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NEXTMOVEFDE careers · United States

Senior Controls Engineer – Data Center Thermal System

AI summary of the role

This Senior Controls Engineer role leads the design and optimization of control systems for data center cooling infrastructure, including chiller plants, CDUs, and liquid cooling loops.

No longer in the current catalog. Last included 2026-09-09. Check the employer’s posting for availability.

What you’ll do

  • Architect and develop control sequences for chiller plants, CDUs, CRAHs, and liquid cooling loops
  • Design control strategies optimizing energy efficiency and redundancy for Tier III/IV data centers
  • Lead integration of controls with BMS, DCIM, and facility monitoring systems
  • Oversee commissioning including I/O checkout, loop tuning, and FAT/SAT testing

What you’ll bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Controls Engineering
  • 7+ years controls engineering experience with 4+ years in data center or mission critical facilities
  • Expert-level PLC and DDC programming (Tridium Niagara, Siemens, Allen-Bradley)
  • Strong understanding of chiller plant optimization, psychrometrics, and hydronic systems

Technologies

Tridium Niagara · Siemens · Allen-Bradley · BACnet · Modbus · SNMP · OPC-UA · Metasys · Desigo CC · Ignition · Grafana · Python

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls engineers, installs and services HVAC, controls, fire, security and OpenBlue software for commercial buildings, increasingly focused on mission-critical energy efficiency and data-center cooling.

Public · 5000+ people

Source and classification

Internal deployment & tooling · Evidence for this classification:

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
More from the 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 performanc [... source excerpt omitted ...] 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 [... source excerpt omitted ...] HRAE 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 Familiarit

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