Controls Engineer

Ecolab•Naperville, IL

61d•$98,600 - $148,000

About The Position

We are seeking a skilled Controls Engineer to design, develop, and implement advanced control systems for cooling and thermal management equipment in data center environments. This role requires deep expertise in PLC programming, industrial automation, and integration with building and data center management platforms to ensure reliable, efficient, and secure cooling operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of failover strategies, pump failure diagnostics, and control logic for high-availability systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field and 5 years of experience in industrial controls and automation systems or MS, and 3 years of experience or PhD.
Proficiency in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric preferred).
Skilled in Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and Function Block Diagrams.
Strong knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet/IP, Profinet).
Experience with HMI/SCADA development tools (FactoryTalk, WinCC, Wonderware, or similar).
Solid understanding of electrical systems, motor controls, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).
Familiarity with control theory, PID tuning, and process control principles.
Experience in electrical interface design and panel layout.
Knowledge of data center infrastructure and facility management systems

Nice To Haves

Experience with cooling system controls and precision environmental regulation in data centers.
Familiarity with IoT platforms and cloud-based monitoring solutions.
Understanding of cybersecurity best practices for industrial control systems.
Knowledge of UL508A panel standards and electrical safety codes.
Background in HVAC automation and thermal control systems.
Experience with predictive analytics and machine learning for equipment optimization.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Design and implement PLC-based control systems for cooling distribution equipment, including pump and valve control, thermal regulation, and safety interlocks.
Develop and debug control logic for fault detection, failover mechanisms, and system recovery in case of pump or component failure.
Create HMI interfaces for local and remote monitoring, enabling intuitive control and diagnostics of cooling system operations.
Define electrical interface specifications and collaborate with electrical engineering teams on panel design and layout.
Integrate control systems with Building Management Systems (BMS) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms for centralized monitoring and control.
Establish and configure industrial communication protocols (Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet/IP) for seamless interoperability across systems.
Develop control algorithms for energy optimization, load balancing, and predictive maintenance.
Produce comprehensive documentation including I/O lists, logic diagrams, commissioning procedures, and test plans.
Support field commissioning and troubleshoot control system issues during installation and operation.
Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure control system resilience and compliance with data center security standards.
Implement automated testing and validation procedures to ensure control system reliability and performance.