System Controls Solution Architect

Vertiv Co; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv Co in Westerville, Ohio is seeking a Thermal System Controls Architect to define the architecture for their thermal controls and optimization solutions. This role encompasses the entire thermal chain, from equipment management to optimization strategies.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and substantial experience in HVAC and liquid cooling controls. Strong communication and project management skills are essential, and the position requires some travel.

Qualifications

• Experience in HVAC controls, liquid cooling controls, or mission-critical thermal systems.
• Ability to interpret customer specifications and control diagrams.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Define the system architecture for thermal controls and optimization solutions.
• Analyze customer specifications and project requirements.
• Support project economics and identify upselling opportunities.

Skills

HVAC controls

Liquid cooling controls

Strong communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent technical experience

Tools

PLC

SCADA

HMI

Modbus TCP

Job description

Thermal System Controls Architect

The Thermal System Controls Architect will define the technical and commercial architecture of Vertiv’s system‑level thermal controls and optimization solutions for customer projects. The role covers the full thermal chain – from CDU systems and secondary fluid network management to pumps, chillers, heat rejection systems, heat reuse applications and plant‑level optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the system architecture for Vertiv’s thermal controls and optimization solutions on customer projects.
• Support solutions such as the Chilled Water Manager and Optimizer, Secondary Fluid Network Manager and future system‑level thermal control platforms.
• Analyze customer specifications, sequence of operation documents, P&IDs, system architecture, equipment lists and project requirements.
• Define the required hardware and software scope for each project.
• Identify required PLC/control hardware, I/O architecture, communication interfaces, HMI/SCADA requirements, software modules and integration points.
• Define how the controls solution interfaces with CDU systems, secondary fluid networks, pumps, chillers, heat rejection equipment, heat reuse systems and higher‑level supervisory platforms.
• Support the commercial definition of the offering for specific opportunities, including scope, assumptions, exclusions, risks and deliverables.
• Support project economics, budgetary estimates, cost build‑up, pricing inputs and margin analysis.
• Identify upselling opportunities related to advanced control features, optimization, monitoring, analytics, energy efficiency, serviceability and lifecycle support.
• Manage requirement intake, clarification and alignment with Offering Management, Sales, Engineering and technical teams.
• Translate customer and project needs into clear technical requirements for the Controls Development team.
• Support preparation of technical proposals, architecture descriptions, compliance responses and customer‑facing documentation.
• Collaborate with Sales and Application Engineering during pre‑sales, tender and customer clarification phases.
• Collaborate with Platform Engineering and Business Unit teams to align project needs with standard platform capabilities and future roadmap synergies.
• Support project execution from initial definition through engineering alignment and handover to commissioning.
• Ensure a clear handover package to commissioning, including scope, controls architecture, requirements, open points, assumptions, risks and project‑specific constraints.
• Capture lessons learned from projects and provide feedback to Offering Management for roadmap and product improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• Experience in HVAC controls, liquid cooling controls, BMS, chiller plant controls, data center infrastructure, industrial automation or mission‑critical thermal systems.
• Strong understanding of hydronic and liquid cooling systems, including CDU systems, secondary loops, pumps, valves, chillers, heat rejection equipment, buffer tanks and heat reuse applications.
• Ability to interpret customer specifications, P&IDs, control diagrams, sequence of operation documents, I/O lists and electrical/control architecture.
• Good understanding of PLCs, SCADA, HMI, industrial networks and communication protocols.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into commercial scope, cost assumptions and project deliverables.
• Experience working with Sales, Application Engineering, Offering Management, Engineering, Project Management, Commissioning and Service teams.
• Ability to manage technical clarification, scope definition and customer expectation alignment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex controls topics to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with chilled water plant management, liquid cooling systems, secondary fluid networks or data center thermal infrastructure.
• Experience with system‑level controls, supervisory control platforms, optimization layers, energy management or analytics.
• Familiarity with Ignition, Unify, Codesys, Modbus TCP, BACnet, MQTT or similar technologies.
• Experience in technical sales support, solution architecture, application engineering, offering management or project engineering.
• Knowledge of energy optimization, plant sequencing, control stability, heat reuse strategies and lifecycle service opportunities.
• Experience supporting global projects across multiple regions.

Travel

Willingness to travel as needed for customer meetings, technical workshops, project reviews, internal alignment sessions, factory testing, commissioning handover or field support activities. Indicatively up to 20%, depending on project needs.

Work Authorization

Only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States are eligible for this position. No sponsorship will be provided for temporary visas or future work authorization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation or disability.