Principal Operations Engineer, Controls-Data Center Operations
Information Technology New York, New York
Contract/CTH Jun 19, 2026
Information Technology
Principal Operations Engineer, Controls-Data Center Operations
This is a full-time exempt (40+ hours/week), remote role within the United States with up to 75% travel.
Summary
We are seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority for Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), PLC platforms, and equipment-level controls across a rapidly expanding portfolio of mission-critical data centers.
This role will establish controls standards, govern fleet-wide change management, oversee operational readiness, and ensure consistent controls performance across all facilities. The Principal Controls Engineer will drive continuous improvement initiatives, lead controls-related investigations, and provide technical leadership throughout the full facility lifecycle—from design and commissioning through steady-state operations.
The position requires extensive field engagement and close collaboration with operations, commissioning, manufacturing, and design teams to support scalable, repeatable infrastructure deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Our Ideal Candidate
Preferred Qualifications
Compensation & Benefits
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
This is a full-time exempt (40+ hours/week), remote role within the United States with up to 75% travel.
We are seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority for Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), PLC platforms, and equipment-level controls across a rapidly expanding portfolio of mission-critical data centers.
This role will establish controls standards, govern fleet-wide change management, oversee operational readiness, and ensure consistent controls performance across all facilities. The Principal Controls Engineer will drive continuous improvement initiatives, lead controls-related investigations, and provide technical leadership throughout the full facility lifecycle—from design and commissioning through steady-state operations.
The position requires extensive field engagement and close collaboration with operations, commissioning, manufacturing, and design teams to support scalable, repeatable infrastructure deployments.
- Serve as the senior technical authority for BMS, EPMS, PLC systems, and equipment-level controls across the data center portfolio
- Review, approve, and govern all significant controls modifications through established change management processes
- Establish and enforce controls standards, architecture guidelines, and operational best practices
- Lead technical audits of controls systems, including:
- Sequence of operations validation
- Alarm management
- Trend analysis
- System integration health
- Cybersecurity assessments
- Develop and manage remediation plans to address controls-related deficiencies through resolution
- Provide final controls approval for operational readiness and transition from commissioning to ongoing operations
- Partner with engineering, commissioning, and manufacturing teams to incorporate operational lessons learned into future designs
- Support development of repeatable and modular controls architectures for standardized data center deployments
- Author and approve high-risk:
- Methods of Procedure (MOPs)
- Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs)
- Abnormal Operating Procedures (AOPs)
- Lead root cause investigations for controls-related incidents and operational events
- Review controls sequences and ensure alignment with facility performance, reliability, and safety objectives
- Support commissioning activities and controls validation across new facility deployments
- Provide technical mentorship and guidance to controls engineers, commissioning teams, and operations personnel
- Travel extensively to project sites and operating facilities throughout the portfolio
- 10+ years of experience in mission-critical facilities, industrial automation, data center controls, or building automation systems
- Extensive expertise with BMS, EPMS, PLC, and SCADA-based control systems
- Experience serving as the lead controls authority for large-scale data center, industrial, manufacturing, or critical infrastructure environments
- Deep understanding of control sequences, alarming strategies, trending, fault diagnostics, and system integration
- Proven experience managing change control processes for operationally critical systems
- Strong understanding of commissioning, startup, operational readiness, and turnover processes
- Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for complex controls events
- Knowledge of controls cybersecurity best practices and risk mitigation strategies
- Ability to develop and enforce technical standards across multiple sites and project teams
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills
- Willingness and ability to travel 50–75% of the time
- Experience supporting hyperscale data centers or mission-critical facilities
- Expertise with major BMS platforms such as Schneider Electric, Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, or Tridium
- Experience with PLC platforms including Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar systems
- Familiarity with EPMS systems and electrical infrastructure monitoring
- Experience supporting modular construction or prefabricated infrastructure deployments
- Knowledge of industrial networking, integration protocols, and OT cybersecurity practices
- Experience developing controls standards, libraries, and repeatable deployment methodologies
- Background in commissioning automation and functional testing programs
- The pay for this W-2 position ranges from [$96.15 – $129.81] per hour
- Medical Coverage: Two United Healthcare plans (PPO and HDHP with HSA), with employer contributions toward premiums; coverage begins the 1st of the month after 60 days of employment
- Dental & Vision: United Healthcare dental with 100% preventive care coverage and vision benefits for exams, frames, lenses, or contacts
- Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling plus additional wellness and care navigation resources
- Retirement & Savings: 401(k) eligible after 30 days with automatic 6% enrollment (opt-out available), 1% annual increases up to 10%, plus HSA with up to $480 employer contribution
- Voluntary Benefits: Employee-paid accident insurance and critical illness coverage for major health events
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.