Senior Automation & Controls Lead – Data Centers

Vantage Consulting; Virginia; Remote; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Vantage Consulting is seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Lead to support major data center developments across the United States. The role is remote-based anywhere in the USA, with national travel to project sites and a base salary up to $160,000 plus bonus and vehicle allowance.

This is a senior leadership position focused on ownership, strategy and delivery. You will lead automation engineers, provide technical oversight of BAS/BMS, EPMS, SCADA, and DDC/PLC integrations, diagnose

Qualifications

• Proven experience with data center construction, controls integration and commissioning.
• Hands-on background in BAS/BMS, EPMS, SCADA or DDC/PLC controls.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex controls and integration problems.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading field teams.
• Willingness to travel nationally.

Responsibilities

• Leading field automation and controls engineers on major new-build data center projects.
• Providing technical oversight of BAS/BMS, EPMS, SCADA and DDC/PLC integration.
• Diagnosing problems and implementing effective solutions on challenging projects.
• Mentoring and developing engineers to become more independent.
• Overseeing controls installation, system integration, commissioning and handover.
• Supporting project schedules, resource planning, quality and commercial performance.
• Collaborating with project managers, commissioning teams, contractors and clients.
• Traveling between projects as required, with remote support where feasible.

Skills

Technical leadership

Data center experience

Troubleshooting complex controls

Mentoring engineers

Project delivery planning

Travel willingness

Tools

Niagara N4

Ignition SCADA

Distech

Allen-Bradley

Job description

Location: Remote – Anywhere in the USA

Salary: Up to $160,000 Base + Bonus + Vehicle Allowance

Travel: National travel to major data center projects - MD/GA/IA initially 50% travel

Employment: Full-Time, Permanent

Please note: Applicants must be authorised to work in the United States without sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future for this position.

Ready to Move Beyond Engineering and Start Leading It?

Are you the engineer everyone turns to when a data center controls project isn't going to plan?

Have you mastered BAS/BMS, EPMS or SCADA integration and reached the point where you're ready to lead engineers rather than simply execute someone else's instructions?

Would you like a role where your technical expertise, leadership and ability to deliver successful projects are recognized and rewarded?

We're partnering with a rapidly expanding, nationally recognized mission-critical automation business looking for an exceptional Senior Automation & Controls Lead to support major data center developments across the United States.

This isn't a traditional field engineer position or a role focused purely on troubleshooting.

We're looking for someone who can step into complex projects, take ownership, mentor engineers, resolve technical challenges and ensure successful project delivery.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

• Up to $160,000 base salary + bonus + vehicle allowance.
• Remote-based anywhere in the US – no relocation required.
• Genuine technical leadership – lead and develop automation engineers across national projects.
• Major hyperscale data center developments – work on some of the most technically demanding projects in the industry.
• Autonomy and ownership – take responsibility for technical execution and project outcomes.
• Flexible, project-dependent travel – as you develop capable teams, your need to travel can reduce through effective remote support.
• Career progression – opportunities to grow into broader technical and operational leadership.

You'll act as a senior technical leader supporting multiple data center automation projects nationwide.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading field automation and controls engineers on major new-build data center projects.
• Providing technical oversight of BAS/BMS, EPMS, SCADA and DDC/PLC integration.
• Stepping into challenging projects, diagnosing problems and implementing effective solutions.
• Mentoring and developing engineers to become increasingly independent.
• Overseeing controls installation, system integration, commissioning and handover.
• Supporting project schedules, resource planning, quality and commercial performance.
• Working alongside project managers, commissioning teams, contractors and clients.
• Traveling between projects as required, with the ability to provide remote technical support once teams are established.

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in experienced engineers who have progressed into technical leadership or are ready to take that next step.

• Proven experience with data center construction, controls integration and commissioning.
• Strong hands-on background in BAS/BMS, EPMS, SCADA or DDC/PLC controls.
• Experience working with platforms such as Niagara N4, Ignition SCADA, Distech, Allen-Bradley or similar.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot complex controls and integration problems.
• Experience guiding, mentoring or leading field engineers and technicians.
• Strong understanding of project delivery, schedules, technical documentation and commissioning processes.
• Willingness to travel nationally to support project teams.

Experience managing project budgets, resources, subcontractors or commercial performance would be particularly advantageous.

You don't need to be a full-time software developer. We're looking for someone who understands the technology, can lead engineers effectively and knows how to deliver successful projects.

Is This Your Next Career Move?

Pperhaps you're currently a Lead Controls Engineer, Senior Systems Integrator, SCADA Engineer, BAS/EPMS Lead, Field Automation Supervisor or Senior Commissioning Engineer.

You've developed strong technical expertise, you're already helping less experienced engineers, and you're ready for a position with more influence, responsibility and recognition.

If that sounds familiar, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.