Senior Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer

Join Therma's dynamic team as a Senior Automation Engineer and play a key role in the design, implementation, and commissioning of advanced industrial automation solutions. This is a hands-on technical leadership position for an engineer who enjoys solving complex challenges, partnering directly with customers, and delivering projects from concept through startup.

You'll have the opportunity to work on diverse greenfield and retrofit projects, leverage industry-leading automation technologies, mentor junior engineers, and help deliver innovative solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, and performance. If you're passionate about automation and thrive in a fast-paced, project-driven environment, we'd love to hear from you.

This role is for a senior-level engineer with significant ownership of automation system design, programming, and commissioning. It is a hands-on position that combines technical execution, problem solving, customer interaction, and project leadership. An opportunity to lead complex industrial automation projects from concept through startup while mentoring junior engineers.

This role is not a maintenance, controls technician, or production support role. It is not a project management position removed from the technical work. It is not a role focused solely on PLC programming, HMI development, or commissioning. It is not an entry-level engineering position.

Core responsibilities include leading the design and implementation for greenfield and automation retrofit projects, developing Functional Design Specifications and Sequence of Operations (SOO), programming and scripting PLC/DCS systems, creating and configuring HMI/SCADA graphics, defining and designing electrical and controls schematics, overseeing the development and execution of test protocols and managing commissioning activities, preparing close-out documentation and ensuring compliance, managing automation project budgets and timelines, mentoring junior team members and providing technical guidance, and serving as the primary customer interface for the automation and controls scopes.

Technical expertise includes PLC/DCS programming, HMI/SCADA development, networking & drives, data acquisition systems, control panel design, instrumentation, and programming skills.

Qualifications and requirements include a BS or higher in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent combination of education and experience), minimum 7+ years of relevant experience in industrial automation and controls, experience designing, programming, testing, and commissioning industrial control systems, strong written and verbal communication skills for specifications, technical documentation, and client interactions, ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment, and ability to travel locally and occasionally outside California.

Base salary: $155k-$195k per year. Notes: Actual compensation will be based on skills, experience, and work location, and may vary from the posted range. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.