Principal Product Controls Engineering Manager
Tract Capital Management•Seattle, WA
About The Position
The Principal Product Controls Engineering Manager leads the controls strategy for advanced mechanical and electrical infrastructure in large-scale data centers, including cooling and power systems. This role drives control architecture and optimization to improve energy efficiency, capacity, and reliability, while developing AI-driven capabilities for real-time optimization, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance. You will lead a controls engineering team and partner across product, design, operations, and external stakeholders to scale solutions from concept to global deployment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Controls, or related field
- 10+ years of controls engineering experience, with at least 5 years in data centers, HVAC, or power systems
- Experience designing and implementing controls for complex mechanical and electrical systems
- Track record of improving system performance, efficiency, or reliability
- Experience leading projects or teams from concept through operations
- Hands-on experience with PLCs, embedded controls, or BMS/DDC platforms
- Knowledge of protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA, and industrial networking
- Familiarity with data tools such as Python, SQL, or MATLAB
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in engineering, controls, AI, or data science
- Experience in hyperscale or colocation data centers
- Background in air- or liquid-cooled systems and their control strategies
- Experience implementing AI/ML in operational environments
- Familiarity with industrial cybersecurity practices
- Experience managing vendors or third-party partners
Responsibilities
- Define controls roadmap, standards, and system architectures across products and sites
- Develop scalable sequence-of-operations frameworks and reusable control libraries
- Ensure integration with BMS, DCIM, and SCADA systems using secure, open protocols (BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA)
- Lead design of control systems including PID loops, safety interlocks, redundancy, and operating sequences
- Translate mechanical and electrical requirements into control logic and embedded software
- Oversee controller configurations, I/O definitions, and functional specifications
- Improve PUE, thermal performance, and electrical efficiency
- Optimize capacity utilization and system reliability under varying conditions
- Implement model-based and data-driven controls using real-time and forecasted inputs
- Develop predictive maintenance and anomaly detection capabilities
- Define data requirements and partner with data teams to build models
- Deploy AI-driven solutions into real-time or near-real-time environments with appropriate safeguards
- Establish testing frameworks (HIL/SIL), FAT/SAT procedures, and regression testing
- Define controls-related quality standards and validation processes
- Lead root cause analysis and issue resolution during commissioning and early operations
- Partner with engineering, design, commissioning, and operations teams
- Work with vendors, OEMs, and integrators to align on controls requirements and cybersecurity standards
- Support compliance with applicable codes and safety requirements
- Build and lead a high-performing controls engineering team
- Set technical standards and drive continuous improvement
- Provide leadership across multiple concurrent projects
Benefits
- Tract Capital employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
Upload and Match Resume
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
