Principal Controls Engineer- Data Center

BW Design Group; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible career paths

Mentorship and development resources

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Phoenix seeks an experienced Principal Data Center Automation Engineer. In this role, you will act as a subject matter expert in building automation and electrical power monitoring systems, leading complex projects and multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate has at least 15 years of experience, exceptional communication skills, and a relevant engineering degree. The firm promotes a people-first culture and invests in the growth of its team members, offering flexible career paths and access to development resources.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering experience in building automation and EPMS.
• Deep expertise in BAS and EPMS platforms.
• Extensive experience with field instrumentation and industrial networking.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams on complex projects.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills.
• Strong background in proposal development and cost estimation.
• Analytical mindset with advanced troubleshooting abilities.
• Recognized thought leader in the BAS/EPMS space.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel.
• Master’s degree or Professional Engineer license preferred.
• Experience with datacenter commissioning requirements.
• Experience with greenfield construction in data centers.

Responsibilities

• Act as a subject matter expert in BAS/BMS and EPMS.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams on BAS and EPMS projects.
• Develop and mentor engineering talent.
• Drive development of enterprise-wide standards for automation.
• Serve as a strategic partner to clients.
• Champion innovation in BAS/EPMS technologies.
• Support business development efforts.

Skills

Building automation experience

Electrical power monitoring systems

Leadership

Client-facing responsibilities

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

Inductive Automation Ignition

Tridium Niagara

Schneider EcoStruxure

BACnet

Modbus

Job description

Principal Data Center Automation Engineer

What You’ll Do

You'll work individually and in teams to support capital projects and implement solutions for our clients. Together, you will help our clients make critical changes to improve their performance and realize their most important goals.

• Act as the firm’s subject matter expert in Data Center Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) and Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), with deep expertise in platforms such as Rockwell Studio 5000, Inductive Automation Ignition, Tridium Niagara, Schneider EcoStruxure, and industry standards like BACnet and Modbus.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams through the full lifecycle of complex BAS and EPMS projects—from requirements gathering and system architecture through implementation, commissioning, and client turnover—ensuring compliance with quality, schedule, and budget targets.
• Develop and mentor engineering talent, providing technical leadership, peer reviews, and growth opportunities to elevate the team’s capabilities in automation, power systems integration, and data center infrastructure.
• Drive the development of enterprise-wide standards and best practices for building automation and power monitoring, focusing on scalability, cybersecurity, redundancy, and operational efficiency in data center applications.
• Serve as a strategic partner to clients, translating technical needs into engineered solutions, communicating effectively with stakeholders, and building long-term relationships through the consistent delivery of high-value results.
• Champion innovation in BAS/EPMS technologies, continuously evaluating emerging tools, protocols, and strategies to improve system resilience, energy efficiency, and fault diagnostics.
• Support business development efforts, including technical input for proposal development, and contributing to long-term growth strategies focused on mission-critical facilities.

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering experience in building automation, electrical power monitoring systems (EPMS), and integrated controls within mission-critical environments—especially data centers—including significant leadership and client-facing responsibilities.
• Deep expertise in BAS and EPMS platforms, such as Rockwell Studio 5000, Inductive Automation Ignition, Tridium Niagara, Schneider EcoStruxure, and industry standards like BACnet and Modbus.
• Extensive experience with field instrumentation, industrial networking, PLC/DDC system integration, Panel Design and SCADA architectures used for environmental and electrical system monitoring.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in the successful design, implementation, and commissioning of complex BAS and EPMS solutions across multiple projects.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to interface effectively with both technical teams and executive-level clients, translating technical requirements into strategic solutions.
• Strong background in proposal development, cost estimation, and scope definition for automation and monitoring system projects, with an emphasis on scalability, resilience, and lifecycle performance.
• Analytical mindset with advanced troubleshooting abilities, capable of resolving complex operational challenges and delivering innovative, reliable, and secure solutions.
• Recognized thought leader or subject matter expert in the BAS/EPMS space, with contributions to industry groups, standards bodies, or technical conferences considered a plus.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel for project execution, client engagements, commissioning activities, and industry events.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (Master’s degree and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred).
• Knowledge of datacenter/mission critical commissioning requirements L1-L5.
• Experience with datacenter and mission critical greenfield construction.

What Sets Us Apart

At Design Group, our people-first culture is what makes us different. We foster a work environment rooted in respect, accountability, and a deep investment in the growth of our team members. Our entrepreneurial model and flexible career paths provide rewarding challenges and the autonomy to build a career aligned with your goals.

As a Principal Automation Engineer– Data Centers, you’ll integrate with an established and growing team delivering a high volume of work for leading hyperscale clients. The goal of this role is to support that momentum—driving consistent delivery, deepening client relationships, and helping scale our involvement across the firm. You’ll have access to development resources, mentorship, and peer support as part of a team that’s shaping the future of digital infrastructure.

Not quite a Principal Engineer yet but heading in that direction? Let’s connect. We’re passionate about helping professionals grow into leaders—and we’d love to explore how we can support your journey.

The approximate pay range for this position is $150k-$220k. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location of the position.