Controls Engineer Plc Programming Jobs in Columbus, OH

Controls & Automation Engineer – Data Center

Location: USA – Project/Site Based

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: Data Centers / Mission Critical / AI Infrastructure

Travel: Project dependent

About the Role

We are seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to support the delivery, integration, commissioning, and ongoing optimization of controls and automation systems within large-scale data center and mission-critical facilities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer with experience across BMS, EPMS, PLCs, SCADA, BAS, industrial controls, or building automation who wants to work on complex hyperscale, colocation, and AI infrastructure projects.

You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, commissioning, construction, and controls teams to ensure automated systems are properly designed, installed, integrated, tested, and commissioned.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, review, implement, and troubleshoot controls and automation systems across data center facilities.
• Support BMS/BAS, EPMS, PLC, SCADA, HVAC, electrical and mechanical control systems.
• Review control schematics, sequences of operation, points lists, network architecture, and control drawings.
• Coordinate controls installation with electrical, mechanical, MEP, and construction teams.
• Develop and review control logic, sequences, graphics, alarms, trends, and system interfaces.
• Support integration between BMS, EPMS, PLC, SCADA, and other critical facility systems.
• Troubleshoot controls hardware, software, communications, sensors, actuators, and network issues.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, IST, functional testing, and commissioning activities.
• Work with commissioning teams to identify and resolve system deficiencies.
• Review contractor and vendor documentation and ensure systems meet project specifications.
• Support system startup, testing, validation, and turnover.
• Assist with controls-related QA/QC activities and documentation.
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, controls contractors, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, test records, punch lists, and commissioning reports.
• Support troubleshooting during construction, commissioning, and operational phases.
• Ensure controls systems comply with project requirements, safety standards, and applicable codes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline preferred.
• 3+ years of controls, automation, instrumentation, BMS/BAS, PLC, SCADA, or industrial controls experience.
• Experience working within data centers, mission-critical facilities, industrial facilities, manufacturing, semiconductor, or other highly automated environments.
• Strong understanding of control systems architecture and automation principles.
• Experience troubleshooting controls and communication systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, P&IDs, and sequences of operation.
• Experience working with contractors, vendors, subcontractors, and project teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced construction and commissioning environment.
• Willingness to travel or work on-site as required.

Preferred Experience

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Building Management Systems (BMS/BAS)
• Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS)
• PLC programming and troubleshooting
• SCADA systems
• HVAC controls
• Industrial automation
• Instrumentation and controls
• Modbus / BACnet / Ethernet/IP
• OPC / OPC UA
• Control networks and industrial communications
• Data center electrical and mechanical systems
• Generator and UPS controls
• Switchgear and power distribution controls
• Chillers, CRAH/CRAC units, cooling systems and pumps
• Liquid cooling / AI infrastructure
• Data center commissioning and integrated systems testing
• FAT / SAT / IST
• AutoCAD or controls documentation software

Ideal Background

The ideal candidate could come from a data center controls contractor, BAS/BMS integrator, electrical contractor, automation company, industrial controls environment, or mission-critical commissioning firm.

Candidates with experience supporting Microsoft, AWS, Google, Meta, Oracle, hyperscale, colocation, semiconductor, or other mission-critical facilities are particularly attractive.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on large-scale hyperscale and AI data center projects
• Exposure to advanced mission-critical controls and automation systems
• Career progression within a rapidly expanding data center market
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Potential travel/per-diem opportunities depending on project
• Opportunity to work alongside leading construction, commissioning, engineering, and technology teams

If you have a controls, automation, BMS, EPMS, PLC, or SCADA background and want to move further into the data center industry, we'd like to hear from you.