Operations, Controls Engineer

Equinix; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Equinix in Manchester is seeking an Operations Controls Engineer to ensure the performance, visibility and reliability of our critical data centre infrastructure. You’ll work across Manchester sites with engineering and operations teams to support monitoring, automation and controls systems aligned to high standards.

You will configure and validate assets in BMS and DCIM platforms, support power monitoring in BCM systems, and help optimise PUE/WUE metrics.

Qualifications

• Experience in controls engineering for critical facilities.
• Ability to interpret Sequences of Operation and electrical schematics.
• Experience with data collection and industrial communication protocols.
• Strong communication across technical and non-technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Configure, onboard and validate assets, alarms and monitoring points in BMS/DCIM.
• Support power circuit monitoring within BCM systems.
• Validate and optimise PUE/WUE metrics.
• Investigate and resolve data quality and integration issues across monitoring platforms.
• Support controls integrations, mapping, alarming strategies and data flows.
• Participate in commissioning, startup and testing activities for deployments.
• Collaborate with vendors, consultants and site teams to deliver projects.
• Develop technical documentation and implementation standards.

Skills

Strong troubleshooting

Schneider Electric PLCs

AVEVA System Platform

BACnet Modbus OPC

Controls engineering

Data centre awareness

IP networking basics

Stakeholder management

Tools

AVEVA System Platform

Kepware

Matrikon

Tridium / Niagara

Job description

• As an Operations Controls Engineer within our Data Center Services Team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the performance, visibility and reliability of the critical infrastructure that powers the digital world. You’ll work across a diverse portfolio of data centres, collaborating with engineering, operations and technology teams to support advanced monitoring, automation and controls systems that keep our facilities running at the highest standards
• This role is for all our Manchester sites but is primarily based at Manchester MA5. The team spans across EMEA north countries and you may also have the opportunity to assist colleagues in those locations
• This is an exciting opportunity to work in a highly collaborative, global environment where you’ll constantly learn, solve complex problems and contribute to the continuous improvement of mission‑critical facilities
• Configure, onboard and validate assets, alarms and monitoring points within Building Management Systems (BMS) and Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms
• Support the implementation and validation of power circuit monitoring within Branch Circuit Monitoring (BCM) systems
• Validate and optimise infrastructure performance metrics, including Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE)
• Investigate and resolve data quality, integration, communication and controls performance issues across monitoring platforms
• Support controls integrations, validating point mapping, alarming strategies and data flows
• Identify opportunities to improve monitoring coverage, operational visibility, alarm quality and overall system performance
• Participate in commissioning, startup, testing and validation activities for controls and monitoring deployments
• Work closely with vendors, consultants, system integrators and site teams to deliver controls‑related projects successfully
• Contribute to the development of technical documentation, procedures and implementation standards
• Partner with regional operations teams, engineers and stakeholders across Equinix’s global portfolio
• Share knowledge, best practices and technical expertise to improve operational effectiveness and reliability
• Support a culture of continuous learning, innovation and operational excellence

• Strong troubleshooting skills across field devices, controllers, network components and supervisory systems
• Familiarity with one or more controls platforms, including Schneider Electric PLCs and AVEVA System Platform
• Ability to interpret Sequences of Operation, P&IDs, control drawings, electrical schematics and one‑line diagrams
• Experience with BACnet, Modbus and OPC communications protocols
• Experience in controls engineering, building automation, industrial controls or critical facility environments
• Understanding of IP networking concepts, including switches, routers, VLANs and network troubleshooting
• Knowledge of controls systems supporting electrical, HVAC, fire protection and other critical infrastructure
• Experience with data collection, protocol conversion or historian platforms such as Kepware, Matrikon or similar technologies
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical and non‑technical teams
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence collaborating with colleagues, vendors and partners across multiple countries and cultures
• A proactive, customer‑focused approach with excellent problem‑solving capabilities
• Experience within data centres, critical facilities, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors or similarly automated environments
• Exposure to commissioning, startup activities, functional testing or site acceptance testing
• Previous Trend, Tridium or Schneider Ecostruxure Building Operation experience