Engineering Manager - Building Automation

SmartTech Contracting LLC

20d • $150,000 - $180,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Engineering Manager – Building Automation is the senior hardware engineering leader for the Building Automation department and is accountable for engineering excellence across BAS projects, including standards, technical quality, engineering resource alignment, and deliverable execution. This role leads the hardware engineering function for small-scale mission critical and commercial projects, with a primary focus on DDC / Niagara-based control systems, industrial control panels, field integration, and related control system infrastructure. Unlike traditional commercial BAS engineering roles centered on building-level DDC applications, this position requires expertise in industrial-grade control system design and the execution realities of hyperscale and other mission critical environments. The Building Automation department delivers complex projects where controls solutions must support high reliability, redundancy, phased turnover, commissioning rigor, and integration across multiple systems, trades, vendors, and stakeholders. This role provides the engineering leadership needed to ensure hardware designs are practical, scalable, maintainable, and aligned with demanding client and operational requirements. This role also provides leadership for first-of-a-kind programs, new client standards, and highly complex delivery models where project success depends on establishing sound technical frameworks, repeatable engineering methods, and the right technical talent on the project from the outset. The Engineering Manager – Building Automation partners closely with department leadership, software engineering leadership, project teams, and business development to help position projects for success, support strategic pursuits, and strengthen the department’s long-term engineering capability. This role is NOT responsible for software engineering management. Smart Tech Contracting maintains separate leadership for DDC programming and Niagara software standards and delivery. However, this role must work in close coordination with software leadership to ensure alignment between hardware engineering, software implementation, and overall project execution. The Engineering Manager – Building Automation reports to the Associate Director of Building Automation and works closely with the Associate Director - Engineering, engineering managers in other departments, project managers, construction leaders, software leadership, BIM / VDC resources, business development teams, clients, vendors, and strategic partners.

Requirements

• Expert knowledge of DDC and Niagara systems used in Building Automation applications, including industrial-grade sensors and best practices
• Expert knowledge of hardware engineering for BAS and EPMS solutions in complex mission critical environments
• Expert knowledge of industrial control panel design practices, component selection, layout considerations, panel integration, and constructability
• Skilled in developing and enforcing engineering standards, review processes, and quality expectations across multiple concurrent projects
• Skilled in leading engineering teams responsible for complex control system deliverables
• Skilled in assigning resources and matching technical talent to project complexity and delivery needs
• Skilled in navigating clients through BAS / EPMS project designs including identification of standards, needs, options, and tradeoffs
• Skilled in evaluating first-of-a-kind project requirements and establishing engineering strategies that reduce execution risk
• Knowledge of construction design process, stakeholders, deliverables, and mission critical project execution workflows
• Knowledge of data center HVAC applications, chilled water plants, heat rejection systems, airside systems, and associated control strategies
• Knowledge of instrumentation, sensors, actuators, valves, and field devices used in industrial and mission critical control systems
• Knowledge of control system networking including addressing, VLANs, LANs, switches, routers, firewalls, and IT / OT interface requirements
• Knowledge of OT protocols including BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, MQTT, and related industrial / building systems integrations
• Knowledge of EPMS integration requirements and the relationship between BAS, PLC, SCADA, and power monitoring systems
• Knowledge of code requirements, safety considerations, and energy guidelines relevant to controls engineering designs
• Working knowledge of Revit and AutoCAD and the engineering coordination required with BIM / VDC resources
• Skilled at using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), along with exceptional organizational skills for file management
• Ability to analyze engineering organizations, identify capability gaps, and implement improvements in staffing, process, and training
• Ability to mentor Level 5 lead engineers and build technical leadership capacity across the department
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to communicate directly with clients and represent the department in strategic and high-visibility discussions
• Ability to work successfully in a remote environment through effective communication, self-motivation, proactiveness, and resourcefulness in a distraction-free workspace
• Ability to leverage AI and emerging technologies to streamline workflows, improve quality, optimize engineering operations, and contribute to company-wide innovation
• Ability to follow company and site safety requirements
• Ability to work under pressure and meet close deadlines
• Ability to achieve certification for NFPA70E and / or OSHA training as / if required
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction, or related discipline OR Eight years of experience with hands-on installation, testing, validation, troubleshooting, or field leadership of controls infrastructure
• Minimum ten years of additional experience with BAS, EPMS, DDC, and / or Niagara controls engineering
• Significant experience leading engineering execution for large-scale mission critical, industrial, or hyperscale data center projects
• At least half of this experience should be with mission critical or other Building Automation markets
• Prior experience leading engineering teams, technical standards, staffing decisions, and quality oversight across multiple concurrent projects is strongly preferred
• Controls design and design project management experience

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior hardware engineering leader for the Building Automation department, with primary accountability for DDC / Niagara-based engineering execution across BAS projects
• Establish, maintain, and improve department standards, design practices, workflows, and deliverable expectations for mission critical control systems, industrial control panels, field integration, and related hardware engineering
• Provide technical leadership for complex control system applications supporting central utility plants, airside systems, heat rejection systems, EPMS integrations, and other HVAC applications
• Partner with software engineering leadership to ensure alignment between hardware design and software implementation, while maintaining clear ownership of hardware engineering standards and deliverables
• Provide senior engineering leadership to ensure BAS projects are set up for success, including technical strategy, review structure, resource alignment, and early identification of engineering risk
• Lead or support engineering strategy for first-of-a-kind programs, new client standards, and highly complex projects where execution depends on development of new frameworks, technical approaches, and repeatable delivery methods
• Maintain accountability for the overall quality, consistency, and completeness of hardware engineering deliverables across the BA department
• Ensure quality control processes and technical reviews are clearly defined and executed by Level 5 lead engineers and other designated reviewers
• Intervene as needed on high-risk, technically complex, or strategically important projects requiring senior-level engineering leadership
• Assign engineering resources based on project size, technical complexity, client requirements, schedule demands, and staff development needs
• Partner with the Associate Director - Engineering and Associate Director of Building Automation on hiring, staffing strategy, organizational planning, and capability development for the BA engineering team
• Develop technical leaders within the department and establish training priorities related to DDC platforms, Niagara systems, industrial control panels, mission critical applications, engineering standards, and review practices
• Build department capability through standardization, mentoring, and continuous improvement to support large-scale and BA growth
• Support business development, preconstruction, and department leadership on upcoming opportunities by providing technical input on control architecture, engineering risk, staffing, and delivery approach
• Participate in client-facing discussions for major pursuits, first-of-a-kind opportunities, and strategic programs requiring deep DDC / Niagara and mission critical engineering expertise
• Coordinate with project management, construction leadership, BIM / VDC, procurement, commissioning, software leadership, and executive leadership to align engineering priorities with project and business objectives
• Communicate engineering risks, quality concerns, staffing needs, and technical priorities clearly across the organization
• Completion of Assigned Tasks and Deliverables on Time and on Budget
• Performs Other Related Duties as Assigned

Benefits

• Choice of comprehensive medical plans (including two PPO-style plans and a HDHP w/ HSA option)
• Dental and vision plans
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits extended to spouse / domestic partner and dependent children up to age 26
• 401k with company match and self-directed brokerage account option
• PTO including additional paid time off during the last week of the year
• Company paid life insurance coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Short and long-term disability, AD&D coverage
• Professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement and professional licensing assistance
• Paid parental leave after one year of employment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior