How will you make an impact?Jabil is seeking a PLC Controls & Automation Engineer to serve as the technical authority for automation architecture across advanced liquid cooled factory and data center ecosystems. This role drives the controls strategy, standards and system level design for mission critical cooling infrastructure, spanning central plant through IT rack level systems. This engineer will lead with deep technical expertise showcasing an ability to outline architectures, author control philosophies and sequences of operations, ensuring scalability, write reliable and maintainable automation coding for solutions across multi-platform PLC environments.
Job Title: Principal PLC Controls & Automation Engineer
Organization: Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team
Location: Remote* OR Austin, TX
*Requires up to 20% domestic and/or international travel (rare)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESTechnical Leadership- Personally architect, build, and deploy PLC control systems for complex liquid cooled factory and data center environments, owning solutions from concept through commissioning.
- Write, structure, and maintain production grade PLC, SCADA and HMI code as the primary technical contributor, setting the bar for quality, performance and maintainability through direct execution.
- Establish engineering standards, templates, and reusable design frameworks.
- Lead design reviews, FAT/SAT validation strategies, and commissioning plans.
PLC & IPC-Based PLC & Advanced Programming (Multi-Platform Expertise)
- Design and implement PLC systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, GE and other industrial PLC ecosystems).
- Design and implement IPC/Soft PLC systems (Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens IPC, Codesys).
- Develop structured, modular control logic using IEC 61131-3 languages (ST, FBD, Ladder).
- Implement through direct coding, not delegation:
- Real-time control (EtherCAT, Profinet, Ethernet/IP)
- Advanced algorithms (PID, sequencing, state machines)
- Edge processing, data buffering, and protocol conversion (OPC UA, MQTT)
SCADA & HMI (Multi-Platform Expertise)
- Architect and deploy SCADA systems across platforms such as:
- Ignition, Siemens WinCC, Rockwell FactoryTalk
- AVEVA/Wonderware, Schneider Citect
- GE iFIX, Beckhoff HMI, web-based SCADA
- Design high-performance HMIs, alarm systems, and historian integration.
- Enable integration with MES, cloud platforms, and enterprise analytics systems.
Liquid Cooling System Implementation- Build and commission automation solutions for a full liquid cooling ecosystem including chillers and central plant systems, primary and secondary pumping loops, cooling distribution units (CDUs),heat exchangers and rack-level liquid cooling.
- Directly implement control strategies for flow, pressure, temperature, delta-T control, variable speed pumps and fans and load scaling for energy optimization.
Sequence of Operations (SOO) Ownership- Author, implement, and validate detailed Sequences of Operations personally, translating operational intent directly into PLC logic.
- Build SOO that are logic-ready, fault-tolerant, commissionable and maintainable
- Execute and refine SOO during FAT, SAT, and live operation based on observed system performance.
Leak Detection & Mitigation Execution- Design and implement leak detection and mitigation logic firsthand, integrating sensors, valves, pumps, and alarms directly into PLC control strategies.
- Focus on building automated responses for zone isolation, controlled shutdowns or ramp-downs, protection of IT equipment and critical infrastructure.
- Ensure fail safe behavior through tested and field-proven logic.
BMS & EPMS Integration- Integrate control systems with:
- BMS (HVAC, liquid cooling, environmental systems)
- EPMS (power monitoring, UPS, switchgear)
- Define and code data models, telemetry points and system boundaries through hands on configuration and validation.
- Implement communication via BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA.
- Enable unified system architecture across BMS, EPMS, PLC, and MES platforms.
- Support energy monitoring, alarm management, and event-driven control actions.
Commissioning & Field Execution- Lead commissioning through direct participation, including FAT, SAT, integrated systems testing and live startup.
- Serve as the primary technical executor during critical milestones and escalations.
- Tune and optimize systems in real operating conditions.
Standards Built Through Practice- Establish controls standards, architectures, and best practices by building and proving them in production systems.
- Mentor other engineers through working sessions, paired programming, and field execution, not design reviews alone.
- Drive continuous improvement by evolving standards based on operational data and lessons learned.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Creative, self-motivated, accountable, and team-oriented
- Able to work independently with minimal oversight
- Proficient in reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business publications, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations
- Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedural guides
- Effective at presenting information and responding to management, clients, and public queries
- Ability to mentor engineers and influence cross functional teams.
- Comfortable working as part of a global team
- Capable of assessing projects, articulating risks, and developing project milestones
- Familiar with stage-gate processes in project lifecycle management (PLCM)
- Able to mentor less experienced engineers
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTSRequired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or Controls Engineering
- 8+ years of progressive PLC and controls engineering experience.
- Demonstrated expert level proficiency in Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLC platforms.
- Proven experience owning controls architecture and SOO for complex automated systems.
- Strong background in industrial networking, instrumentation and control theory.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree preferred
- Deep experience with liquid-cooled data centers, high-density compute, or advanced thermal systems.
- Experience in critical facilities, NPI programs, or large-scale infrastructure deployments.
- Background in redundant systems, uptime driven design and risk mitigation.
The pay range for this role is $132,400 - $238,400. Job-related, non-discriminatory factors used to determine the actual offered rate include qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity. The anticipated close date of this job requisition is: June 30, 2026.
As part of the total rewards package, this position is eligible for a short-term incentive based on performance. In addition, Jabil offers benefits to enhance your health, wealth, and resilient self. These include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; paid time off accruing at a rate of 3.07 hours during your first year of employment; 4 weeks of paid parental leave; in 2026, 11 company-paid holidays (9 fixed holidays and 2 optional floating holidays), subject to change yearly; 401(k) retirement plan; and employee stock purchase plan.
