Controls Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

Controls Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in defense and aerospace, biomedical devices, and advanced manufacturing, with the heaviest hiring in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the Torrey Pines corridor. Employers actively posting right now include Northrop Grumman, Tesla, and ASML. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

Find Controls Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles279+
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Work type75% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree
Companies hiring10

Showing 5 of 279+ Controls Engineer jobs

Entry Level Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Engineer
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Added 3d ago
Entry Level Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Engineer
Jacobs
San Diego, California
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
Structural Engineering
$70k - $106k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Entry Level Controls Design Engineer
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Added 1w ago
Entry Level Controls Design Engineer
Solar Turbines
San Diego, California
Automation QA
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$72k - $109k/yr
Bachelor of Science
5,001-10,000

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Sr. Power Electronics Controls Engineer, Cell Manufacturing
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Added 1w ago
Sr. Power Electronics Controls Engineer, Cell Manufacturing
Tesla
San Diego, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$133k - $285k/yr
10,000+

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Staff Engineer - Guidance Navigation Controls
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Added 2w ago
Staff Engineer - Guidance Navigation Controls
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
$153k - $266k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Guidance Navigation Controls Engineer
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Added 2w ago
Guidance Navigation Controls Engineer
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$79k - $138k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 279+ Controls Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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

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Controls Engineer Job Market in San Diego

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman64
  • Tesla43
  • ASML21
  • Eaton21
  • Jacobs21

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy21
  • Manufacturing21
  • Electronics & Hardware21
  • Construction & Real Estate21
  • Transportation & Logistics21

Controls Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a controls engineer job in San Diego?

Target San Diego's defense primes, contract manufacturers, and medical device companies first, as they post the most controls engineer openings locally. Roles cluster in Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, and the Miramar industrial corridor, so focusing your search on those zip codes narrows the field quickly. Hands-on experience with PLCs, motion control, or robotics stands out in San Diego's hardware-heavy hiring market, and familiarity with defense-adjacent compliance requirements gives candidates a clear edge over generalists.

Which companies hire controls engineers in San Diego?

San Diego controls engineer roles are posted by Northrop Grumman, Tesla, and ASML and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local employer mix skews toward defense contractors, medical device manufacturers, and precision industrial firms with engineering campuses throughout the Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley business parks.

Are there remote controls engineer jobs in San Diego?

Yes, but only for certain functions, since controls engineering is largely hands-on work tied to physical equipment and production floors. About 25% of controls engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, mostly in system design, software configuration, and project coordination roles. The on-site requirement is especially firm at San Diego's defense and manufacturing facilities where classified environments or production floor access is required.

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

The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through contract or junior engineering roles at mid-size manufacturers in Kearny Mesa or Otay Ranch, where teams are small enough to bring on candidates who show strong fundamentals. Internships with San Diego's defense and biotech-adjacent hardware firms, or technician roles that expose you to PLC programming and motion systems, build the hands-on portfolio local hiring managers look for. A degree in electrical, mechanical, or mechatronics engineering from a San Diego-area institution also carries real local recognition.

Which industries hire the most controls engineers in San Diego?

San Diego controls engineer roles concentrate in Energy, Manufacturing, and Electronics & Hardware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's deep presence in defense systems, precision medical devices, and contract electronics manufacturing means sustained demand for engineers who can design, program, and maintain automated control systems at scale.

See All 279+ Controls Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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