Controls Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the strongest states for controls engineer visa sponsorship, with demand concentrated in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Major employers include Chevron, Tesla, Northrop Grumman, and large semiconductor manufacturers. Automation, defense, and energy sectors actively hire internationally and have established H-1B visa sponsorship pipelines.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT AMPIRICAL
At Ampirical, we're shaping the future of the power grid with precision, innovation, and purpose. Just as the ampere is the foundation of electric current, Ampirical is a core force driving the energy sector forward. We focus on quality, forward-thinking solutions, and empowering our team to grow and thrive.
We don’t just build projects—we build careers. If you’re looking for a place where your contributions matter and your professional development is supported every step of the way, we’d love to meet you. Watch this video to get a glimpse into our culture.
WHY AMPIRICAL?
- Salary Range: $92,000 - $180,000 (dependent on experience, education, and qualifications)
- Profit-Sharing Bonus: Semi-annual, performance-based (10% to 20% of salary)
- Day-One Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k) with 4% match and immediate vesting
- PTO: Starting at 80 hours of vacation & 40 hours of sick time per year + 10 paid holidays
- Flexible Work Schedule: Every other Friday off
- Career Development: Advancement opportunities, tuition reimbursement
- Perks: Gym membership stipend, wellness program, fertility benefits, pet insurance, and more
JOB SUMMARY
The Relay Protection and Controls Engineer is responsible for the design and procurement of protective relaying equipment for substations, switchyards, and transmission lines. They are accountable for adherence to and revisions of design/construction scope processes. The Senior Engineer works closely with the client to ensure quality design to meet client's standards and provides field support to the client during construction activities as required.
WHO YOU ARE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited university
- 4+ years of experience engineering/designing electrical systems within the Utilities or Energy industry
- Experience with ETAP, WinIGS, IEEE 88/998
- Experience using Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Bentley MicroStation and/or Bentley Substation software to develop 2D drawings or 3D models are a plus.
- PE Certification
- Knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following skillsets: SCADA, automation, relay settings, RTU configuration, and Protection & Controls engineering terms and concepts are a plus.
- Experience working with the electric utility industry or petro-chemical industry.
- BSEE Degree with 6+ years of experience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify proper protection and control schemes for transmission and distribution substations.
- Select proper protection devices for equipment within a substation.
- Prepare scopes of work and estimates for evaluating and designing substations.
- Identify proper equipment sizing and order material.
- Ensure the maintenance and adherence of customer standards as it pertains to relay protection.
- Create drawing packages for substation relay protection that include wiring diagrams, schematics, protection panels, one-line, and three-line diagrams.
- Interface with clients and vendors.
- Perform load calculations for load panels, battery systems, voltage drop, and other various substation components.
- Perform substation field support and field pre-inspection for “turn-key” substation projects consisting of protection panels, circuit switchers, circuit breakers, transformers, control house, and supporting equipment.
- Mentor new engineers.
Ampirical is an Equal Opportunity Employer, meaning we do not discriminate based on the following characteristics in our hiring and employment practices: Age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religion or religious attire, marital status, pregnancy (child birth or related medical conditions), citizenship status or amnesty, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, sickle-cell trait, status as a tobacco user or non-user, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
ABOUT AMPIRICAL
At Ampirical, we're shaping the future of the power grid with precision, innovation, and purpose. Just as the ampere is the foundation of electric current, Ampirical is a core force driving the energy sector forward. We focus on quality, forward-thinking solutions, and empowering our team to grow and thrive.
We don’t just build projects—we build careers. If you’re looking for a place where your contributions matter and your professional development is supported every step of the way, we’d love to meet you. Watch this video to get a glimpse into our culture.
WHY AMPIRICAL?
