Lead Chiller Controls Engineer

Overview Of Your Responsibilities

The Lead Chiller Controls Engineer leads the design, development, and deployment of advanced control systems. This role applies a strong understanding of centrifugal compressor chiller mechanics to develop sequences of operation, create controls logic, write code, select controls PLC hardware, and select peripheral sensors and control valves for data center applications.

This role also provides a strong technical role at the Mesa facility and mentors junior engineers and programmers. This role requires a solid understanding of compressor-based systems and overall system behavior to define control strategies and sequences of operation for complex chiller applications, along with structured control system development.

The position provides technical leadership by guiding system-level decisions, aligning control approaches across projects, and ensuring consistent implementation. As a hands-on experienced engineer, the role contributes to control system development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement, while mentoring engineers and programmers and supporting overall team capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Control System Design & Programming
• Lead the full lifecycle of control system projects: design, maintenance, testing, commissioning, and ongoing optimization of controls logic, systems, and hardware.
• Champion system-level design and integration efforts as the primary focus, with testing and commissioning.
• Strong expertise on the following: chiller sequence of operations, hardware-software integration, apply solid thermodynamics and refrigeration fundamentals, develop, implement, and troubleshoot advanced and structured control logic for complex HVAC and centrifugal chillers (air-cooled) including free cooling with refrigerant pump utilized in data center cooling applications.
• Constantly seek scalable and reusable solutions.
• Design and maintain robust controls logic and interface solutions to deliver to ensure clear system visibility, diagnostics, and consistent operator interaction across implementations.
• Define and maintain system documentation, including P&IDs, sequences of operation (SOO), I/O lists, and parameterization standards, to ensure alignment, traceability, and consistency across implementations.
• Design and support communication architecture using industrial protocols (e.g., Modbus RTU/TCP, BACnet MS/TP and IP) to ensure reliable integration and data exchange across control system components.
• Testing & Commissioning
• Lead in-house testing, system commissioning, and startup of equipment prior to shipment.
• Perform hands-on diagnostics and root-cause analysis using industry-standard tools in the lab and on the production floor.
• Define and maintain structured testing procedures and commissioning checklists to ensure consistent validation, repeatability, and alignment across system deployments.
• Engineering & Optimization
• Apply core engineering principles (thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, controls, and power electronics) to optimize system performance, energy efficiency, and reliability.
• Collaboration & Mentorship
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, mechanical, electrical, and project teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and programmers, supporting their technical growth and development.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in controls engineering, with a strong focus on HVAC centrifugal chiller systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or related field, OR relevant technologist diploma plus 5+ years of experience.
• Key Competencies / Skills
• Able to navigate levels of ambiguity on technical objectives, and make reliable decisions even if all the information is not available.
• Adept at working within tight deadlines and manage urgent projects simultaneously.
• Strong working knowledge of Windows-based systems, computer networks, and control system cybersecurity best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; able to clearly articulate technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, mentor team members, and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong understanding of refrigeration systems, including compressor operation, refrigerant circuits, expansion valves, and key concepts such as superheat, and subcooling.
• Understanding of control theory fundamentals (e.g., PID control) and hands-on experience tuning control loops in thermal or refrigeration systems.
• Preferred / Additional Strengths
• Hands-on knowledge of power electronics, variable speed drives, centrifugal compressors, fluid handling equipment, or mission-critical data center cooling infrastructure.
• Practical understanding of EIA-485 network topologies and field implementation.
• Hands-on knowledge of mechanical and thermal systems, including heat exchangers, pumps, fluid handling equipment, compressors.
• Working knowledge with HMI / SCADA / PLC systems.