Engineering Manager – Critical Infrastructure

DLB Associates; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical plans

401(k) with company match

Professional development opportunities

Paid parental leave

Job summary

DLB Associates is hiring an Engineering Manager - Critical Infrastructure to lead hardware engineering for mission-critical projects. This position requires extensive expertise in PLC/SCADA and industrial control systems, focusing on large-scale data center applications. The ideal candidate should have at least 10 years of experience in BAS and engineering leadership, with strong technical standards and communication skills. The role offers remote work and a competitive salary range of $150,000 - $200,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of additional experience with BAS, EPMS, PLC, and/or SCADA controls engineering.
• Significant experience leading engineering execution for large-scale mission critical projects.
• Ability to work successfully in a remote environment through effective communication.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior hardware engineering leader for the Critical Infrastructure department.
• Ensure CI projects are set up for success, including technical strategy and review structure.
• Assign engineering resources based on project and staff development needs.

Skills

Expert knowledge of PLC and SCADA systems

Expert knowledge of hardware engineering for BAS

Skilled in developing and enforcing engineering standards

Skilled in leading engineering teams

Ability to communicate effectively

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Office Suite

Job description

Smart Tech Contracting delivers turnkey BAS & EPMS solutions for mission‑critical colocation and hyperscale data centers operating at national program scale. As a Master Systems Integrator (MSI), we unify controls construction (DDC, PLC, SCADA) with software engineering, optimized graphics/UI standards, and program‑level governance. Complex integrations are delivered cleanly, consistently, and fast. Our teams thrive in high‑stakes environments where quality control and uptime matter, schedules are compressed, and coordination is everything.

Engineering Manager – Critical Infrastructure

Location: Remote – work virtually from anywhere in the United States

Job Summary

The Engineering Manager – Critical Infrastructure is the senior hardware engineering leader for the Critical Infrastructure department and is accountable for engineering excellence across CI projects, including standards, technical quality, engineering resource alignment, and deliverable execution. This role leads the hardware engineering function for large‑scale and mega‑scale mission critical projects, with a primary focus on PLC/SCADA‑based control systems, industrial control panels, field integration, and related control system infrastructure.

Unlike traditional commercial BAS engineering roles centered on building‑level DDC applications, this position requires deep expertise in industrial‑grade control system design and the execution realities of hyperscale and other mission critical environments. The Critical Infrastructure department primarily delivers complex data center projects where controls solutions must support high reliability, redundancy, phased turnover, commissioning rigor, and integration across multiple systems, trades, vendors, and stakeholders.

This role also provides leadership for first‑of‑a‑kind programs, new client standards, and highly complex delivery models where project success depends on establishing sound technical frameworks, repeatable engineering methods, and the right technical talent on the project from the outset. The Engineering Manager – Critical Infrastructure partners closely with department leadership, software engineering leadership, project teams, and business development to help position projects for success, support strategic pursuits, and strengthen the department’s long‑term engineering capability.

This role is NOT responsible for software engineering management. Smart Tech Contracting maintains separate leadership for PLC programming and SCADA software standards and delivery. However, this role must work in close coordination with software leadership to ensure alignment between hardware engineering, software implementation, and overall project execution.

The Engineering Manager – Critical Infrastructure reports to the Director of Critical Infrastructure and also works closely with Engineering leadership, engineering managers in other departments, project managers, construction leaders, software leadership, BIM/VDC resources, business development teams, clients, vendors, and strategic partners.

Essential Functions

Department Engineering Leadership and Standards (30%)

• Serve as the senior hardware engineering leader for the Critical Infrastructure department, with primary accountability for PLC/SCADA‑based engineering execution across CI projects.
• Establish, maintain, and improve department standards, design practices, workflows, and deliverable expectations for mission critical control systems, industrial control panels, field integration, and related hardware engineering.
• Provide technical leadership for complex control system applications supporting central utility plants, technical water systems, airside systems, heat rejection systems, EPMS integrations, and other mission critical infrastructure.
• Partner with software engineering leadership to ensure alignment between hardware design and software implementation, while maintaining clear ownership of hardware engineering standards and deliverables.

Project Setup, Technical Oversight, and Quality (35%)

• Provide senior engineering leadership to ensure CI projects are set up for success, including technical strategy, review structure, resource alignment, and early identification of engineering risk.
• Lead or support engineering strategy for first‑of‑a‑kind programs, new client standards, and highly complex projects where execution depends on development of new frameworks, technical approaches, and repeatable delivery methods.
• Maintain accountability for the overall quality, consistency, and completeness of hardware engineering deliverables across the CI department.
• Ensure quality control processes and technical reviews are clearly defined and executed by Level 5 lead engineers and other designated reviewers.
• Intervene as needed on high‑risk, technically complex, or strategically important projects requiring senior‑level engineering leadership.

Resource Planning, Staffing, and Team Development (20%)

• Assign engineering resources based on project size, technical complexity, client requirements, schedule demands, and staff development needs.
• Partner with the Director of Engineering and Director of Critical Infrastructure on hiring, staffing strategy, organizational planning, and capability development for the CI engineering team.
• Develop technical leaders within the department and establish training priorities related to PLC platforms, SCADA systems, industrial control panels, mission critical applications, engineering standards, and review practices.
• Build department capability through standardization, mentoring, and continuous improvement to support large‑scale and mega‑scale CI growth.

