Senior Automation Systems Engineer, NA

Vantage Data Centers•Atlanta, GA

22h•$145,000 - $155,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands. The Automation Systems Group is responsible for the design, construction and support of cutting-edge data center automation and control infrastructure. The department collaborates with Operations, Sales, Engineering, Information Technology and Management to ensure the system continues to fulfill Vantage customer requirements. Automation Systems works closely with partner contractors to develop the best designs and helps manage these partners to success by providing accurate requirements, goals, and timelines. In addition to design and construction, we are also responsible for the technical requirements of the Operations department involving troubleshooting, calibrating, and repairing mission critical control systems throughout all Vantage locations. This role can be based at any of our US Locations with a flexible work arrangement: 3 days on-site and 2 days remote. Vantage is looking for an ambitious, detail-oriented, hands-on Senior Automation Systems Engineer to lead SCADA(Ignition) and PLC(Rockwell) software development supporting both new construction and sustaining mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role functions as a senior individual contributor within the Automation Development team with expectations for technical ownership, architectural decision-making, and cross-team influence. You will review mechanical and electrical drawings, sequences of operation, and instrumentation diagrams to develop and maintain scalable, reusable automation logic and visualization applications. This role contributes to standardization and continuous improvement efforts across the Vantage North America portfolio while maintaining equal responsibility for both new builds and live production systems. You may also be called on to provide escalation support and technical expertise for troubleshooting, commissioning, and validation activities in live, mission-critical environments.

Requirements

Advanced knowledge of the Ignition (Inductive Automation) SCADA platform or Rockwell Automation PLCs is required
Five years of experience in industrial SCADA or PLC based controls system development required, with seven to nine years preferred
Strong understanding of automation systems including control loops, field I/O, and mission-critical control system behavior
Experience with industrial PLC platforms, including but not limited to Rockwell Automation and Carel systems
Demonstrated familiarity with the development and interpretation of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narratives, and control panel drawings.
Ability to analyze and incorporate network architecture diagrams, equipment specifications, installation requirements, instrumentation lists, and sequence of operations into project designs and deliverables
Working knowledge of startup and commissioning procedures for industrial automation and control systems, including system verification, functional testing, and issue resolution
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills with the ability to identify, diagnose, and resolve technical issues effectively
Proven track record of delivering control system projects from concept to completion while coordinating cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and project deliverables
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members, clients, and stakeholders
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Demonstrated ability to take technical ownership, influence across teams, and make sound engineering decisions
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and SharePoint

Nice To Haves

Data center experience strongly preferred but not required
Familiarity with software development tools and practices such as version control systems and structured code reviews preferred
Experience in calibration, startup and commissioning of industrial controls systems is preferred

Responsibilities

Support and maintain graphics, UDT, and PLC code repositories, including change management, version control practices, and controlled release into production environments
Coordinate with internal Automation Engineering stakeholders, project teams, and contractors to ensure alignment with company goals, standards, and critical continuous improvement initiatives
Drive, develop, and manage automation standards, architecture guidelines, SOPs, and user documentation supporting both regional and portfolio-wide needs
Design and evolve automation architectures, data models, UDT frameworks, and reusable logic to support new construction and sustaining operations
Support development, testing, and controlled deployment of new automation applications and updates
Provide remote and limited on-site development-focused support during commissioning activities, including validation of software functionality, alarming behavior, and data integrity
Participate in design reviews of drawings & models, attend project coordination meetings, review submittals, and participate in factory acceptance testing
Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Construction, Reliability Engineering, Site Operations, and Automation Engineering peers to deliver and sustain reliable automation solutions
Act as an escalation and advisory resource for complex automation issues impacting live, mission-critical systems
Develop automation logic and visualization applications based on project documentation including drawings, sequences of operation, bills of material, and instrumentation diagrams
Design and maintain Ignition gateway architectures, including redundancy, performance, and long-term maintainability considerations
Promote abstraction, reuse, and standardization of automation logic across the portfolio
Provide technical leadership to integration team members and staff augmentation resources without direct people management responsibility
Provide technical support, guidance, and training to team members on control systems, instrumentation, and related technologies.