Experienced Controls Engineer (Irvine, CA)

Who are you?

You are an experienced engineer who enjoys solving complex problems at the system level and takes pride in delivering high-quality work. You are curious about technology, driven to get the details right, and motivated to create solutions that provide lasting value for clients and their operations.

You thrive when working alongside talented peers who challenge your thinking, review your work, and share your commitment to continuous improvement. You take ownership, communicate clearly, and understand that successful project delivery requires both technical excellence and strong collaboration.

You are interested in growing as a professional and want to work with team members who share your standards, work ethic, and commitment to doing things right the first time.

What is the role?

We’re seeking experienced engineers to join our growing team and support the design, implementation, commissioning, and maintenance of mission-critical industrial control systems.

This role provides the opportunity to work across the full engineering project lifecycle while developing and applying expertise in controls, automation, networking, low-voltage panels, SQL and database systems, virtualization, PLCs, and HMIs. You’ll support multiple client projects and serve as a subject matter expert and trusted technical resource for both clients and internal teams.

Our projects serve process-driven industries, including water and wastewater, chemical, life sciences, and manufacturing. Clients typically operate mission-critical facilities, processes, and plants where reliability is essential. Project environments may include medium- to large-scale SCADA applications, 10–30 virtualized computers, four or more layered networks, 1–50 field controllers, redundant data servers, and data streams to business systems.

This is an in-office position based in Irvine, California, with an expectation of working in the office five days per week.

What do you get?

This role offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging projects where reliability, quality, and long-term value are essential. You’ll contribute to solutions that support critical industrial processes and facilities while gaining exposure to a wide range of engineering disciplines, technologies, and client environments.

You’ll work alongside experienced professionals who value thoughtful design, strong documentation, peer collaboration, and continuous improvement. You’ll have the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor to clients, contribute to new opportunities, and grow into broader technical and project leadership responsibilities.

Projects typically range from approximately $50,000 to $3 million and may last from one month to three years. Engineers generally support one to four active projects at a time, providing variety while maintaining meaningful ownership of project outcomes.

What will you do?

• Operate in accordance with EA’s seven core values and contribute to an accountability-driven, collaborative team environment.
• Meet or exceed annual team performance targets.
• Provide engineering services including consulting, design, implementation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Design, implement, and commission industrial control and automation systems.
• Support the design and implementation of:
  • Industrial networking systems
  • Low-voltage control panels
  • SQL and database systems
  • Virtualized environments
  • PLC systems
  • HMI systems
  • SCADA applications
• Apply systems-thinking principles by clearly articulating the broader impacts of technical decisions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical consultant during client and team interactions.
• Proactively, clearly, and routinely communicate with team members, project managers, clients, and company leadership.
• Execute projects in accordance with EA’s engineering practices, quality methodologies, and project delivery standards.
• Deliver projects that meet client and EA expectations while remaining within approved scope, schedule, and budget.
• Follow EA’s disciplined project methodology to produce high-quality, reliable, and well-documented solutions.
• Identify, communicate, and help mitigate project risks throughout all phases of project execution.
• Provide technical mentorship, training, guidance, and support to other team members.
• Participate in design reviews, technical discussions, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and client meetings.
• Support proposals, technical scoping, estimates, and new business opportunities as needed.
• Develop and maintain accurate engineering documentation, drawings, specifications, and project records.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and the development of engineering standards and best practices.

What do you need to bring?

• Minimum of five years of professional industry experience.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering is required.
• Chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering degree is preferred.
• Controls engineering, process control, automation, or systems integration experience is preferred.
• Experience working with Electrical, Instrumentation, and Control Systems Integration specifications, including CSI MasterFormat specifications.
• Experience designing, implementing, and commissioning one or more of the following:
  • Industrial networking systems
  • Low-voltage control panels
  • SQL and database systems
  • Virtualized environments
  • PLC systems
  • HMI systems
  • SCADA applications
• Strong systems-thinking ability and sound technical judgment.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Strong planning, organization, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team.
• Commitment to quality, safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work in the Irvine, California office five days per week.

Who are we?

Enterprise Automation and Digital Systems Group, a Tetra Tech company, is a leading professional services firm specializing in automation consulting and systems integration. We serve a variety of process-driven industries, including water and wastewater, oil and gas, life sciences, materials handling, energy, chemical, and manufacturing.

As a premier professional services firm, building our business is synonymous with investing in our team—an investment that begins long before onboarding. We invest in recruiting to ensure we hire the right people and maximize collaboration across the team. On your first day, you’ll be personally welcomed by EA’s Leadership Team and begin our structured training program. After initial training, employee development plans help keep everyone accountable while pursuing continuous improvement.

In an average week, our team members participate in company-sponsored fitness programs, catered lunch-and-learns, and opportunities to stay mentally, socially, and physically active. Our culture has been recognized as one of Orange County’s best places to work, with company culture awards dating back to 2018.

We never overstate our abilities or compromise our standards. Many of our clients seek collaborative, long-term relationships with their systems integrator, and our proven methodologies and best practices help ensure their high expectations are met. We are successful because we believe in and live our core values.

Location: Irvine, California office; in-office five days per week

Salary range: $115,000–$135,000 annually

Benefits: Fully employer-paid healthcare coverage options, 401(k) with up to a 3% employer match, and a minimum of 23 days of paid time off annually

Administrative info:

Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000 annually

Number of openings: 2

Desired Start Date: 

Location Office: Irvine, CA

Department: Engineering

EEO Type: Technical

Job Industry: Engineering

Job Function: Design