Project Engineer – Building Automation Controls

Automated Controls; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Automated Controls, Inc. in Nashville is seeking a Project Engineer – Building Automation Controls to lead the engineering, programming, implementation, and commissioning of commercial BAS.

This role involves developing engineering packages, selecting controllers and hardware, and coordinating with project managers and field teams to deliver robust automation solutions. The ideal candidate has 3+ years in BAS, HVAC controls, and DDC systems, with strong drawing interpretation skills.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in building automation, HVAC controls, DDC systems, or related field.
• Strong ability to read mechanical, electrical, and controls drawings.
• Experience with building automation programming, commissioning, or troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of BACnet or similar building automation protocols.
• Willingness to travel and valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Review project specifications, drawings, sequences of operation.
• Develop engineering packages and submittals.
• Select controllers, I/O modules, sensors, actuators, integration hardware.
• Develop network diagrams, controller details, wiring diagrams, BOMs.
• Coordinate engineering requirements with PMs, technicians, engineers, and customers.
• Provide field startup and commissioning support.

Skills

HVAC controls

DDC systems

Building automation programming

Field startup

Commissioning

BACnet

Troubleshooting

Reading drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Building Automation

Bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology

Job description

Company: Automated Controls, Inc.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Company Description

Automated Controls, Inc. is a long-standing member of the Automated Logic Corporation dealer network, joining in 1986 as one of the first independent dealers in the ALC distribution channel.

For more than 35 years, Automated Controls has specialized in designing, implementing, commissioning, and supporting intelligent building automation systems for commercial and institutional facilities.

Our team focuses on technical excellence, customer service, energy efficiency, and delivering reliable building automation systems that improve comfort, performance, and long-term facility operation.

Role Description

Automated Controls is seeking a Project Engineer – Building Automation Controls to join our Nashville team.

This position is responsible for the engineering, programming, implementation, commissioning, and technical support of commercial building automation systems.

The ideal candidate has experience with HVAC controls, DDC systems, building automation programming, field startup, or commissioning and is comfortable working with mechanical systems, control networks, drawings, sequences of operation, and field technicians.

Experience with Automated Logic / WebCTRL is strongly preferred, but candidates with substantial experience on other major building automation platforms are encouraged to apply.

This role may be a good fit for someone currently working as a Project Engineer, Controls Engineer, Systems Engineer, Field Engineer, Systems Specialist, Controls Technician, Lead Technician, or BAS Programmer who is ready to take greater ownership of project engineering and system design.

Key Responsibilities

Building Automation Engineering

• Review project specifications, mechanical and electrical drawings, points lists, equipment schedules, scopes of work, and sequences of operation.
• Develop building automation engineering packages and controls submittals.
• Select controllers, I/O modules, sensors, actuators, integration hardware, and other controls equipment.
• Develop network risers, controller details, wiring diagrams, bills of material, valve schedules, and damper schedules.
• Identify scope gaps, conflicts, missing information, and technical risks.
• Develop RFIs and technical clarification requests as required.
• Coordinate engineering requirements with Project Managers, technicians, contractors, engineers, commissioning agents, and customers.

Building Automation Programming

• Develop, modify, and troubleshoot control programs for HVAC equipment and building systems.
• Translate mechanical sequences of operation into functional control logic.
• Develop strategies for equipment enable, scheduling, heating and cooling control, PID loops, reset strategies, lead/lag control, staging, safeties, interlocks, alarms, and failure modes.
• Configure system alarms, trends, schedules, network points, and operating parameters.
• Support system graphics and operator interfaces.

Automated Logic / WebCTRL

Candidates with Automated Logic experience may also be responsible for:

• Engineering and maintaining WebCTRL systems.
• Creating Geographic, System, and Network tree structures.
• Configuring controller models, BACnet device instances, network numbers, MAC addresses, IP addressing, and controller relationships.
• Developing and troubleshooting control programs using EIKON.
• Supporting Automated Logic OptiFlex controllers and related hardware.
• Supporting WebCTRL system expansions, renovations, upgrades, and existing customer sites.

