Senior Controls Engineer

Arup; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 122,500 - 148,450; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits program

Flexible working arrangements

401(k) plan with company match

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to work primarily in its East office, including locations like Washington DC and New York. This role focuses on delivering high-quality outcomes on complex projects, especially data centers. The ideal candidate will have over 6 years of experience, a relevant Bachelor's degree in an engineering field, and skills in controls engineering and project management. The position offers a competitive salary range of $122,500 to $148,450 plus benefits, including flexible working arrangements and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in controls engineering or related technical field.
• Experience with technical environments and mission-critical facilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical contributor for controls engineering on complex projects.
• Support controls strategies and system architecture development.
• Independently develop and review DDC and PLC-based control designs.
• Assist with control system and OT networks design and coordination.
• Mentor junior engineers and support their technical development.

Skills

Controls engineering

Data centers

Building Management Systems (BMS)

SCADA

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering field

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Arup is a leading global organization dedicated to sustainable development, collaborating with clients and partners across a broad range of disciplines.

Position

Senior Controls Engineer (East office: New York, New Jersey, Boston, or DC). You will work on projects that include data centers, transportation facilities, buildings, theaters, science and industry sites, educational institutions, commercial office and residential buildings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical contributor for controls engineering on complex and mission‑critical projects, including data centers, working under the direction of project leadership to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
• Support the development and execution of controls strategies and system architectures, including Building Management Systems (BMS), SCADA, plant controls, and integration of vendor‑furnished systems across mechanical, power, and infrastructure scopes.
• Apply owner standards, reference designs, and project requirements to assist in developing project‑specific controls implementations, adapting sequences, architectures, and network approaches to site conditions, resilience goals, and delivery constraints.
• Independently develop and review DDC and PLC‑based control system designs, contributing from concept design through construction and commissioning while escalating key decisions and risks to project leadership.
• Contribute to instrumentation and controls strategies and device selection, with emphasis on reliability, maintainability, data consistency, and operational performance.
• Assist with the design and coordination of control system and OT networks, including communications protocols, system integration, and coordination with IT, cybersecurity, and operational stakeholders.
• Prepare and review controls documentation, including P&IDs, control schematics, sequences of operation, network diagrams, specifications, and integration matrices, particularly in multi‑vendor and fast‑track delivery environments.
• Support evaluation of control system vendors and integrators, contributing to bid reviews, technical comparisons, and recommendations in coordination with senior project leadership.
• Review vendor and contractor submittals and drawings, identifying compliance issues, coordination conflicts, and constructability concerns, and supporting resolution through the project team.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and integrated systems testing, supporting test planning, witnessing, documentation, and issue resolution.
• Provide construction‑phase and startup support, including responses to RFIs, site coordination, field observation, and assistance with commissioning and transition to operations.
• Represent the controls discipline in client and internal coordination meetings, providing technical input and supporting senior leads in client engagement and decision‑making.
• Mentor and collaborate with junior engineers, contributing to technical development, consistency, and knowledge sharing within the controls team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Controls, Mechanical, Electrical, Architectural Engineering or a related engineering degree.
• 6+ years total professional experience.
• Professional experience within an engineering or related technical firm.

Preferred Qualifications

• Membership in ISA, ASHRAE or ASME.
• EIT License preferred.
• Experience in sustainability, energy/thermal modeling, AutoCAD drafting with controls/HVAC emphasis and Revit.
• Prior experience working on data centers or mission‑critical facilities.

Benefits & Compensation

Arup offers a competitive, fair, and equitable pay package, a comprehensive benefits program supporting health and wellbeing, extensive learning opportunities, and profit‑share participation. A 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match is also available.

Flexible working arrangements and alternative schedules are offered. The base salary hiring range for New York/New Jersey is $122,500 to $148,450 per year, exclusive of benefits.

Equal‑Opportunity Employer Statement

Arup is an equal‑opportunity employer that actively promotes diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

Arup will never request bank information or other sensitive personal data during the recruitment process.