Senior Controls Engineer- Mission Critical

Overview

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that delivers high-quality solutions across North America. The Clayco Design and Engineering (CDE) team focuses on robust design-build architectural and engineering solutions for industries including food & beverage, consumer products, manufacturing, and life-science products.

The Role We Want You For

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer – Mission Critical to lead the design, development, and implementation of Building Management Systems (BMS), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for mission-critical projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with automation, PLCs, control network architecture, and system integration in high-reliability environments such as data centers, pharmaceutical plants, and industrial facilities.

The Specifics of the Role

• Design, program, and commission automation and control systems for mission-critical projects.
• Develop PLC, HMI, and SCADA architectures to support complex facility operations.
• Integrate Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) into mission-critical environments.
• Perform network architecture design for control systems, including cybersecurity best practices.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and IT teams to ensure seamless system integration.
• Conduct system testing, validation, and troubleshooting during commissioning and operational phases.
• Manage vendor and subcontractor relationships to ensure control systems meet performance specifications.
• Stay current with emerging technologies in automation, IoT, and AI-driven control systems to enhance operational efficiency and resilience.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and contribute to knowledge-sharing within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, with at least 5 years in mission-critical environments (data centers, pharma, advanced manufacturing, etc.).
• Expertise in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, etc.), SCADA/HMI development (Ignition, Wonderware, Rockwell Factory Talk, etc.), and network communication protocols (Modbus, BACnet, OPC, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of power monitoring systems (EPMS), industrial automation, and cybersecurity best practices for control systems.
• Experience with programming and configuring automation platforms for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• Familiarity with NFPA, ISA, NIST, and industry standards related to automation and control in mission-critical environments.
• Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as needed for commissioning and system validation.

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!
• This position is classified as a safety-sensitive role in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Candidates selected for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check, which includes mandatory drug testing.

Why Clayco?

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top
  5).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus:
  Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including:
  Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to:
  Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Industries
• Construction, Engineering Services, and Design Services