Controls Engineer Jobs in Irvine, CA

Controls Engineer jobs in Irvine, California draw from a deep local base in defense electronics, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing, concentrated in the Irvine Spectrum, Irvine Business Complex, and the industrial corridors near Alton Parkway. Employers active right now include Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, Rivian, and Parker Hannifin. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Controls Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles248+
Top employerRivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Work type67% Hybrid
Top credentialBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
Companies hiring8

Showing 5 of 248+ Controls Engineer jobs

Rivian
Software Engineer II, Controls & Active Safety Engineer, Autonomy
We won't show you this job again
Rivian
Added 1w ago
Software Engineer II, Controls & Active Safety Engineer, Autonomy
Rivian
Irvine, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Parker Hannifin
Manufacturing Engineer II - Military Flight Controls Division
We won't show you this job again
Parker Hannifin
Added 2w ago
Manufacturing Engineer II - Military Flight Controls Division
Parker Hannifin
Irvine, California
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
$85k - $141k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

CDM Smith
Senior Automation and Controls Engineer
We won't show you this job again
CDM Smith
Added 3w ago
Senior Automation and Controls Engineer
CDM Smith
Irvine, California
Cloud Engineering
IT Support
Systems Administration
$120k - $210k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Rivian
Sr Dynamics Engineer, Brake Controls
We won't show you this job again
Rivian
Added 1mo ago
Sr Dynamics Engineer, Brake Controls
Rivian
Irvine, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Quality Control
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

SCI Lighting Solutions
Lighting Controls System Engineer
We won't show you this job again
SCI Lighting Solutions
Added 2mo ago
Lighting Controls System Engineer
SCI Lighting Solutions
Irvine, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$50k - $80k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

See All 248+ Controls Engineer Jobs in Irvine

Find roles in Irvine that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Controls Engineer Jobs

Controls Engineer Job Market in Irvine

Who's Hiring

  • Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
    Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies76
  • Rivian
    Rivian38
  • Parker Hannifin
    Parker Hannifin38
  • Kiewit
    Kiewit19
  • CDM Smith
    CDM Smith19

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing19
  • Technology & Software19
  • Construction & Real Estate19
  • Transportation & Logistics19

Controls Engineer Jobs in Irvine: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a controls engineer job in Irvine?

Focus your search on Irvine's defense contractors, medical device manufacturers, and semiconductor firms, which consistently post controls engineering roles in the Irvine Spectrum and Irvine Business Complex. Hands-on PLC and SCADA experience translates directly in these sectors. Candidates who hold a PE license or have experience with FDA-regulated or MIL-SPEC environments stand out with local employers more than a general applicant pool would suggest.

Which companies hire controls engineers in Irvine?

Irvine controls engineer roles are posted by Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, Rivian, and Parker Hannifin and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Irvine's employer mix skews toward established defense primes, medtech OEMs, and precision automation firms with permanent facilities rather than project-based contractors.

Are there remote controls engineer jobs in Irvine?

Yes, but only in specific functions. Controls engineering is largely hands-on, so fully remote roles are uncommon. About 67% of controls engineer openings tied to Irvine are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, typically covering design, simulation, or programming phases rather than commissioning or on-site integration work. Irvine's medtech and semiconductor employers most often offer hybrid arrangements for engineers in the design and validation stages.

How can I get a controls engineer job in Irvine with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path in Irvine is through a technician or automation associate role at one of the city's medical device or defense manufacturing facilities, which frequently promote from within once you demonstrate hands-on PLC proficiency. UC Irvine and local community colleges offer relevant coursework that Irvine employers recognize. Building a portfolio around ladder logic projects or motion control simulations and targeting smaller Irvine automation integrators for a first role gives early-career candidates a concrete foothold.

Which industries hire the most controls engineers in Irvine?

Most controls engineer openings in Irvine sit in Manufacturing, Technology & Software, and Construction & Real Estate, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Irvine's concentration of FDA-regulated manufacturers, defense electronics primes, and semiconductor equipment companies creates sustained demand for controls talent tied to compliance-driven production environments.

See All 248+ Controls Engineer Jobs in Irvine

Find roles in Irvine that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Controls Engineer Jobs