Senior Controls Engineer

Arup; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 123,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

401(k) match up to 10%

Flexible working

Job summary

Arup seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to join our Building Engineering team across east coast offices, including NYC, NJ, Boston, and DC. You will lead controls design and integration for data centers, theaters, and major facilities, interfacing with architects and internal teams to deliver coordinated design solutions.

The role emphasizes ownership of DDC/PLC design, FAT/SAT execution, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Controls, Mechanical, Electrical, Architectural) required.
• 6+ years of total professional experience.
• Experience in engineering firms or technical environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical contributor for controls on complex projects.
• Develop and execute controls strategies and system architectures (BMS, SCADA, plant controls).
• Review design documents and ensure compliance with project requirements across multi-vendor environments.
• Lead testing activities including FAT/SAT and commissioning support.
• Mentor junior engineers and coordinate with IT, cybersecurity, and operations stakeholders.

Skills

Controls engineering

Project leadership

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in engineering

Tools

BMS

SCADA

DDC/PLC

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

ReqID: NEW00021Q

Joining Arup

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, advisors and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination and technology to shape a better world.

We are looking for a Senior Controls Engineer to join us in one of our east offices, in New York, New Jersey, Boston, or DC to work on a wide range of projects including data centers, transportation facilities, buildings, theaters, science and industry, education, and commercial office / residential buildings. Our Controls engineers are part of a coordinated Building Engineering team encompassing Structural, MEP, Sustainability, IT and Façade Engineers. Arup practices “Total Design”, and it is expected that the candidate would be responsible for interfacing and coordinating with internal and external parties, including architects, to influence the development of a comprehensive design.

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 relevant engineering degree required.
• 6+ years of total professional experience required.
• 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.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi‑annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future

Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available

New York / New Jersey Hiring Range - The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in NY/NJ is $122,500 to $148,450 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of NY/NJ will differ.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

Our Application Process

We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of a protected veteran, or disability.

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