Application Engineer - Data Centers

Vertech; Arizona; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertech is seeking an Applications Engineer for Data Center Controls & SCADA to translate customer needs into precise technical scope and proposals. You will bridge business development with estimating, conducting discovery, and collaborating with engineering teams to deliver accurate, professional documents.

You will interpret drawings and diagrams, evaluate system requirements, and develop cost estimates for labor, materials, and hardware, while ensuring clear communication with customers.

Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or technical school training in electrical systems, mechanical systems, or controls.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Strong ability to read drawings and interpret electrical and P&ID diagrams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with customers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Interface directly with Data Center clients to evaluate system requirements for controls and SCADA solutions.
• Lead technical discovery conversations to clarify objectives, constraints and operating requirements.
• Translate customer requirements into clearly defined technical scope and specifications.
• Develop formal proposals aligned with brand standards and pricing.
• Support change management by evaluating scope changes and producing change orders.

Skills

Customer engagement

Technical discovery

Estimating fundamentals

Reading drawings

Communication skills

Industry standards

Education

2-year technical degree

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Application Engineer – Data Center Controls & SCADA

At Vertech, we design and deliver world‑class industrial automation and controls solutions for some of the most demanding environments in the world. From traditional manufacturing to mission‑critical infrastructure like Data Centers, our team thrives on solving complex problems, turning ambiguity into clarity, and delivering systems our clients can depend on.

Position Summary

The Application Engineer – Data Center Controls & SCADA is a customer‑facing technical role responsible for developing project scope, estimates, and proposals for controls and SCADA systems within the Data Center end market. This role bridges the gap between business development and detailed estimating—owning technical discovery, translating loosely defined requirements into firm specifications, and producing accurate, professional proposals.

This position requires strong technical fundamentals, the ability to interpret drawings and diagrams, and exceptional communication skills to collaborate directly with customers in fast‑paced and loosely structured environments.

What You Will Be Doing

Customer & Technical Interface

• Interface directly with Data Center clients to evaluate system requirements for controls and SCADA solutions
• Lead technical discovery conversations to clarify customer objectives, constraints, and operating requirements
• Translate verbal, conceptual, or incomplete customer requirements into clearly defined technical scope
• Serve as a technical liaison between customers, sales, and internal engineering teams

Scope Development & Estimating

• Read and interpret:
  • Floor layout drawings
  • Single‑line electrical diagrams
  • P&ID diagrams
• Convert drawings, diagrams, and customer inputs into:
  • Clearly defined Scope of Work (SOW)
  • Technical narratives
  • RFP and proposal language
• Create cost estimates including:
  • Engineering labor
  • Field labor (as applicable)
  • Hardware and material bills of material (BOM)
• Validate assumptions and document exclusions, constraints, and risks

Proposal & Commercial Support

• Develop formal, professional proposals aligned with Vertech’s brand standards
• Work closely with Business Development and Estimating teams to support opportunity strategy
• Ensure proposals accurately reflect technical scope, pricing, and customer expectations

Change Management

• Manage customer‑initiated scope changes during pursuit and pre‑award phases
• Evaluate change requests against original scope and assumptions
• Develop and present change order proposals to capture additional costs and effort

Execution Support

• Support project handoff to engineering and project management teams
• Clarify scope intent and assumptions to ensure successful execution

Core Competencies

• Reading floor layout and facility drawings
• Reading single‑line electrical diagrams
• Reading and interpreting P&ID diagrams
• Converting drawings and diagrams into actionable scope of work
• Translating vague or high‑level requirements into firm technical specifications
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication
• Customer engagement and expectation management

Experience & Capabilities

• 2–5 years of experience in technical and customer‑facing roles within:
  • Construction
  • Electrical systems
  • Controls or automation
  • Engineering services
• Strong foundational knowledge of:
  • Electrical systems
  • Mechanical systems
  • Industrial controls and automation
  • Facility or infrastructure engineering (Data Center experience preferred)
• Ability to work effectively in fast‑paced, loosely structured environments
• Strong understanding of estimating fundamentals, labor costs, and material pricing

Education

• 2‑year technical degree or technical school training in:
  • Electrical systems
  • Mechanical systems
  • Controls or automation
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience

Skills & Attributes

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate confidently with customers and internal teams
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Highly responsive and focused on timeliness and follow‑through
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and incomplete information
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred (Not Required)

• Exposure to Data Center infrastructure, mission‑critical facilities, or regulated environments
• Familiarity with PLC, HMI, and SCADA platforms
• Experience supporting sales pursuits or pre‑sales engineering activities