Sr Controls Engineer - Heat Rejection

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and Eco Chillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here

At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.

It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

Position Summary:

The Senior Controls Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, integrating, and programming advanced control systems for chillers, heat rejection equipment, and related products. This role requires deep expertise in control system architecture, hardware selection, and software programming, along with experience leading cross-functional teams. The Senior Controls Engineer will drive technical strategy, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and business functions to ensure successful execution of complex projects.

The position bridges high-level strategy and hands-on implementation, ensuring innovative, reliable, and efficient control solutions for mission-critical environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Design, develop, and integrate control systems for chillers and heat rejection equipment, including dry coolers, adiabatic coolers, cooling towers, and condensers.

Develop control system architectures for new machines, including hardware selection (HMIs, sensors, VFDs, actuators, etc.) and software programming logic.

Program control logic and sequences of operation (e.g., compressor staging, fan and pump speed control, free-cooling changeover, adiabatic/spray control, and lead-lag staging) to meet customer requirements, specifications, and standards.

Conduct thorough testing of control systems on test benches, prototype chillers, or heat rejection units to identify and resolve issues including troubleshooting and debugging.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, product development, sales, and customer support, to deliver effective control solutions.

Develop and maintain detailed engineering documentation, including control system drawings, wiring diagrams, and system specifications.

Ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer specifications.

Maintain and improve internal processes to enhance product quality and efficiency.

Stay up to date with industry trends and emerging technologies, incorporating them into product designs.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
3+ years of experience in control systems engineering, preferably with OEM products.

Demonstrated expertise in designing and developing…