Client, Preconstruction, and Cross‑Functional Leadership (15%)

• Support business development, preconstruction, and department leadership on upcoming opportunities by providing technical input on control architecture, engineering risk, staffing, and delivery approach.
• Participate in client‑facing discussions for major pursuits, first‑of‑a‑kind opportunities, and strategic programs requiring deep PLC/SCADA and mission critical engineering expertise.
• Coordinate with project management, construction leadership, BIM/VDC, procurement, commissioning, software leadership, and executive leadership to align engineering priorities with project and business objectives.
• Communicate engineering risks, quality concerns, staffing needs, and technical priorities clearly across the organization.

Completion of Assigned Tasks and Deliverables on Time and on Budget.

Position Requirements (advanced Level For All The Following)

• Expert knowledge of PLC and SCADA systems used in building automation and mission critical infrastructure applications, including industrial‑grade architectures, RIOS, DLRs, and best practices.
• Expert knowledge of hardware engineering for BAS and EPMS solutions in large, complex mission critical environments.
• Expert knowledge of industrial control panel design practices, component selection, layout considerations, panel integration, and constructability.
• Skilled in developing and enforcing engineering standards, review processes, and quality expectations across multiple concurrent projects.
• Skilled in leading engineering teams responsible for complex control system deliverables.
• Skilled in assigning resources and matching technical talent to project complexity and delivery needs.
• Skilled in navigating clients through BAS/EPMS project designs including identification of standards, needs, options, and tradeoffs.
• Skilled in evaluating first‑of‑a‑kind project requirements and establishing engineering strategies that reduce execution risk.
• Knowledge of construction design process, stakeholders, deliverables, and mission critical project execution workflows.
• Knowledge of data center HVAC applications, chilled water plants, heat rejection systems, airside systems, and associated control strategies.
• Knowledge of instrumentation, sensors, actuators, valves, and field devices used in industrial and mission critical control systems.
• Knowledge of control system networking including addressing, VLANs, LANs, switches, routers, firewalls, and IT/OT interface requirements.
• Knowledge of OT protocols including BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, MQTT, and related industrial/building systems integrations.
• Knowledge of EPMS integration requirements and the relationship between BAS, PLC, SCADA, and power monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of code requirements, safety considerations, and energy guidelines relevant to controls engineering designs.
• Working knowledge of Revit and AutoCAD and the engineering coordination required with BIM/VDC resources.
• Skilled at using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), along with exceptional organizational skills for file management.
• Ability to analyze engineering organizations, identify capability gaps, and implement improvements in staffing, process, and training.
• Ability to mentor Level 5 lead engineers and build technical leadership capacity across the department.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate directly with clients and represent the department in strategic and high‑visibility discussions.
• Ability to work successfully in a remote environment through effective communication, self‑motivation, proactiveness, and resourcefulness in a distraction‑free workspace.
• Ability to leverage AI and emerging technologies to streamline workflows, improve quality, optimize engineering operations, and contribute to company‑wide innovation.
• Ability to follow company and site safety requirements.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet close deadlines.
• Ability to achieve certification for NFPA70E and/or OSHA training as / if required.

Physical Demands

• Frequently manipulating, moving or grasping small parts, devices or tools.
• Frequently required to remain in a stationary position.
• Frequently moving through office, critical facility and other environments (such as low temperatures, high temperatures and outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind), including tight and confined spaces.
• Frequently descending/ascending stairs and ladders to access equipment.
• On occasion may need to position self under or over equipment.
• On occasion may move equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Travel / Relocation Requirements

• Up to 15%, may include travel to any or all 50 US states.
• Effective May 7, 2025, a valid REAL ID or an acceptable alternative, such as a passport, is required for travel associated with this position.
• Travel may involve transportation by car or plane depending on the destination and nature of the business need.
• Travel is defined as physically leaving home on behalf of business activities including but not limited to client sites, meetings with other employees, meetings for business development purposes, running errands on behalf of the business, attending industry conferences, etc.

Education / Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction, or related discipline.
• Eight years of experience with hands‑on installation, testing, validation, troubleshooting, or field leadership of controls infrastructure.
• Minimum ten years of additional experience with BAS, EPMS, PLC, and/or SCADA controls engineering.
• Significant experience leading engineering execution for large‑scale mission critical, industrial, or hyperscale data center projects.
• At least half of this experience should be with hyperscale or colocation data center projects or other critical infrastructure markets.
• Prior experience leading engineering teams, technical standards, staffing decisions, and quality oversight across multiple concurrent projects is strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Choice of comprehensive medical plans (including two PPO‑style plans and a HDHP with HSA option).
• Dental and vision plans.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits extended to spouse/domestic partner and dependent children up to age 26.
• 401(k) with company match and self‑directed brokerage account option.
• PTO including additional paid time off during the last week of the year.
• Company paid life insurance coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Short and long‑term disability, AD&D coverage.
• Professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement and professional licensing assistance.
• Paid parental leave after one year of employment.

CO, CA, IL, NY, WA, and Washington DC residents only: In accordance with CO, CA, IL, NY, WA, and Washington DC law, the range provided is STC’s reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may differ based on non‑discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and location.

Smart Tech Contracting is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and participates in the E‑Verify program with the Department of Homeland Security. We encourage diversity in our workforce.

The Pay Range For This Role Is 150,000 - 200,000 USD per year (Remote – United States)