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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Company Description
NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.
Job Description
The Controls Engineer II is responsible for implementing sustaining solutions, as well as performing design modifications to ride and show system elements to improve safety, reliability, operational readiness, diagnostics, and serviceability.
The successful Controls Engineer II works in a fast-paced environment and is adaptable, cooperative, enthusiastic, optimistic, dependable, consistent, patient, diligent, and attentive to detail, with strong self-discipline.
The Technical Services Controls Engineering department is responsible for sustaining existing ride and show systems and participating in design reviews, installation and commissioning, and validation of new ride and show systems designed by outside vendors.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Safety-related control system design, implementation, validation, and sustainment, including all associated design and documentation deliverables
- Generating and implementing engineering changes (hardware, software, and documentation) to sustain ride and show control systems
- Design, development, documentation, analysis, testing, and modification of safety-related control and computing systems
- Supporting downtime response and recovery by troubleshooting control systems and coordinating follow-up corrective actions
- Reviewing and validating vendor and/or peer engineering designs, installations/implementations, and test documentation
- Generating maintenance procedure and manual updates, as well as preparing and delivering maintenance training for controls equipment
- Supporting new attractions and major overhauls/refurbishments (primarily controls system updates) through design reviews, commissioning support, and validation
- Performing root cause analysis (RCA), documenting findings, and driving program/process improvements to reduce repeat downtime events
Salary Range: $125,000 - $145,000
Qualifications
- 4+ years of experience in the field of Control Systems Engineering
- Strong critical thinking and complex troubleshooting skills
- Strong documentation skills
- Strong communication skills
- High degree of tact and diplomacy to obtain favorable decisions or maintain goodwill
- Generation of risk assessments and associated documentation (safety requirement specification, FMEA, etc.)
- Experience with:
- Rockwell Automation products and software
- Motor control and VFDs
- PLCs/PACs and IPCs
- Server-based HMI systems (e.g., FactoryTalk View SE, Ignition)
- Closed-loop motion control and servo system
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in the theme park industry
- Experience with:
- Siemens S7 controllers and software
- Beckhoff CX controllers and software (TwinCAT)
- Network systems and components
- Server-based HMI systems (e.g., FactoryTalk View SE, Ignition)
- Version control systems (e.g., Git)
- Python development
- Show control
- Audio, video, projection and lighting systems
- Application of UL 508A, NEC, NFPA, and ASTM F24 standards
- Application of functional safety standards (ISO 12100, 13849-1, 13849-2, IEC 62061 and 60204-1). TÜV Functional Safety certification is a plus.
Additional Information
As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.
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.