HVAC Controls & EMS Engineer

city; Burlington (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CBES is seeking an EMS Design Engineer to design, coordinate, and commission EMS/BAS for new construction, remodels, and retrofits in commercial retail environments. The role supports refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, leak detection, and other building systems by developing control system designs and integration plans.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of building automation, energy management, refrigeration and HVAC systems, and electrical design coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering.
• 2+ years in EMS, BAS, HVAC controls, or building controls engineering.
• Experience with commercial or retail facilities.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop EMS and BAS design packages for refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, leak detection, and other building systems.
• Create and maintain control schematics, points lists, control narratives, sequences of operation, equipment integration requirements, and electrical drawings using AutoCAD.
• Coordinate EMS and electrical designs with Energy Management, Store Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations teams.
• Support new store, remodel, and retrofit projects, including evaluation of existing systems and development of upgrade recommendations.
• Conduct field assessments, due diligence surveys, and site evaluations to verify conditions and support design decisions.
• Review engineering drawings, equipment submittals, control system designs, equipment requisitions, and project documentation.
• Commission and validate EMS control systems after installation, including testing and performance validation.
• Troubleshoot EMS, BAS, refrigeration, HVAC, and control issues and provide technical support to stakeholders.
• Use remote monitoring and IP-based tools to support diagnostics across multiple sites.
• Support Project Managers to maintain schedules and ensure successful project delivery.
• Collaborate with contractors, controls vendors, and commissioning teams during installation and turnover.
• Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, system reliability, and lifecycle management.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, SharePoint)

Job description

Commute to Burlington, MA office 4x a week required .

POSITION SUMMARY

The EMS Design Engineer (Building Automation & Controls) is responsible for the design, coordination, commissioning, and support of Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Building Automation Systems (BAS) for new construction, remodel, and retrofit projects within commercial retail environments. This role supports refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, leak detection, and other building systems by developing control system designs, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring successful implementation throughout the project lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of building automation, energy management, refrigeration and HVAC systems, control system integration, and electrical design coordination.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop EMS and BAS design packages for refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, leak detection, and other building systems.
• Create and maintain control schematics, points lists, control narratives, sequences of operation, equipment integration requirements, and electrical drawings using AutoCAD.
• Coordinate EMS and electrical designs with Energy Management, Store Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations teams.
• Support new store, remodel, and retrofit projects, including evaluation of existing systems and development of upgrade recommendations.
• Conduct field assessments, due diligence surveys, and site evaluations to verify existing conditions and support design decisions.
• Review engineering drawings, equipment submittals, control system designs, equipment requisitions, and related project documentation.
• Commission and validate EMS control systems following installation, including point-to-point verification, sequence of operation testing, alarm configuration, trend review, and operational performance validation.
• Troubleshoot EMS, BAS, refrigeration, HVAC, and control-related issues and provide technical support to internal stakeholders and field service teams.
• Utilize remote monitoring and IP-based access tools to support system diagnostics, performance analysis, and issue resolution across multiple sites.
• Support Project Managers throughout project execution to help maintain schedules, resolve technical issues, and ensure successful project delivery.
• Collaborate with contractors, controls vendors, and commissioning teams during installation, startup, and turnover activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, system reliability, operational performance, and facility lifecycle management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Energy Management Systems (EMS), Building Automation Systems (BAS), HVAC Controls, Refrigeration Controls, or Building Controls Engineering.
• Experience supporting commercial, retail, grocery, industrial, or institutional facilities.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting mechanical, electrical, architectural, and control system drawings.
• Knowledge of EMS/BAS system commissioning, troubleshooting, and field support practices.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with EMS and BAS platforms such as Emerson E2/E3, Danfoss, Honeywell, Novar, Tridium Niagara, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Johnson Controls, or similar systems.
• Knowledge of building automation communication protocols including BACnet, Modbus, TCP/IP, and related network architectures.
• Familiarity with supermarket refrigeration systems and associated controls.
• Experience with compressors, condensers, evaporators, air handling units (AHUs), rooftop units (RTUs), VFDs, leak detection systems, and other facility equipment.
• Understanding of energy management strategies, alarm management, trending, analytics, and system optimization.
• Experience supporting multi-site retail, grocery, supermarket, or commercial facility portfolios.
• 2-5 years of experience in refrigeration controls, HVAC controls, EMS, BAS, or building automation systems.

Travel 10%

ABOUT CBES

City Building Engineering Services (CBES) is a leading integrated professional services firm supporting technical requirements and sustainable solutions for the retail and related industries. Utilizing our vast array of in-house resources, CBES experts tackle the most challenging projects from inception to completion, including project design, engineering, construction and commissioning. Our integrated team provides unique value serving our clients and our climate.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK AT CBES?

CBES is part of a global network of leading professional services, infrastruc