Solution Architect Lead

Acuity Inc. • Conyers, GA

4d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) is an innovation leader in building, refrigeration, industrial automation, and energy management solutions, delivering technologies and services that optimize performance, reliability, resiliency, and operational efficiency. We connect people with intelligent solutions through our passion for innovation, quality, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Solutions Architecture, the Lead Solutions Architect, Data Center Controls, serves as a high-impact technical leader responsible for packaging, and enabling advanced control system architectures for mission-critical environments.

This role requires deep expertise Data Center infrastructure, industrial networking, edge-to-cloud integration technologies, and control solutions such as, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The successful candidate will work closely with customers, sales, product management, engineering, and strategic partners to define and deliver scalable automation solutions that leverage PLC, SCADA, DDC, BMS, DCIM, and Industrial IoT technologies.

The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience with CODESYS-based control platforms, Data Center cooling and power infrastructure, and modern industrial communication technologies including Modbus, EtherCAT, MQTT, Sparkplug B, OPC UA, Redfish and Ignition.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• 10+ years of experience in industrial automation, PLC programming, system integration, controls engineering, or solutions architecture.
• Extensive experience with PLC platforms and industrial control systems.
• Advanced experience with CODESYS development environments and IEC 61131-3 programming methodologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge and direct experience of Data Center infrastructure and mission-critical facility operations, such as cooling, electrical infrastructure, and management systems.
• Hands-on experience with: Modbus TCP/IP and RTU, EtherCAT, MQTT, Sparkplug B, Redfish, OPC UA, BACnet/IP.
• Experience designing and deploying Ignition or Ignition Edge solutions.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking, cybersecurity, segmentation, and secure remote access architectures.
• Experience integrating PLC, SCADA, BMS, DCIM, cloud, and enterprise systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and technical documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with containerized applications including Docker and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of Azure, AWS, or edge computing architectures.
• Familiarity with machine learning, predictive analytics, digital twins, and operational optimization platforms.
• Industry certifications related to industrial automation, networking, cybersecurity, or Data Center operations.
• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise or hyperscale Data Center deployments.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design support for advanced PLC-based automation and control solutions for Data Centers cooling systems and related mission-critical applications.
• Develop scalable control architectures that integrate cooling systems, electrical infrastructure, energy monitoring, building management systems, and Industrial IoT platforms.
• Create reference architectures, solution blueprints, and deployment standards that support enterprise-scale implementations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for Data Center control applications, including: Cooling Towers, Chillers and cooling plants, CRAH/CRAC equipment, FDU/CDU equipment, Pumping and water-side economization, Modern liquid cooling systems, Electrical distribution monitoring, Energy optimization strategies, Critical facility monitoring and alarming.
• Support customers in improving resiliency, uptime, operational efficiency, and sustainability initiatives.
• Lead the development and review of PLC control strategies using CODESYS and IEC 61131-3 programming languages.
• Provide expertise in Structured Text (ST), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Sequential Function Chart (SFC), and Ladder Logic programming methodologies.
• Support proof-of-concept mock-ups, solution validation, and field pilot deployment activities.
• Design and validate secure industrial communication architectures utilizing: Modbus TCP/IP and RTU, EtherCAT, OPC UA, MQTT, Sparkplug B, Redfish, BACnet/IP, REST APIs.
• Ensure interoperability between PLC, SCADA, BMS, Data Center infrastructure management, cloud, and enterprise systems.
• Design and support supervisory control and monitoring solutions utilizing Ignition and Ignition Edge.
• Develop architectures leveraging MQTT and Sparkplug B to enable enterprise-wide data collection and operational visibility.
• Collaborate with software and product teams to advance edge-to-cloud data strategies.
• Act as a trusted advisor to customers, consultants, system integrators, and OEM partners.
• Conduct technical discovery workshops, site assessments, architecture reviews, and solution envisioning sessions.
• Support strategic opportunities and complex pursuits requiring senior technical leadership.
• Partner with Product Management, R&D, Sales Engineering, and Technical Support teams to influence product direction and commercialization plans.
• Collect and communicate Voice of Customer (VoC) feedback to drive product innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support technical team members and contribute to best-practice documentation, training programs, and architecture standards.
• Stay current with emerging technologies in industrial automation, edge computing, AI-driven operations, digital twins, and Data Center management.

Benefits

• health care
• dental coverage
• vision plans
• 401K benefits
• commissions/incentive compensation depending on the role

What This Job Offers

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