Viavisolutions
Senior Automation/Controls Engineer
Santa Rosa, CA USA · Senior
Sponsorship not specified$134k-$250kDetected 31 days ago
C#SQLLinuxCustomer SuccessPLCElectrical EngineeringControlsLabVIEWLeadershipCommunicationHMI
About the role
- VIAVI Solutions manufactures advanced optical thin-film and pigment coating products across a 24/7 production environment in Santa Rosa, CA, with additional sites in China and Arizona.
- This Controls Engineer position balances two priorities: keeping automation running in an active manufacturing operation, and leading new capital project work - machine installations, system upgrades, and next-generation automation platforms.
- For the right candidate, this role has a clear path into engineering leadership and management of VIAVI's Automation Controls group.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain PLC and HMI systems for manufacturing equipment
- Configure and commission motor drives, motion systems, and closed-loop control systems
- Design and administer SQL databases; manage industrial networks (Profibus, Ethernet/IP, OPC)
- Maintain source control, documentation, and change records for all control system work
- Lead or contribute to capital project scoping, scheduling, and execution
- Mentor junior engineers; collaborate across Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams
- ⚙ Manufacturing Support
- Prior team-lead experience
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Automation, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years in industrial controls/automation in a manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting automation in 24/7 or continuous production environments
- ability to read electrical schematics and P&IDs
- occasional international travel required
- If you have what it takes to push boundaries and seize opportunities, apply to join our team today.
- Excellent communication skills; occasional international travel required
Nice to have
- Preferred Skills
Skills
- Resolve PLC/HMI faults rapidly to restore production
- Support planned maintenance windows and change deployments
- Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions
- Improve control logic, alarming, and system reliability
- Partner closely with maintenance and operations teams
- Own automation scope on new machine installations
- Define PLC/HMI/network architecture for new systems
- Manage vendors, FAT/SAT, and project documentation
- Commission and validate systems into Operations
- Commission new automation hardware and software; integrate with existing infrastructure
- Demonstrate communication and leadership skills aligned with future management growth
Compensation
- 249,600 Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary.
Benefits
- Vision systems, vacuum coating processes, optics knowledge
- VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.
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This listing is sourced directly from Viavisolutions's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.