Principal PLC Controls & Automation Engineer – Data Center Infrastructure

How will you make an impact?

Jabil is seeking a PLC Controls & Automation Engineer to serve as the technical authority for automation architecture across advanced liquid‑cooled factory and data center ecosystems. This role drives the controls strategy, standards and system‑level design for mission‑critical cooling infrastructure, spanning central plant through IT rack‑level systems. This engineer will lead with deep technical expertise showcasing an ability to outline architectures, author control philosophies and sequences of operations, ensuring scalability, writing reliable and maintainable automation code for solutions across multi‑platform PLC environments.

Principal PLC Controls & Automation Engineer

Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team

Remote
* OR Austin, TX

Requires up to 20% domestic and/or international travel (rare).

• Personally architect, build, and deploy PLC control systems for complex liquid‑cooled factory and data center environments, owning solutions from concept through commissioning.
• Write, structure, and maintain production‑grade PLC, SCADA and HMI code as the primary technical contributor, setting the bar for quality, performance and maintainability through direct execution.
• Establish engineering standards, templates, and reusable design frameworks.
• Lead design reviews, FAT/SAT validation strategies, and commissioning plans.

• Design and implement PLC systems (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, GE and other industrial PLC ecosystems).
• Design and implement IPC/Soft PLC systems (Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens IPC, Codesys).
• Develop structured, modular control logic using IEC 61131‑3 languages (ST, FBD, Ladder).
• Implement through direct coding, not delegation:
  • Real‑time control (Ether
    
    CAT, Profinet, Ethernet/IP)
  • Advanced algorithms (PID, sequencing, state machines)
  • Edge processing, data buffering, and protocol conversion (OPC UA, MQTT)

• Architect and deploy SCADA systems across platforms such as:
  • Ignition, Siemens WinCC, Rockwell Factory Talk
  • AVEVA/Wonderware, Schneider Citect
  • GE iFIX, Beckhoff HMI, web‑based SCADA
• Design high‑performance HMIs, alarm systems, and historian integration.
• Enable integration with MES, cloud platforms, and enterprise analytics systems.

• Build and commission automation solutions for a full liquid‑cooling ecosystem including chillers and central plant systems, primary and secondary pumping loops, cooling distribution units (CDUs), heat exchangers and rack‑level liquid cooling.
• Directly implement control strategies for flow, pressure, temperature, delta‑T control, variable‑speed pumps and fans and load scaling for energy optimization.

• Author, implement, and validate detailed sequences of operations personally, translating operational intent directly into PLC logic.
• Build SOO that are logic‑ready, fault‑tolerant, commissionable and maintainable.
• Execute and refine SOO during FAT, SAT, and live operation based on observed system performance.

• Design and implement leak detection and mitigation logic firsthand, integrating sensors, valves, pumps, and alarms directly into PLC control strategies.
• Focus on building automated responses for zone isolation, controlled shutdowns or ramp‑downs, protection of IT equipment and critical infrastructure.
• Ensure fail‑safe behavior through tested and field‑proven logic.

• Integrate control systems with:
  • BMS (HVAC, liquid cooling, environmental systems)
  • EPMS (power monitoring, UPS, switch gear)
• Define and code data models, telemetry points and system boundaries through hands‑on configuration and validation.
• Implement communication via BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA.
• Enable unified system architecture across BMS, EPMS, PLC, and MES platforms.
• Support energy monitoring, alarm management, and event‑driven control actions.

• Lead commissioning through direct participation, including FAT, SAT, integrated systems testing and live…