Application Engineer - Data Centers

Vertech•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Application Engineer – Data Center Controls & SCADA is a customer-facing technical role responsible for developing project scope, estimates, and proposals for controls and SCADA systems within the Data Center end market. This role bridges the gap between business development and detailed estimating—owning technical discovery, translating loosely defined requirements into firm specifications, and producing accurate, professional proposals. This position requires strong technical fundamentals, the ability to interpret drawings and diagrams, and exceptional communication skills to collaborate directly with customers in fast-paced and loosely structured environments.

Requirements

2–5 years of experience in technical and customer-facing roles within Construction, Electrical systems, Controls or automation, or Engineering services
Strong foundational knowledge of Electrical systems, Mechanical systems, Industrial controls and automation, and Facility or infrastructure engineering
Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, loosely structured environments
Strong understanding of estimating fundamentals, labor costs, and material pricing
Reading floor layout and facility drawings
Reading single-line electrical diagrams
Reading and interpreting P&ID diagrams
Converting drawings and diagrams into actionable scope of work
Translating vague or high-level requirements into firm technical specifications
Clear, professional written and verbal communication
Customer engagement and expectation management
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate confidently with customers and internal teams
Highly organized with strong attention to detail
Highly responsive and focused on timeliness and follow-through
Comfortable managing ambiguity and incomplete information
Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Nice To Haves

Data Center experience preferred
Exposure to Data Center infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, or regulated environments
Familiarity with PLC, HMI, and SCADA platforms
Experience supporting sales pursuits or pre-sales engineering activities

Responsibilities

Interface directly with Data Center clients to evaluate system requirements for controls and SCADA solutions
Lead technical discovery conversations to clarify customer objectives, constraints, and operating requirements
Translate verbal, conceptual, or incomplete customer requirements into clearly defined technical scope
Serve as a technical liaison between customers, sales, and internal engineering teams
Read and interpret floor layout drawings, single-line electrical diagrams, and P&ID diagrams
Convert drawings, diagrams, and customer inputs into clearly defined Scope of Work (SOW), technical narratives, and RFP and proposal language
Create cost estimates including engineering labor, field labor (as applicable), and hardware and material bills of material (BOM)
Validate assumptions and document exclusions, constraints, and risks
Develop formal, professional proposals aligned with Vertech’s brand standards
Work closely with Business Development and Estimating teams to support opportunity strategy
Ensure proposals accurately reflect technical scope, pricing, and customer expectations
Manage customer-initiated scope changes during pursuit and pre-award phases
Evaluate change requests against original scope and assumptions
Develop and present change order proposals to capture additional costs and effort
Support project handoff to engineering and project management teams
Clarify scope intent and assumptions to ensure successful execution