Controls Engineer

Opticool Technologies; Town of Webster (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

OptiCool Technologies designs and manufactures high-performance cooling systems for data centers, specializing in two-phase rear-door solutions. We seek a Controls Engineer to design and develop control systems from concept through post-sale support, contributing to software, documentation, and product improvements.

You will work with project managers, mechanical and software engineers to define requirements, develop advanced control systems, validate PLCs, and maintain libraries across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in system design and PLC programming development.
• Proficiency in CAD software for control design (SolidWorks Electrical preferred).
• Experience programming control systems; Allen-Bradley and Carel platforms are highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new products and electrical components in a collaborative environment, aligning with goals and requirements.
• Create and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Develop and implement control software for R&D and commercialized products with safety and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with project managers, mechanical and software engineers to define requirements.
• Develop advanced control systems including PID, fault-tolerance, redundancy, and self-learning features.
• Develop control narratives, shutdown sequences, flow charts, and interface control documentation for system understanding.
• Test and validate PLC systems for reliability and performance.
• Maintain control hardware and software libraries across the product lifecycle.
• Enhance designs for performance, reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability.
• Provide technical assistance to Service, Installation, and Applications teams.
• Travel occasionally to supplier and customer sites.

Skills

PLC programming

Ladder logic

Structured text

Modbus

BACnet

SNMP

Project collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks Electrical

Job description

Position Summary

OptiCool designs and manufactures high-performance, energy-efficient cooling systems for modern data centers. We specialize in two-phase rear-door cooling solutions that enable higher rack densities, lower energy consumption, and scalable deployments.

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to join our collaborative engineering team. In this role, you will play a key part in the design and development of control systems for innovative cooling solutions. From concept through post-sale support, you will contribute to design, programming, documentation, and continuous product improvement. You will also provide cross-functional support and contribute to OptiCool's quality-first approach.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and develop new products and electrical components in a hands-on, collaborative environment, ensuring alignment with project goals and technical requirements.
• Create and maintain accurate, detailed electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Develop and implement control software for both R&D and commercialized products, ensuring functionality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with project managers, mechanical engineers, and software engineers to define project requirements and specifications.
• Develop advanced control systems, including PID, fault-tolerant, redundant, and self-learning systems.
• Develop detailed control narratives, process shutdown sequences, process flow charts, and interface control documentation to provide a comprehensive understanding of system functionality and interactions.
• Conduct thorough testing and validation of PLC systems to ensure reliability and performance.
• Maintain controls hardware and software libraries to support all phases of the product lifecycle, from R&D through obsolescence.
• Enhance existing product designs to improve performance, reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability.
• Provide technical assistance and troubleshooting support to Service, Installation, and Applications teams.
• Travel occasionally to supplier and customer sites to support development, testing, and deployment activities.

Required Qualifications (Education, Experience, Knowledge, and Skills)

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in system design and PLC programming development.
• Proficiency in developing control system design packages using CAD software (SolidWorks Electrical preferred).
• Experience programming control systems; Allen-Bradley and Carel platforms are highly desired.
• Proficiency in PLC programming languages, such as ladder logic and structured text.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols, including Modbus, BACnet, and SNMP.
• Strong focus on designing for manufacturability and serviceability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with experience in technical documentation and data analysis.
• Knowledge of refrigerants, refrigeration components, or equipment-based cooling systems is a strong plus.