Ignition Controls Systems Engineer

Actalent; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transit benefits

PTO

Job summary

Actalent seeks an Ignition SCADA Controls Engineer to design and implement Ignition-based SCADA/HMI for building automation and energy management. You will develop interfaces, configure gateways, and integrate with Allen-Bradley PLCs in a hybrid Plano-based role.

The position focuses on scalable, user-friendly dashboards, alarm/trend setups, and robust system architecture across distributed controls environments for commercial and industrial facilities.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Ignition for SCADA/HMI development.
• Experience configuring Ignition gateways, projects and modules.
• Proficiency building graphics, dashboards for HVAC/facility ops.
• Experience integrating with PLCs including Allen-Bradley.
• Knowledge of BACnet and Modbus protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop Ignition-based SCADA/HMI systems for BMS and EMP.
• Build and configure custom dashboards, graphics, and UIs for HVAC and facility ops.
• Develop system architecture: tag structures, alarms, trends, navigation within Ignition.
• Configure Ignition gateways, projects, and modules for reliable operation.
• Set up network communication between field devices, controllers, and servers.

Skills

Ignition SCADA

SCADA/HMI development

Ignition gateways / projects

Allen-Bradley PLCs

BACnet

Modbus

Dashboard design

Industrial networking

Tools

Ignition Gateway

Job description

Job Title: Ignition SCADA Controls Engineer

The Ignition SCADA Controls Engineer designs and develops modern control system interfaces and infrastructure for advanced building automation and energy management solutions in commercial and industrial environments. This hands-on engineering role focuses on system development, operator-focused UI/UX, and backend configuration within a distributed controls environment, leveraging Ignition to support scalable HVAC and Building Management System (BMS) platforms. The engineer contributes directly to reliable, efficient, and user-friendly Building Management Systems (BMS) and Energy Management Platforms (EMP) that support critical facility operations.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop Ignition-based SCADA and HMI systems for Building Management Systems (BMS) and Energy Management Platforms (EMP).
• Build and configure custom dashboards, graphics, and user interfaces that support HVAC equipment and facility operations.
• Develop system architecture, including tag structures, alarm configurations, trend setups, and intuitive navigation layouts within Ignition.
• Configure and manage Ignition gateways, projects, and modules to ensure reliable, secure, and scalable system operation.
• Set up and maintain network communication between field devices, controllers, and servers in a distributed controls environment.
• Integrate control systems with PLCs and industrial communication protocols such as BACnet and Modbus.
• Support data collection, visualization, and reporting related to energy usage and overall system performance.
• Collaborate closely with internal engineering teams on system design, deployment, and troubleshooting activities.
• Assist with remote commissioning and system validation to confirm proper functionality, performance, and adherence to design requirements.
• Ensure all solutions are scalable, standardized, and user-friendly for operators and stakeholders.
• Contribute to controls engineering efforts related to HVAC systems, chillers, data centers, and broader building automation platforms.
• Apply automation and programming skills, including work with Allen-Bradley PLCs, to support robust and maintainable control strategies.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with Ignition for SCADA and HMI development.
• Strong experience in control system development, including configuration of Ignition gateways, projects, and modules.
• Proficiency in building and customizing graphics, dashboards, and user interfaces for HVAC and facility operations.
• Experience integrating control systems with PLCs, including Allen-Bradley platforms.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as BACnet and Modbus.
• Ability to design and implement tag structures, alarming, trends, and navigation layouts within SCADA/HMI environments.
• Solid understanding of network communication between field devices, controllers, and servers in a distributed controls environment.
• Experience supporting data collection, visualization, and reporting for energy management and system performance.
• Practical controls engineering experience in automation, BMS, and related systems.
• Strong programming skills applicable to industrial control and automation platforms.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in commercial or industrial building automation and energy management environments.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams on system design, deployment, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to participate in remote commissioning and system validation activities.
• Comfort working in a hybrid arrangement, starting with remote work followed by onsite engagement for several months.
• Exposure to Energy Management Platforms (EMP), chillers, and data center control environments.
• Familiarity with applying Ignition SCADA within large-scale automation projects and standardized BMS architectures.

Work Environment

This role operates within a hybrid work model, with remote work for the first few months and transitioning to onsite work for approximately six to seven months as part of a twelve-month project. The work centers on engineering-driven building automation and energy management solutions in commercial and industrial facilities, including applications such as HVAC systems, chillers, and data centers. You will work daily with Ignition-based SCADA and HMI platforms, Allen-Bradley PLCs, and industrial communication protocols such as BACnet and Modbus. The environment emphasizes collaboration with internal engineering teams on system design, deployment, commissioning, and troubleshooting, and involves working with distributed control systems, networked field devices, and server-based infrastructure to deliver reliable and scalable building management solutions.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Plano, TX.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $70.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a hybrid position in Plano,TX. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.