Principal Operations Engineer, Controls-Data Center OperationsThis is a full-time exempt (40+ hours/week), remote role within the United States with up to 75% travel.
SummaryWe are seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority for Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), PLC platforms, and equipment-level controls across a rapidly expanding portfolio of mission-critical data centers.
This role will establish controls standards, govern fleet-wide change management, oversee operational readiness, and ensure consistent controls performance across all facilities. The Principal Controls Engineer will drive continuous improvement initiatives, lead controls-related investigations, and provide technical leadership throughout the full facility lifecycle-from design and commissioning through steady-state operations.
The position requires extensive field engagement and close collaboration with operations, commissioning, manufacturing, and design teams to support scalable, repeatable infrastructure deployments.
Key Responsibilities- Serve as the senior technical authority for BMS, EPMS, PLC systems, and equipment-level controls across the data center portfolio
- Review, approve, and govern all significant controls modifications through established change management processes
- Establish and enforce controls standards, architecture guidelines, and operational best practices
- Lead technical audits of controls systems, including:
- Sequence of operations validation
- Alarm management
- Trend analysis
- System integration health
- Cybersecurity assessments
- Develop and manage remediation plans to address controls-related deficiencies through resolution
- Provide final controls approval for operational readiness and transition from commissioning to ongoing operations
- Partner with engineering, commissioning, and manufacturing teams to incorporate operational lessons learned into future designs
- Support development of repeatable and modular controls architectures for standardized data center deployments
- Author and approve high-risk:
- Methods of Procedure (MOPs)
- Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs)
- Abnormal Operating Procedures (AOPs)
- Lead root cause investigations for controls-related incidents and operational events
- Review controls sequences and ensure alignment with facility performance, reliability, and safety objectives
- Support commissioning activities and controls validation across new facility deployments
- Provide technical mentorship and guidance to controls engineers, commissioning teams, and operations personnel
- Travel extensively to project sites and operating facilities throughout the portfolio
Our Ideal Candidate- 10+ years of experience in mission-critical facilities, industrial automation, data center controls, or building automation systems
- Extensive expertise with BMS, EPMS, PLC, and SCADA-based control systems
- Experience serving as the lead controls authority for large-scale data center, industrial, manufacturing, or critical infrastructure environments
- Deep understanding of control sequences, alarming strategies, trending, fault diagnostics, and system integration
- Proven experience managing change control processes for operationally critical systems
- Strong understanding of commissioning, startup, operational readiness, and turnover processes
- Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for complex controls events
- Knowledge of controls cybersecurity best practices and risk mitigation strategies
- Ability to develop and enforce technical standards across multiple sites and project teams
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills
- Willingness and ability to travel 50-75% of the time
Preferred Qualifications- Experience supporting hyperscale data centers or mission-critical facilities
- Expertise with major BMS platforms such as Schneider Electric, Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, or Tridium
- Experience with PLC platforms including Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar systems
- Familiarity with EPMS systems and electrical infrastructure monitoring
- Experience supporting modular construction or prefabricated infrastructure deployments
- Knowledge of industrial networking, integration protocols, and OT cybersecurity practices
- Experience developing controls standards, libraries, and repeatable deployment methodologies
- Background in commissioning automation and functional testing programs
Compensation & Benefits - The pay for this W-2 position ranges from [$96.15 - $129.81] per hour
- Medical Coverage: Two United Healthcare plans (PPO and HDHP with HSA), with employer contributions toward premiums; coverage begins the 1st of the month after 60 days of employment
- Dental & Vision: United Healthcare dental with 100% preventive care coverage and vision benefits for exams, frames, lenses, or contacts
- Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling plus additional wellness and care navigation resources
- Retirement & Savings: 401(k) eligible after 30 days with automatic 6% enrollment (opt-out available), 1% annual increases up to 10%, plus HSA with up to $480 employer contribution
- Voluntary Benefits: Employee-paid accident insurance and critical illness coverage for major health events
