Building Automation System Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Job Description

The Controls Engineer designs and documents advanced building automation systems for complex commercial and institutional facilities. This role focuses on hardware design, sequences of operation, and system programming for HVAC and other building systems, while providing technical support to project teams and sales. You will create clear technical documentation, develop graphical and text-based interfaces, and help ensure projects meet performance, cost, and schedule expectations. The position starts as an in-house engineering role with a natural progression into programming and field work, offering strong growth opportunities within building automation and controls engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design advanced building automation systems, including specification and sizing of controllers, electromechanical devices, sensors, networks, and computer hardware.
• Create sequences of operation for the control and automation of all building systems, ensuring they are clear, accurate, and optimized for performance.
• Document building automation system designs, including submittals, and maintain rigorous revision control for all related documents.
• Produce final documentation for building automation systems that incorporates all changes made since initial submittal.
• Develop clear, detailed design documents for project teams that include all necessary technical information.
• Design graphical and text-based user interfaces for building automation systems to support both technical and non-technical users.
• Adhere to project requirements and comply with company and customer standards for design, programming, and implementation.
• Provide technical support to sales representatives to ensure customer requirements are accurately understood and addressed in proposed solutions.
• Support functional testing for complex building systems to verify proper operation and performance of controls and automation.
• Provide input and advice on design and programming standards, including recommended parts and practices for building automation projects.
• Identify and communicate project opportunities and risks related to cost, time, and technical considerations, helping teams make informed decisions.
• Create timely, clear, concise, and well-written Requests for Information (RFIs) to resolve technical or scope-related questions.
• Communicate clearly and set proactive expectations with project managers and project teams, both internal and external.
• Maintain and advise on customer and company design and programming standards, including parts, practices, and documentation methods.
• Translate complex technical information into formats that are understandable to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide guidance, direction, and mentorship to other Controls Engineers and team members as needed.
• Apply a strong problem-solving aptitude to troubleshoot building automation and controls issues, including remote diagnostics.
• Manage time effectively, accurately estimate task durations, and deliver work on the committed timeline across multiple concurrent projects.
• Progress from hardware design into programming responsibilities and, over time, expand into field work as skills and experience grow.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of engineering or HVAC controls industry experience.
• Thorough understanding of electrical and mechanical building systems, including HVAC and related infrastructure.
• Capability to design and program any building automation project regardless of complexity.
• Ability to understand, write, and recommend modifications to sequences of operation for the automation of all building systems.
• Ability to interpret architectural, mechanical, and electrical plans, specifications, and contract documents to deliver compliant and optimized designs.
• Ability to concisely, accurately, and effectively request clarifications to technical or scope information via a formal RFI process.
• Proficiency with advanced functions of building automation system software and associated engineering tools, with Automated Logic suites preferred.
• Advanced working knowledge of Automated Logic software, hardware, peripherals, add-ons, and services.
• Proficiency in third-party communication protocols used in building automation, such as BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, LON, and N2.
• Knowledge of enterprise IP networks and experience with Microsoft Visio or similar diagramming software.
• Experience working with advanced written sequences of operations and diagrammatic depictions of systems.
• Ability to translate technical information effectively for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong aptitude for problem solving, including the ability to troubleshoot systems remotely.
• Excellent time management skills, including accurate estimation of task durations and reliable delivery against deadlines.
• Competency with Microsoft software including Windows, Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in building automation systems, controls engineering, and commissioning of complex mechanical and electrical systems.
• Experience in HVAC, mechanical systems, and automation engineering within commercial or institutional environments.
• Familiarity with TCP/IP networking concepts as they relate to building automation systems.
• Experience designing and implementing controls and automation for high-rise buildings, schools, data centers, and retrofit projects.
• Comfort working with multiple concurrent projects of varying size and duration, from small short-term efforts to large multi-month or multi-year engagements.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to other team members and contribute to the development of design and programming standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documentation, RFIs, and collaboration with project stakeholders.
• Interest in career growth from in-house engineering into programming and field roles within building automation.

Work Environment

This role is primarily an in-house engineering position with typical working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will work on multiple projects at any given time, ranging from small assignments that take only a few hours to large, complex projects that may span several months or even up to a year. The work focuses on building automation and controls for commercial and institutional facilities, including high-rise buildings, K–5 schools, data centers, and retrofit projects. Projects are primarily located in the NY and NJ area, including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and parts of New Jersey up to Middlesex County, with typical travel of up to about two hours when field work becomes part of the role. The environment is fast-paced and busy, offering consistent exposure to modern automation technologies, enterprise IP networks, and advanced building automation software and tools. The position provides a clear growth path: you begin with hardware design, then expand into programming, and eventually move into field work as your experience and expertise increase.eXPERIENCE

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sylvania, OH.

The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $60.10/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Sylvania,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.