Building Automation Specialist

Scripps Research • San Diego, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Building Automation Specialist performs installation, programming, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of the building automation, direct digital control, and environmental monitoring systems that serve laboratory, vivarium, and general campus HVAC and mechanical equipment throughout the institute. Serves as the technical resource to the Mechanical Shop for controls diagnostics, system optimization, and energy performance.

Requirements

• High school diploma or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been attained.
• Completion of an approved building automation, HVAC controls, instrumentation, or electronics training program.
• Minimum of 4 years of directly related experience with commercial or institutional building automation and direct digital control systems.
• Demonstrated experience with commercial building automation systems, including controller programming, graphics development, point database configuration, trending, and alarm management.
• Working knowledge of HVAC and mechanical systems and of sequences of operation for air handling, hydronic, and laboratory exhaust systems, with the ability to compute heat load calculations and air exchange ratios.
• Experience installing, wiring, calibrating and troubleshooting controls field devices and instrumentation, including sensors, actuators, control valves, and variable frequency drives; ability to use electrical and HVAC diagnostic test equipment and to interpret control drawings and schematics.
• Working knowledge of building automation network protocols and system architecture, such as BACnet, Modbus or LonWorks, and of information technology networking fundamentals as applied to control systems.
• Must meet all required federal and state license requirements.
• Professional interpersonal, communication, and written skills, including the ability to clearly document control sequences, system changes, and troubleshooting findings.
• Ability to evaluate mechanical and electrical systems for coordination with other facilities staff.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy objects, with or without accommodation, up to 50 pounds, use hand power tools, work from ladders and lifts, access mechanical rooms and rooftops, and work under time constraints.
• Valid driver license issued from the state in which the position is located.
• May be required to participate in facilities call-back or off hours interruptions.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree or manufacturer certification in a related technical field preferred.
• Experience with one or more of the following platforms is strongly preferred: Siemens (APOGEE/Desigo), Johnson Controls (Metasys).
• Experience with laboratory or other critical environment controls, including room pressurization, fume hood airflow control, and environmental monitoring and alarming, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate, administer, and maintain the institute's building management system (BMS) and direct digital control (DDC) systems, including controllers, network devices, operator workstations, graphics, point databases, trend logs, schedules, and alarm configurations.
• Write, modify, test, and document control sequences and programs for air handling units, exhaust and supply fans, variable air volume terminals, fume hoods, chillers, boilers, pumps, heat exchangers, and variable frequency drive systems.
• Install, terminate, calibrate, and replace field control devices, including DDC controllers, sensors, transmitters, actuators, control valves, dampers, relays, transducers, and pneumatic components; verify proper operation following installation or replacement.
• Troubleshoot system malfunctions to determine whether the cause is controls, mechanical, electrical, or network related; respond to emergency calls and coordinate corrective action with HVAC Mechanics, electricians, and outside vendors.
• Monitor and maintain critical environments, including laboratory and vivarium space pressurization relationships, fume hood and biosafety cabinet airflow, cold rooms, warm rooms, temperature- and humidity-sensitive instrument and equipment areas.
• Configure, test, and maintain environmental monitoring and alarm notification for critical research equipment and spaces; investigate alarm events and document findings and corrective action.
• Analyze system trend data to diagnose comfort complaints, identify equipment faults and failing devices, verify sequence performance, and recommend energy conservation and operational improvements.
• Perform and document controls-related preventive maintenance, sensor calibration, control loop tuning, and functional performance testing; support retro-commissioning of existing building systems.
• Support capital and renovation projects by reviewing controls submittals, drawings, sequences of operation, and points lists; witness contractor start-up and commissioning; verify proper integration into the campus BMS prior to acceptance.
• Maintain accurate documentation, including as-built sequences, point naming conventions, network architecture, wiring diagrams, program backups, and system change logs.
• Interpret blueprints, control drawings, schematics, layouts or other specifications to determine installation, modification, or repair requirements.
• Interact with TSRI personnel, contractors and vendors to evaluate, plan and coordinate work.
• Estimate labor and material costs for work requests.
• May order supplies.
• Perform routine work orders and preventative maintenance tasks, as assigned.
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

Benefits

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED