions and can be enabled within the data systems.
- Provide trade-off analyses on technical solutions to determine the best tools and methodologies to solve complex data requests.
- Create project deliverables, including artifacts to ensure adherence to team compliance and quality standards.
- Use source data to assess the effectiveness of projects and business processes.
- Work with all team members to analyze changes in requirements and recommend the most expedient solutions in a timely manner.
- Enable end-user visibility of data and metrics via dashboard creation and metric dissemination
- Leverage advanced analytic skills to translate complicated issues from multiple information sources into a clear picture for mission leadership.
- Bachelor’s Degree (or commensurate experience)
- 5+ years of work experience
- 3+ years of experience work in data and automation client environments
- Microsoft Power Platform Experience (Power Automate, Power BI)
- Ability to translate ICE specific mission needs into practical data elements for analysis.
- Excellent data analytic and communication skills.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
- Ability to work independently in an extremely fast-paced environment.
- Be flexible to change direction on a moment’s notice while also tracking/executing tasks in progress.
- Ability to think “outside of the box” while communicating or dealing with a variety of situations.
- Experience in data exploration, data cleaning, visualization, and overall data analytics
- Experience in data visualization tools such as Qlik or Tableau
- Experience in distributed data and computing tools including Databricks
- Strong evidence of Data modeling, mapping data flows and data design.
- Ability to attain and maintain DHS clearance (US citizenship required)
See All 343+ Automation Engineer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Automation Engineer JobsAutomation Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm31
- Eli Lilly31
- Shield AI31
- Abbott16
- GovCIO16
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Aerospace & Defense
Automation Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an automation engineer job in San Diego?
Focus your search on San Diego's defense contractors, biotech firms, and semiconductor manufacturers, which are the most active local hirers. Roles concentrate in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the Miramar corridor. Candidates who combine PLC programming or robotics experience with knowledge of regulated-industry validation requirements stand out, since both defense and life sciences employers place a premium on those skills.
Which companies hire automation engineers in San Diego?
San Diego automation engineer roles are posted by Qualcomm, Eli Lilly, and Shield AI and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local market includes a mix of large defense primes, publicly traded biotech companies, and precision manufacturing suppliers that each maintain dedicated automation teams.
Are there remote automation engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though opportunities vary: hands-on roles involving equipment programming, lab automation, or production floor work are almost always on-site, while controls design, system architecture, and validation documentation work can often be done remotely. About 33% of automation engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the flexible arrangements more common at software-driven automation and medical device firms than at defense or semiconductor sites.
How can I get an automation engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is targeting junior controls or test engineer roles at mid-size biotech and contract electronics manufacturers, which hire more entry-level candidates than large defense primes. Internships at UC San Diego-affiliated research labs or local MedTech startups in the Torrey Pines area can also open the door. Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python scripting, or FDA validation protocols gives entry-level candidates a measurable edge with San Diego employers.
Which industries hire the most automation engineers in San Diego?
Most automation engineer openings in San Diego sit in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense contractors, genomics and biopharmaceutical companies, and semiconductor design firms creates consistent demand for engineers who can build and maintain automated testing, manufacturing, and laboratory systems.
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See All 343+ Automation Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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