Data Center COE Senior PLC Technician

ABB Inc.; Maryland; Remote; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Short term disability

Long term disability

401(k)

Employee discount

Job summary

ABB Inc. is seeking a Data Center Sr. PLC Technician to lead pre-startup, startup, commissioning, and maintenance of paralleling switchgear and PLC-based controls in mission-critical power applications.

The role requires extensive nationwide travel, customer liaison, and hands-on leadership of on-site teams. You will mentor junior staff, coordinate complex tests, and ensure safe, compliant field execution.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with 7+ years of field experience or associate/bachelor with 5+ years in a related field.
• Demonstrated independent field capability on highly complex assignments.
• Advanced experience with MV/LV switchgear, breakers, relays, generator and PLC-based controls.
• Hands-on startup and commissioning leadership, energization, and scheduling under pressure.
• Ability to read and redline electrical/control drawings and apply engineering methods in the field.
• Strong analytical, communication, and field leadership skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively across the United States; meet site access and safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute complex field assignments involving paralleling switchgear and PLC/Relay schemes.
• Lead testing of emergency power systems, transfers, and load management.
• Configure and troubleshoot generator controls, relays, and PLCs.
• Perform advanced PLC ladder logic modifications following change-control processes.
• Establish and troubleshoot PLC communications and BMS/SCADA links.
• Interpret drawings and coordination studies; document procedures and test results.
• Direct on-site execution, manage punch-lists, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians; provide safe, efficient guidance.
• Act as senior escalation resource for remote/on-site troubleshooting.

Skills

Field leadership

Troubleshooting

Electrical/controls reading

MV/LV switchgear

PLC/Relay controls

Travel readiness

Team coordination

Education

High school diploma or GED +7 years field experience

Tools

GE/Emerson RX3i PLCs

Proficy Machine Edition

ABB AC500/Automation Builder

CP600 HMI/Panel Builder

Cimplicity

Modbus/industrial Ethernet tools

Job description

life insurance, parental leave, paid holidays, short term disability, long term disability, 401(k), employee discount

United States, Maryland

Oct 03, 2026

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner-and every person here makes that happen. You'll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Service Manager

__

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we'll give you what you need to make it happen. It won't always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you'll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

As a Data Center Sr. PLC Technician, 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

This is a highly travel-intensive position requiring extensive nationwide travel to customer locations across the United States. Success in this role requires the ability and willingness to spend significant time traveling and working at customer sites. Candidates seeking limited travel should carefully consider this requirement before applying. Comprehensive travel accommodations, lodging, and per diem are provided.

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 highly complex assignments.
• Advanced experience with low- and medium-voltage 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.

Why ABB?

What's in it for you

We want you to bring your full self to work-your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You'll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.

ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff…?

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.

For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff…?

Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.

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.

ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees

Go 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 off

ABB 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.