Leader - Industrial / DC Control Engineering

LVI Associates; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates seeks an experienced Controls Engineering Leader to drive senior technical and project leadership on large-scale data center and mission-critical construction projects.

Ideal candidates are hands-on Controls Engineers with Allen-Bradley PLCs and Ignition SCADA who have progressed into technical leadership and project management, guiding multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets and risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of engineering experience, including exposure to construction projects.
• Candidates with a Master's degree may be considered with 5+ years of experience.
• Strong background in industrial controls and automation.
• Hands-on expertise with Allen-Bradley PLCs and/or Ignition SCADA.
• Experience progressing into technical leadership or project management.
• Ability to lead engineering efforts across multiple disciplines.
• Experience with estimating, budgeting, and engineering finance.
• Strong understanding of technical and project risk.
• Experience mentoring engineers and technical staff.
• Approximately 25% travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering delivery on complex data center and mission-critical projects.
• Provide technical leadership across engineering disciplines.
• Oversee the design and implementation of PLC and SCADA control systems.
• Provide expertise around Allen-Bradley PLC and Ignition SCADA.
• Manage projects from engineering and design through construction and commissioning.
• Identify and manage technical and project risks.
• Develop project cost estimates, budgets, and financial forecasts.
• Coordinate engineering resources across multiple disciplines.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.
• Work closely with clients, contractors, and internal project teams.
• Build strong client relationships and act as a trusted technical advisor.
• Support project planning, scheduling, and commercial management.

Skills

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Ignition SCADA

Industrial controls

Project management

Electrical engineering

Leadership

Multidisciplinary teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics

Bachelor's degree in Physics

Master's degree (considered with 5+ years experience)

Tools

MS Office

Visio

SharePoint

SureTrak

Accubid

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineering Leader to take a senior technical and project leadership role on large-scale data center and mission-critical construction projects.

This position is ideal for someone who has built their career as a hands‑on Controls Engineer, particularly with Allen-Bradley PLCs and Ignition SCADA, and has since progressed into technical leadership and project management.

You will remain closely involved in the technical side of controls while taking greater responsibility for multidisciplinary engineering teams, project delivery, budgets, technical risk, and client relationships.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineering Leader to take a senior technical and project leadership role on large-scale data center and mission-critical construction projects.

This position is ideal for someone who has built their career as a hands‑on Controls Engineer, particularly with Allen-Bradley PLCs and Ignition SCADA, and has since progressed into technical leadership and project management.

You will remain closely involved in the technical side of controls while taking greater responsibility for multidisciplinary engineering teams, project delivery, budgets, technical risk, and client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering delivery on complex data center and mission-critical projects

• Provide technical leadership across engineering disciplines

• Oversee the design and implementation of PLC and SCADA control systems

• Provide expertise around Allen-Bradley PLC and Ignition SCADA

• Manage projects from engineering and design through construction and commissioning

• Identify and manage technical and project risks

• Develop project cost estimates, budgets, and financial forecasts

• Coordinate engineering resources across multiple disciplines

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers

• Work closely with clients, contractors, and internal project teams

• Build strong client relationships and act as a trusted technical advisor

• Support project planning, scheduling, and commercial management

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related discipline

• 7+ years of engineering experience, including exposure to construction projects

• Candidates with a Master's degree may be considered with 5+ years of experience

• Strong background in industrial controls and automation

• Hands‑on expertise with Allen-Bradley PLCs and/or Ignition SCADA

• Experience progressing into technical leadership or project management

• Ability to lead engineering efforts across multiple disciplines

• Experience with estimating, budgeting, and engineering finance

• Strong understanding of technical and project risk

• Experience mentoring engineers and technical staff

• Approximately 25% travel

Preferred Experience

• Previous data center or mission-critical construction experience

• FE / EIT certification

• DBIA certification

• LEED accreditation

• NICET certification

• Experience with MS Office, Visio, SharePoint, SureTrak, and Accubid

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will have started their career as a hands‑on Controls Engineer, developed significant expertise in PLC/SCADA systems, and then progressed into positions where they are responsible for projects, people, budgets, and client relationships.

They should still be technically strong enough to challenge designs and solve controls problems, but comfortable operating at a higher level to ensure major projects are delivered successfully.

Why This Role?

This is a strong opportunity for an experienced controls professional who wants to combine their technical automation background with project and engineering leadership.

Rather than moving completely away from engineering, you'll remain close to the technology while taking ownership of complex data center and mission-critical projects from both a technical and commercial perspective.