Principal Engineer, Advanced Controls Applications

About the role

The Global Advanced Applications team is BAC’s technical authority for complex, non-standard customer applications, delivering engineering solutions that enable BAC to win in core markets and priority growth segments, including data centers and other mission-critical applications. The Principal Engineer, Advanced Controls Applications is BAC’s leading controls subject matter expert within Advanced Applications, responsible for defining, validating, and defending solutions that enable critical customer commitments in core markets and growth segments such as data centers.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver controls solutions for complex, non-standard applications, supporting high-value opportunities in core markets and growth segments
• Develop and validate control strategies, including sequencing, safeguards, failure modes, and operating limits, and provide clear, documented technical guidance and customer-ready technical positions
• Act as the final technical authority for complex controls applications, defining and defending engineering decisions on high-stakes customer commitments
• Define and continuously improve controls methods, tools, reusable logic, and guidance, ensuring consistency, quality, and scalability across Advanced Applications and the broader organization
• Engage directly with customers and internal stakeholders to align on requirements, shape solution approaches, and enable confident technical commitments
• Ensure controls solutions are properly integrated within the broader system, resolving controls-specific impacts and supporting system-level decisions defined by domain leads
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of controls engineers, maintaining a high technical bar while ensuring delivery of complex work
• Partner with internal BAC SME teams to leverage, strengthen, and align control platforms, tools, and domain knowledge, ensuring consistent technical positioning across teams
• Represent BAC in technical discussions with customers, partners, and industry organizations

Qualifications

The Principal Engineer, Advanced Controls Applications reports to the Senior Manager, Advanced Applications and serves as the controls domain lead within the function, accountable for controls scope and contributing to broader system decisions.

Skills

• Deep understanding of HVAC or industrial cooling systems and controls architecture
• Ability to operate as a controls domain authority, defining and defending engineering positions in high-stakes situations
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant industry standards, certification requirements, and codes
• Ability to solve multiple complex challenges in parallel under time constraints while maintaining technical rigor
• Ability to lead customer-facing technical discussions, clearly conveying complex topics and building confidence in solutions
• Effective leadership skills, including coaching, prioritization, and accountability within a small expert team

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field required; advanced degree preferred
• 12+ years of relevant, progressively complex experience delivering industrial controls and automation solutions
• Proven experience solving complex engineering problems and leading technical efforts on high-impact applications
• Demonstrated experience with PLC-based systems, industrial control architectures, and mission-critical applications
• Prior experience in applications engineering and/or customer-facing roles

Pay

BAC Hiring Compensation Range $108,200- $185,200