- Salary Range: $92,000 - $180,000 (dependent on experience, education, and qualifications)
- Profit-Sharing Bonus: Semi-annual, performance-based (10% to 20% of salary)
- Day-One Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k) with 4% match and immediate vesting
- PTO: Starting at 80 hours of vacation & 40 hours of sick time per year + 10 paid holidays
- Flexible Work Schedule: Every other Friday off
- Career Development: Advancement opportunities, tuition reimbursement
- Perks: Gym membership stipend, wellness program, fertility benefits, pet insurance, and more
JOB SUMMARY
The Relay Protection and Controls Engineer is responsible for the design and procurement of protective relaying equipment for substations, switchyards, and transmission lines. They are accountable for adherence to and revisions of design/construction scope processes. The Senior Engineer works closely with the client to ensure quality design to meet client's standards and provides field support to the client during construction activities as required.
WHO YOU ARE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited university
- 4+ years of experience engineering/designing electrical systems within the Utilities or Energy industry
- Experience with ETAP, WinIGS, IEEE 88/998
- Experience using Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Bentley MicroStation and/or Bentley Substation software to develop 2D drawings or 3D models are a plus.
- PE Certification
- Knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following skillsets: SCADA, automation, relay settings, RTU configuration, and Protection & Controls engineering terms and concepts are a plus.
- Experience working with the electric utility industry or petro-chemical industry.
- BSEE Degree with 6+ years of experience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify proper protection and control schemes for transmission and distribution substations.
- Select proper protection devices for equipment within a substation.
- Prepare scopes of work and estimates for evaluating and designing substations.
- Identify proper equipment sizing and order material.
- Ensure the maintenance and adherence of customer standards as it pertains to relay protection.
- Create drawing packages for substation relay protection that include wiring diagrams, schematics, protection panels, one-line, and three-line diagrams.
- Interface with clients and vendors.
- Perform load calculations for load panels, battery systems, voltage drop, and other various substation components.
- Perform substation field support and field pre-inspection for “turn-key” substation projects consisting of protection panels, circuit switchers, circuit breakers, transformers, control house, and supporting equipment.
- Mentor new engineers.
Ampirical is an Equal Opportunity Employer, meaning we do not discriminate based on the following characteristics in our hiring and employment practices: Age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religion or religious attire, marital status, pregnancy (child birth or related medical conditions), citizenship status or amnesty, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, sickle-cell trait, status as a tobacco user or non-user, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
Controls Engineer Job Roles in California
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Search Controls Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaControls Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for controls engineers in California?
California's largest controls engineer sponsors include Tesla, Chevron, Northrop Grumman, Applied Materials, and Lam Research. Aerospace and defense contractors in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas file H-1B petitions regularly for controls and automation roles. Semiconductor equipment manufacturers in the Bay Area and Sacramento region also have consistent sponsorship track records for this specialty.
Which visa types are most common for controls engineer roles in California?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for controls engineers in California, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify for the TN visa under the engineer category. Candidates with extraordinary ability in automation or advanced manufacturing may explore the O-1A.
Which cities in California have the most controls engineer sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area leads, driven by semiconductor and clean-tech manufacturing in San Jose, Fremont, and Santa Clara. Los Angeles and the South Bay corridor are strong for aerospace and defense controls roles. Sacramento has growing demand tied to utility infrastructure and agricultural automation. San Diego's defense contracting sector also produces consistent sponsorship opportunities for controls engineers.
How to find controls engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa sponsorship, so you can search controls engineer roles in California without sorting through employers who don't sponsor. The platform surfaces positions from aerospace, semiconductor, energy, and industrial automation companies across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, saving significant time for candidates on visa timelines who need confirmed sponsorship from the outset.
Are there state-specific factors controls engineers should know about sponsorship in California?
California's high cost of living means prevailing wage requirements under the H-1B can be substantial, and employers are aware of this when budgeting sponsorship. The state's strong engineering university pipeline from UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Davis means employers are accustomed to sponsoring recent graduates. California's strict worker protections also apply to sponsored employees, which most established sponsors already account for in their hiring processes.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored controls engineer jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.