Sr Principal Controls Engineer – DCI (FE)

Jabil Circuit
Austin, US
Remote

Why this role

Pace
Fast Paced
The job requires a fast-paced environment with frequent travel up to 20% for domestic and international engagements, as well as the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Collaboration
Medium
This position demands extensive collaboration with cross-functional teams including electrical, mechanical, software, and facilities teams to ensure the successful integration of control systems.
Autonomy
Medium
As a technical leader, the Sr Principal Controls Engineer has a high degree of autonomy in defining and owning the control system architecture and leading the development and implementation of control systems.
Decision Impact
Team
Decisions made in this role significantly impact the performance, reliability, and scalability of automation systems in data centers, underscoring the importance of accurate and informed decision-making.
Role Level
Team Lead
The complexity of the role is high, with responsibilities ranging from defining control system architecture to leading the development and implementation of advanced control systems, requiring a deep understanding of various control systems and platforms.

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Successfully designed and implemented control systems for critical infrastructure platforms
  • Led the development of scalable and reliable automation systems
Typical background
Electrical engineeringControls engineering

Transferable backgrounds

  • Coming from Sr. Electrical Engineer in a manufacturing environment
    PLC and IPC-based control systems · SCADA and HMI systems
    The experience in designing and implementing control systems in a manufacturing setting directly translates to the responsibilities of leading control system architecture and development in data centers.
  • Coming from Automation Consultant in a consulting firm
    System architecture · Integration and execution
    The role of an automation consultant, where one drives system architecture and integration, aligns closely with the responsibilities of a Sr Principal Controls Engineer in leading control system architecture and execution.

Skills & requirements

Required

PLC ProgrammingScada SystemsIEC 61131-3 Programming StandardsControl System Architecture

Preferred

SiemensRockwellSchneiderBeckhoffCodesys

Stack & domain

PLCIPCScadaHMISiemensRockwellSchneiderBeckhoffCodesysIgnitionWinccFactorytalkAvevaData Center InfrastructurePower DistributionCooling SolutionsMechanical StructuresFiber And Networking Infrastructure

About the role

This role involves leading the design and implementation of advanced control systems for critical infrastructure in data centers, requiring a blend of technical expertise and strategic vision to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance.

Original posting from Jabil Circuit

At Jabil (NYSE: JBL), we are proud to be a trusted partner for the world's top brands, offering comprehensive engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions. With 60 years of experience across industries and a vast network of over 100 sites worldwide, Jabil combines global reach with local expertise to deliver both scalable and customized solutions. Our commitment extends beyond business success as we strive to build sustainable processes that minimize environmental impact and foster vibrant and diverse communities around the globe.

About the Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team :

The DCI team consists of technical subject matter experts who specialize in end-to-end large scale physical infrastructure that powers and enables modern data centers. This includes power distribution systems such as transformers, substations, generators, switchgear, switch panels, busways, ATS units, EDPM, BMS systems, and control panels, as well as cooling solutions ranging from traditional evaporative and indirect cooling systems to emerging liquid cooling technologies including chillers, heat exchangers, CDUs, pumps, and secondary fluid networks. The team also addresses the mechanical structures that house these systems - hot aisle containment, steel enclosures, blanking panels, cable trays, and fiber and networking infrastructure.

The DCI team operates as a cross-industry center of excellence, partnering primarily with various cloud providers across the industry. Team members function as deeply technical subject matter experts who engage directly with customers and supply chain partners to assess requirements, identify challenges, and design infrastructure solutions end-to-end. The ideal contributor brings engineering-level expertise in either power or cooling disciplines, a working knowledge of the full infrastructure dependency chain, and the ability to translate that expertise into clear recommendations and collaborative problem-solving with both technical and business stakeholders.

Job Title: Sr. Principal Controls Engineer

Job Family: Electrical Design Engineering

Organization : Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team

Location: Remote* OR Austin, TX

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

How will you make an impact?

We are seeking a highly experienced and innovative Sr Principal Controls Engineer to lead the design, development, optimization and implementation of advanced control systems across critical infrastructure platforms. This role is responsible for ensuring the performance, reliability, and scalability of automation systems, with a strong focus on data center infrastructure, power/energy management, and industrial automation.

The ideal candidate will serve as a technical leader, driving system architecture, integration, and execution across PLC, IPC-based controls, SCADA/HMI platforms, and enterprise systems including BMS and EPMS.

What will you do?

  • Define and own the control system architecture across multiple platforms including PLCs, IPC-based systems, SCADA, BMS, EPMS, and MES, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
  • Lead development and implementation of PLC and IPC-based control systems using platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, Beckhoff, and Codesys.
  • Design and deploy SCADA and HMI systems across multiple platforms (Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, etc.).
  • Develop structured, modular, and reusable control logic using IEC 61131-3 programming standards.
  • Develop detailed control system documentation including Functional Design Specifications (FDS), Sequence of Operations (SOO), I/O lists, Cause & Effect matrices, Alarm matrices, and interface definitions.
  • Create and review electrical schematics, control diagrams, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
  • Define control logic, sensor integration strategies, and communication protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, and SNMP.
  • Integrate control systems with BMS, EPMS, SCADA, MES, and cloud-based platforms to ensure seamless data flow and interoperability.
  • Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), ensuring system reliability, safety, and performance.
  • Support commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimization of control systems in operational environments.
  • Design and support control systems for mission-critical infrastructure including UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers, liquid cooling systems, CRAC/CRAH units, and fire protection systems.
  • Establish design standards, best practices, and reusable frameworks for scalable and consistent implementation.
  • Lead root cause analysis and resolution of complex control system issues during commissioning and operations.
  • Drive development and validation of system-level simulations and digital twin models.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and automation trends to improve system efficiency and performance.
  • Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software, and facilities teams to ensure seaml

Source: Jabil Circuit careers

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