Senior Director, Controls And Automation

Clear Engineering Recruitment Ltd; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 153,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Engineering Recruitment Ltd is recruiting for a Director of Controls & BMS - Data Centre in the United Kingdom. The role leads BMS, controls and automation strategy across a portfolio of data centre projects throughout EMEA, acting as the regional technical authority.

You will develop standardised architectures and representative engineering standards to enable scalable delivery. The candidate will oversee design through commissioning and handover, manage risks with consultants and

Job description

Director of Controls & BMS - Data Centre

Salary up to £170,000 + Bonus + Package

United Kingdom

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced BMS & Controls leader to take ownership of controls strategy, technical standards and engineering delivery across a growing portfolio of data centre infrastructure throughout EMEA.

This is a high-impact leadership role within a major data centre organisation, offering the opportunity to shape how Building Management Systems are designed, standardised, integrated and commissioned across complex, mission-critical environments.

Combining strategic influence with hands‑on technical leadership, you will act as the regional authority for BMS, controls and automation, working closely with engineering, construction, commissioning and operations teams to deliver reliable, scalable and repeatable solutions across multiple European projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead BMS, controls and automation strategy across a portfolio of data centre projects throughout EMEA, acting as the regional technical authority.
• Develop and implement standardised BMS architectures, control philosophies, specifications and engineering standards to support scalable delivery.
• Provide technical oversight from concept and detailed design through construction, commissioning, Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and operational handover.
• Review and approve technical designs, drawings, specifications and submissions, ensuring effective integration with critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure.
• Establish standards for controls hardware, software, networks, communications, graphics, alarms, resilience and cybersecurity.
• Oversee commissioning strategies, functional testing and acceptance criteria, including failure scenario testing and validation of system performance.
• Provide technical guidance on complex BMS and controls challenges, particularly involving chilled water systems, chillers, pumps, valves and free cooling.
• Manage consultants, contractors and specialist suppliers, proactively identifying and mitigating technical, programme, integration and commissioning risks.
• Lead and develop a regional specialist team, coordinating resources and priorities across multiple projects and supporting future team growth.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders across engineering, construction, commissioning, operations and commercial functions to drive technical excellence and successful project delivery.

Desired Experience

• Extensive experience in BMS, controls engineering, building automation or industrial automation, supported by a strong technical and engineering background.
• Significant experience delivering hyperscale data centres or comparable mission-critical infrastructure projects.
• A strong understanding of the complete project lifecycle, including design, construction, commissioning, IST and operational handover.
• Proven experience developing BMS standards, control philosophies, system architectures and repeatable engineering solutions.
• Deep technical knowledge of PLCs, DDC controllers, SCADA, controls logic, sequences of operation and system integration.
• Strong understanding of data centre mechanical systems, particularly chilled water plant, chiller sequencing, pump controls and free cooling.
• Familiarity with BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA, controls networks, system resilience and cybersecurity principles.
• Experience overseeing functional testing, commissioning, failure scenarios, alarm management and operational performance optimisation.
• Demonstrable leadership experience, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, manage specialist teams and oversee contractors across multiple locations.
• A degree or equivalent practical experience in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Automation, Mechatronics or a related discipline.