This position reports to:Service Manager
As a
Senior PLC Technician - Data Center Power Systems, you will be responsible for independent technical leadership for the pre-startup, startup, commissioning, modification, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of ABB paralleling switchgear and controls in mission-critical power applications. The successful candidate will, among other duties, lead complex on-site activities, guide junior field resources, and serve as a trusted technical interface for customers, contractors, commissioning agents, project teams, and design engineering.
The work model for the role is:
Remote in the US with up to 80% regional/nationwide travel
Your Responsibilities:- Plan, organize, and execute complex field assignments involving Paralleling Switchgear and other PLC/Relay transfer schemes during pre-startup, full startup, commissioning, modifications, preventive maintenance, and emergency troubleshooting.
- Lead functional and integrated testing of emergency/standby power systems, including open-transition and closed-transition sequences, hard and soft transfers, load add/shed, utility-generator paralleling, import/export, and baseload applications.
- Configure, verify, and troubleshoot generator controls, generator load-sharing systems, protective relays, switchgear controls, meters, breakers, PLCs, HMIs/ACS platforms, and associated communications.
- Perform advanced troubleshooting and authorized modifications of PLC ladder logic, PLC I/O, communications, sequencing, and ACS parameters using approved engineering documentation and change-control practices.
- Establish and troubleshoot Modbus, PLC-to-PLC, redundant PLC, remote PLC, PLC-to-ACS, and customer BMS/EPMS/SCADA communications.
- Interpret one-line diagrams, elementary schematics, interconnection drawings, sequence-of-operations documents, coordination studies, settings files, and commissioning procedures.
- Lead on-site technical execution, coordinate daily work, communicate status and risks, manage punch-list closure, and support on-time, on-budget completion of complex or high-profile projects.
- Direct and mentor junior field engineers and technicians, assign work within demonstrated competencies, and provide practical coaching on safe execution, troubleshooting, documentation, and customer communication.
- Act as a senior escalation resource for high-level remote and on-site troubleshooting, including emergency response where assigned.
- Complete accurate field service reports, startup checklists, redlines, test documentation, software backups, time entry, expense reporting, and customer-facing status updates.
- Protect ABB and customer assets, control job costs and expenditures, and identify opportunities to improve quality, productivity, and service delivery.
- Build effective customer relationships by translating complex technical findings into clear actions, recommendations, risks, and recovery plans.
Qualifications:- High school diploma or GED with 7+ years of relevant field experience, or an associate or bachelor degree with 5+ years in a related field.
- Demonstrated independent field capability on highly complex assignments.
- Advanced experience with low and medium voltage switchgear, paralleling switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, generator controls, PLC-based controls, HMIs/ACS, industrial networking, and mission-critical power systems.
- Hands-on experience leading startup and commissioning activities, coordinating energization and switching, troubleshooting under schedule pressure, and directing multi-person site teams.
- Ability to read, interpret, and redline complex electrical and control drawings and to apply approved engineering methods in the field.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, customer communication, technical reporting, and field leadership skills.
- Ability to travel extensively within the United States and remain at customer sites for extended assignments based on project demand.
- Ability to meet ABB and customer site access, electrical safety, training, and personal protective equipment requirements.
- Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States without requiring ABB sponsorship, where applicable to the requisition.
Preferred Technical Experience:- ABB Energy Commander or comparable paralleling switchgear and controls.
- GE/Emerson RX3i PLCs and Proficy Machine Edition; ABB AC500 and Automation Builder; CP600 HMI/Panel Builder; Cimplicity or comparable supervisory platforms.
- Woodward EasyGen and LS5 generator controls and load-sharing systems.
- ABB, SEL/Schweitzer, Multilin, Basler, or Woodward protective relays and associated testing or configuration tools.
- Modbus, industrial Ethernet, fiber-optic networks, redundant control networks, BMS, EPMS, and SCADA integration.
- Low- and medium-voltage breaker testing, CT/PT verification, relay testing, primary/secondary injection, turns-ratio, winding-resistance, insulation, power-factor, hipot, phase-rotation, and related commissioning test equipment.
- Utility paralleling, emergency standby generation, complex load management, data center commissioning, and coordination with third-party commissioning agents.
While base salary is determined by things such as the successful applicant's qualifications and experience, this position is expected to pay between $40/hr. and $65/hr, and is
overtime and
double time eligible.
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employeesGo to myBenefitsABB.com and click on "Candidate/Guest" to learn more
Health, Life & Disability- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
- Vision benefit
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
- Voluntary life and AD&D - 100% employee paid up to maximums
- Short Term Disability - up to 26 weeks - Company paid
- Long Term Disability - 60% of pay - Company paid. Ability to "buy-up" to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits - 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
- Parental Leave - up to 6 weeks
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
- Employee discount program
Retirement- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
Time offABB provides 11 paid holidays. Vacation is provided based on years of service for hourly and non-exempt positions.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit
https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
