Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Our client, a growing operator of mission-critical facilities based in NYC is seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to support the design, implementation, and ongoing reliability of industrial control and facility automation systems. This individual will serve as a technical leader for operational technology (OT) infrastructure, helping ensure the availability, performance, and security of critical building systems across a multi-site environment. The role combines hands-on engineering, troubleshooting, project execution, and lifecycle management responsibilities, partnering closely with facilities, operations, engineering, and technology teams.

Responsibilities

Automation & Controls Engineering

• Design, implement, and maintain industrial control and automation systems supporting critical facility operations.
• Configure and support PLCs, HMI platforms, SCADA systems, and related monitoring technologies.
• Develop and maintain control logic, alarm strategies, system integrations, and communications architectures.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and network-related issues impacting facility automation systems.
• Support system upgrades, commissioning activities, and modernization initiatives.

Operational Technology Infrastructure

• Manage OT networks and communications supporting controllers, field devices, and supervisory systems.
• Support industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, OPC-UA, MQTT, and related technologies.
• Maintain system documentation, network diagrams, configuration backups, and asset inventories.
• Monitor system performance and identify opportunities to improve reliability, resilience, and operational efficiency.

Critical Facility Systems

• Support automation platforms associated with electrical, mechanical, and environmental infrastructure.
• Assist with integration and monitoring of power, cooling, and building systems.
• Partner with facilities teams to optimize operational performance and system availability.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action efforts following operational incidents.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Support implementation of cybersecurity controls within OT environments.
• Assist with vulnerability remediation, access management, and system hardening activities.
• Maintain compliance with applicable internal standards and industry best practices.
• Participate in incident response and business continuity planning efforts.
• Project Delivery & Continuous Improvement Support new facility deployments, expansions, and infrastructure enhancement projects.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and operational handoff activities.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, templates, and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve reliability, visibility, and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, operational technology, or related disciplines.
• Experience supporting industrial, manufacturing, critical facilities, utilities, energy, or similar operational environments.
• Hands-on experience with PLC, HMI, SCADA, or building automation platforms.
• Knowledge of industrial networking concepts and communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities.

Preferred

• Experience supporting multi-site operations.
• Familiarity with OT cybersecurity principles and industry standards.
• Exposure to power monitoring, facility automation, or infrastructure management platforms.
• Experience participating in commissioning and large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Industry certifications related to controls, automation, networking, or cybersecurity.