Senior Controls Engineer

Gilder Search Group; Missouri; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in real estate development is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead the design and implementation of automation systems for mission-critical projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in controls engineering, particularly in high-reliability environments such as data centers and pharmaceutical plants. This role involves collaboration with various teams and managing vendor relationships to ensure seamless system integration. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package and a discretionary annual bonus based on performance.

Benefits

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Generous PTO

401k

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, with at least 5 years in mission-critical environments.
• Expertise in PLC programming and SCADA/HMI development.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and commission automation and control systems for mission-critical projects.
• Integrate Building Management Systems into mission-critical environments.
• Manage vendor and subcontractor relationships to ensure control systems meet specifications.

Skills

Automation

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PLC programming

SCADA/HMI development

Network communication protocols

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About Clayco Design and Engineering

Clayco Design and Engineering (CDE) was created to diversify and grow Clayco’s industrial business unit’s capabilities with a focus on efficiently delivering robust design-build architectural and engineering solutions. The Clayco Design and Engineering team brings a tremendous amount of engineering expertise to the Clayco enterprise from a wide array of industrial segments such as food & beverage, consumer products, manufacturing, and life-science products.

The Role We Want You For

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer – Mission Critical to lead the design, development, and implementation of Building Management Systems (BMS), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for mission-critical projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with automation, PLCs, control network architecture, and system integration in high-reliability environments such as data centers, pharmaceutical plants, and industrial facilities.

The Specifics of the Role

• Design, program, and commission automation and control systems for mission-critical projects.
• Develop PLC, HMI, and SCADA architectures to support complex facility operations.
• Integrate Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) into mission-critical environments.
• Perform network architecture design for control systems, including cybersecurity best practices.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and IT teams to ensure seamless system integration.
• Conduct system testing, validation, and troubleshooting during commissioning and operational phases.
• Manage vendor and subcontractor relationships to ensure control systems meet performance specifications.
• Stay current with emerging technologies in automation, IoT, and AI-driven control systems to enhance operational efficiency and resilience.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and contribute to knowledge-sharing within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, with at least 5 years in mission-critical environments (data centers, pharma, advanced manufacturing, etc.).
• Expertise in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, etc.), SCADA/HMI development (Ignition, Wonderware, Rockwell FactoryTalk, etc.), and network communication protocols (Modbus, BACnet, OPC, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of power monitoring systems (EPMS), industrial automation, and cybersecurity best practices for control systems.
• Experience with programming and configuring automation platforms for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• Familiarity with NFPA, ISA, NIST, and industry standards related to automation and control in mission-critical environments.
• Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as needed for commissioning and system validation.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.