Ignition Scada Controls Engineer

Actalent; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Houston, TX seeks an Ignition SCADA Controls Engineer to design and develop Ignition-based SCADA/HMI systems for BMS/EMP in commercial and industrial environments. You will build dashboards, configure gateways, and integrate with PLCs to support data collection and energy management.

This contract role is hybrid in Houston, with responsibilities spanning remote commissioning, system validation, and scalable, user-friendly solutions for operators and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Ignition for SCADA and HMI development.
• Strong experience in control system development, including configuration of 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 BACnet and Modbus protocols.
• Ability to design and implement tag structures, alarms, trends, and navigation layouts within SCADA/HMI environments.
• Solid understanding of network communication between field devices, controllers, and servers.
• Experience supporting data collection, visualization, and reporting for energy management and system performance.

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.
• Configure and manage Ignition gateways, projects, and modules to ensure reliable and secure 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 and performance.
• Ensure all solutions are scalable, standardized, and user-friendly for operators and stakeholders.

Skills

Ignition SCADA

SCADA/HMI development

Industrial networking

BACnet

Modbus

Allen-Bradley

Gateways/config

HMI graphics

Energy management

Data collection

Tools

Ignition

Allen-Bradley PLC

BACnet

Modbus

Job description

Job Title: Ignition SCADA Controls Engineer

Job Description

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. This opp is supporting multiple data center projects.

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.
• Configure and manage Ignition gateways, projects, and modules to ensure reliable and secure 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 and performance.
• Ensure all solutions are scalable, standardized, and user-friendly for operators and stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with Ignition for SCADA and HMI development.
• Strong experience in control system development, including configuration of 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.
• Experience supporting data collection, visualization, and reporting for energy management and system performance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $58.00 - $80.00/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 Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 12, 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.