Senior Controls Engineer – Data Center Thermal System

Johnson Controls; New Freedom (York County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cutting-edge projects

Collaborative environment

Professional development

Benefits package

Job summary

Johnson Controls is seeking an experienced Senior Controls Engineer to lead design, development, and optimization of control systems for data center cooling infrastructure. This role supports high-density computing environments, GPU clusters, and liquid cooling.

You will work with BMS/DCIM integration, develop control sequences for chiller plants, CDUs, CRAHs, and pump/valve sequencing, and mentor junior engineers while driving energy efficiency and reliability in Tier III/IV facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of controls engineering experience with data center relevance.
• Expert-level PLC and DDC programming
• Strong understanding of chiller plant optimization and hydronic systems
• Familiarity with BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, OPC-UA
• ASHEE guidelines knowledge for data centers
• Ability to read P&IDs and electrical schematics

Responsibilities

• Design control sequences for chiller plants, CDUs, CRAHs, and liquid cooling loops.
• Lead integration with BMS, DCIM platforms, and monitoring systems.
• Oversee commissioning: FAT/SAT, I/O checkout, loop tuning, functional testing.
• Mentor junior engineers on controls best practices and troubleshooting methods.

Skills

Controls engineering

PLC programming

DDC programming

Data center operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Controls Engineering

Tools

Tridium Niagara

Siemens

Allen-Bradley

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Controls Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of control systems for data center cooling infrastructure. This role is critical to delivering intelligent, efficient thermal management solutions that support high-density computing environments, including advanced GPU clusters and liquid cooling systems. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in building automation and industrial controls with a strong understanding of HVAC systems, chiller plants, and the unique operational demands of mission-critical facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Controls System Design & Development
  Architect and develop control sequences for chiller plants, cooling distribution units (CDUs), computer room air handlers (CRAHs), and liquid cooling loops
  Design control strategies that optimize energy efficiency, maintain precise temperature and humidity setpoints, and ensure redundancy for Tier III/IV data center environments
  Develop logic for variable-speed pump and fan control, valve sequencing, and thermal load balancing across cooling infrastructure
• System Integration & Commissioning
  Lead integration of controls with Building Management Systems (BMS), Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms, and facility monitoring systems
  Oversee commissioning activities including I/O checkout, loop tuning, functional performance testing, and sequence verification
  Develop and execute test protocols for factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT)
• Technical Leadership
  Serve as subject matter expert for controls engineering on complex data center projects
  Mentor junior engineers and technicians on controls best practices, programming standards, and troubleshooting methodologies
  Collaborate with mechanical engineers, project managers, and customers to translate thermal requirements into robust control solutions
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  Evaluate emerging technologies including AI/ML-based optimization, predictive maintenance algorithms, and advanced sensor integration
  Contribute to the development of standardized control sequences and reusable code libraries
  Support R&D initiatives for next-generation cooling solutions including direct liquid cooling and immersion systems

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in controls engineering with at least 4 years focused on data center or mission critical facility applications
• Expert-level proficiency in PLC and DDC programming (Tridium Niagara, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or equivalent platforms)
• Strong understanding of chiller plant optimization, psychrometrics, and hydronic system design
• Experience with industrial communication protocols: BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, OPC-UA
• Familiarity with ASHRAE guidelines for data centers (TC 9.9 Thermal Guidelines, Standard 90.4)
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret P&IDs, control diagrams, and electrical schematics

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or related discipline
• Experience with liquid cooling systems including rear-door heat exchangers, direct-to-chip cold plates, and immersion cooling
• Knowledge of power monitoring, PUE optimization, and energy management strategies
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Certifications: Niagara 4 Technical Certification, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or equivalent
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) or AI/ML training cluster thermal requirements
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices for operational technology (OT) networks

Technical Environment

• Building automation platforms: Metasys, Tridium Niagara, Desigo CC
• Programming: Structured Text, Function Block Diagram, Ladder Logic, Python for scripting/analytics
• Visualization: Ignition, Grafana, or similar SCADA/HMI platforms
• Networking: TCP/IP, VLANs, firewall configuration for controls networks

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge thermal solutions for hyperscale and enterprise data centers
• Collaborative environment with industry-leading engineers and researchers
• Professional development support including conference attendance and continuing education
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package