Training may be provided for qualified candidates who have strong BAS fundamentals but experience with another controls platform.

BAS Networking & Integration

• Design and troubleshoot building automation communication networks.
• Work with BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, Ethernet, Modbus RTU/TCP, and IP networking.
• Understand BACnet device addressing, network numbering, routing, and basic IP addressing concepts.
• Develop and troubleshoot third-party integrations.
• Review BACnet discoveries, points lists, manufacturer documentation, and integration requirements.
• Support integration of VFDs, chillers, boilers, cooling towers, packaged HVAC equipment, flow meters, power meters, lighting systems, third-party controllers, and gateways.

Field Startup & Commissioning

Strong field understanding is important in this role.

• Provide technical support during installation, startup, checkout, and commissioning.
• Troubleshoot controller hardware, communication networks, programming, integrations, sensors, actuators, and mechanical operation.
• Support point-to-point checkout and functional performance testing.
• Verify system operation against approved sequences of operation.
• Review trends to identify programming, balancing, networking, installation, or mechanical issues.
• Work closely with field technicians to resolve technical problems.
• Support customer demonstrations, training, and project turnover.

Project Execution

• Participate in project turnover, engineering review, coordination, and construction meetings.
• Manage engineering activities for multiple concurrent projects.
• Coordinate deliverables with Project Managers and field teams.
• Incorporate approved changes into drawings, databases, programming, and graphics.
• Support as-built documentation, commissioning records, and project closeout.
• Help ensure projects are delivered on schedule and meet technical and customer requirements.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of experience in building automation, HVAC controls, DDC systems, controls engineering, programming, startup, commissioning, or a closely related technical field.
• Strong understanding of commercial HVAC systems and control applications.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, and controls drawings.
• Ability to understand and implement HVAC sequences of operation.
• Experience with building automation programming, commissioning, or troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of BACnet or similar building automation communication protocols.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technicians, contractors, engineers, Project Managers, and customers.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and project deliverables.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project locations as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Automated Logic
• WebCTRL
• EIKON
• SiteBuilder
• Automated Logic OptiFlex hardware
• Siemens
• Johnson Controls
• Trane
• Honeywell
• BACnet/IP
• BACnet MS/TP
• Modbus
• Third-party BAS integrations
• Central chilled-water or hot-water plants
• AHUs, VAVs, fan-powered boxes, RTUs, and FCUs
• Variable Frequency Drives
• PID control and tuning
• Valve and damper applications
• Large campus or multi-building BAS systems
• Functional performance testing and commissioning

Education

A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Building Automation, Engineering Technology, or another related technical field is preferred.

However, equivalent professional building automation or HVAC controls experience will be considered in place of a four-year degree.

Field experience and demonstrated technical ability are highly valued.

Field Experience Matters

Some of the strongest candidates for this position may have developed their experience primarily in the field.

If you have spent several years installing, programming, starting up, commissioning, or troubleshooting building automation systems and are interested in moving further into engineering, we encourage you to apply.

We value professionals who understand how HVAC equipment operates, how controls are installed, how BAS networks function, what technicians need from engineering, and how to distinguish between programming, wiring, networking, balancing, equipment, and mechanical problems.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Project Engineer at Automated Controls can take a building automation project from turnover through engineering, installation support, commissioning, and closeout.

That includes understanding the mechanical system, interpreting project requirements, developing the controls architecture, selecting hardware, developing programming, supporting the field team, troubleshooting technical issues, and producing accurate project documentation.

Ultimately, the goal is straightforward:

Deliver a building automation system that operates the way it was intended to operate.

Why Automated Controls

Automated Controls offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging commercial and institutional projects while staying closely connected to the systems being installed and operated.

Our Project Engineers work directly with Project Managers, technicians, electricians, contractors, engineers, commissioning agents, and customers and have significant ownership over how projects are engineered and delivered.

• For an experienced field technician or BAS professional looking to move deeper into engineering, this role offers an opportunity to build upon that experience while expanding into system design, programming, networking, and project execution.