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Automation Engineer 7

CDM Smith

Carlsbad, CAJob$138–242K/yrSeen 6 days agoSeen in employer's feed 6 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$138–242K/yr
Location
Carlsbad, CA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

PE LicenseValid Driver's License

Job overview

The Automation Engineer leads teams designing instrumentation, controls, HMI, and PLC systems, and supports testing, startup, field inspections, and client requirements. The role also develops technical documentation, operations and maintenance manuals, and end-user training. It provides direction and mentoring to junior staff and contributes to proposals and client presentations. Travel may be required, and U.S. visa sponsorship is not available.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Instrumentation and Controls DesignPLCHMICommunicationClient RelationsMicrosoft Office3D and 4D Design

Qualifications

PE License12 Years Relevant ExperienceValid Driver's LicenseBachelor's in Engineering or Related

Full job description

Company Overview

Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! (https://www.cdmsmith.com/resources/videos/meet-cdm-smith)

Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold.

Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.

Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Description

  • With high-level goals provided, leads teams to create moderately to highly complex instrumentation, controls and related systems designs using 3D and 4D drafting programs. Develops basic technical memoranda related to design issues for clients. Prepares preliminary design reports (PDRs) under limited supervision. Works with clients to define user requirements and prepares and documents technical requirements to be used by programmers.

  • Reviews basic to highly complex component level shop drawings. Provides responses to requests for information (RFIs) under supervision. Performs field acceptance testing (FATs) and field inspections.

  • With high-level goals provided, leads teams to create moderately to highly complex human-machine interface (HMI) designs, programmable logic controllers (PLC), reports, etc. Prepares level of effort estimates (LOEs).

  • Leads testing and startup team for basic to moderately complex instrumentation, controls and related systems independently with minimal supervision. Responsible for testing and startup documentation completion and quality assurance filing.

  • Independently develops basic to highly complex operations & Maintenance manuals for designed instrumentation, controls and related systems.

  • Independently develops systems training for end users. Develops training plans for all level of client's organization.

  • Leads teams of more junior staff and provides direction and mentoring. Reviews the work of junior staff as necessary. Provides feedback on client relationships and career issues.

  • Leads the development of proposals and client presentations. Develops opportunities to expand contracts with existing clients.

  • Performs other duties as required.

Skills & Abilities

  • Expert knowledge of instrumentation, controls and related systems designs.

  • PLC and HMI experience required.

  • Excellent communication and client relation skills.

  • Strong knowledge of Microsoft office suite of programs. Expert knowledge of 3D and 4D design practices.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or in Engineering Technology or related discipline. Professional engineering (PE) license.

  • 12 years of relevant experience.

Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%

Driving Requirements

An appropriate and valid driver's license is required.

EEO Statement

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.

Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Visa Sponsorship Available

No-We will not support sponsorship in the United States, i.e. H-1B or TN Visas for this position

Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.

Pay Range Max

USD $241,966.00

Pay Range Min

USD $138,258.00

How this job compares

Set against the 2,351 open Automation Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$138–242K/yr
  • California median$130–181K/yr227 salary ranges
  • US median$103–152K/yr1,319 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $190K, is 23% above the California median midpoint ($155K) — in the top quarter of Automation Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 289 open Automation Engineer jobs in California and 2,351 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 12 years of experience — more than three in four Automation Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 1,966 postings).
Education
1,080 of the 2,351 open Automation Engineer jobs (46%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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