Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls EngineerJob Description

This role focuses on the design, programming, and documentation of advanced building automation systems for complex commercial and institutional facilities. The Controls Engineer creates detailed control system designs, develops sequences of operation, and supports the full lifecycle of building automation projects from concept through commissioning. The position offers a clear growth path, starting with in-house hardware design, progressing into programming, and potentially advancing into field-based responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Design advanced building automation systems, including the specification and sizing of controllers, electromechanical devices, sensors, networks, and computer hardware.
• Create sequences of operation for the control of all building systems, ensuring they are clear, complete, and optimized for performance.
• Prepare and maintain detailed design documentation, including submittals, and manage revision control for all design documents.
• Produce final documentation for building automation systems that incorporates all changes made since the original submittal.
• Develop clear design documents for project teams that include all necessary technical information for implementation.
• Document and communicate building automation system designs and revisions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Design both graphical and text-based user interfaces for building automation systems to support intuitive operation and monitoring.
• Adhere to project requirements and follow company and customer standards for design, programming, and implementation.
• Provide technical support to sales teams to help ensure customer needs are accurately understood and met.
• Support functional testing and commissioning of complex building systems to verify proper operation and compliance with design intent.
• Provide input and advice to others on design and programming standards, including recommended parts, practices, and methodologies.
• Identify and communicate project opportunities and risks related to cost, schedule, and technical considerations.
• Create clear, concise, and well-written Requests for Information (RFIs) in a timely manner when technical or scope clarifications are needed.
• Communicate proactively with project managers and project teams, both internal and external, to set expectations and provide status updates.
• Maintain and help refine customer and company design and programming standards, including parts and practices for building automation systems.
• Interpret architectural, mechanical, and electrical plans, specifications, and contract documents to deliver compliant and optimized designs.
• Understand, write, and recommend modifications to sequences of operation for the automation of all building systems.
• Translate complex technical information into terms that are understandable for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and direction to other controls engineers and team members.
• Estimate the time required to complete assigned tasks and deliver work on the committed timeline while managing multiple projects of varying size and duration.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree with 2+ years of engineering or HVAC controls industry experience.
• Thorough understanding of electrical and mechanical building systems.
• Ability to design and program any building automation project executed by the organization, regardless of complexity.
• Ability to understand, write, and recommend modifications to sequences of operation for all building systems.
• Ability to interpret architectural, mechanical, and electrical blueprints, specifications, and contract documents.
• Ability to write concise, accurate, and effective RFIs to clarify technical or scope-related information.
• Proficiency with advanced functions of building automation system software and associated engineering tools, with experience in Automated Logic suites preferred.
• Advanced working knowledge of building automation software, hardware, peripherals, add-ons, and services, particularly Automated Logic platforms.
• Proficiency with third-party communication protocols used in building automation, such as BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, LON, and N2.
• Knowledge of enterprise IP networks and experience using Microsoft Visio or similar diagramming software.
• Experience working with advanced written sequences of operation and diagrammatic depictions of building systems.
• Ability to clearly translate technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving aptitude, including the ability to troubleshoot systems remotely.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to estimate task durations and meet deadlines across multiple projects.
• Competency with Microsoft Windows, Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with building automation systems in commercial and institutional environments, such as high-rise buildings, schools, data centers, and retrofit projects.
• Familiarity with HVAC systems and their integration into building automation platforms.
• Experience with design and implementation of building automation systems in dense urban environments.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to other team members, including mentoring less experienced engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for collaboration with project teams, sales, and customers.
• Comfort working on multiple projects simultaneously, ranging from small, short-duration tasks to large, long-term assignments.
• Interest in career growth from in-house engineering responsibilities into programming and field-based roles.

Work Environment

This position is primarily an in-house engineering role with typical working hours of approximately 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The workload includes multiple concurrent projects, ranging from small efforts that may take only a few hours to large projects that can span several months or up to a year. The work focuses on building automation systems for a wide variety of projects, including high-rise commercial buildings, K-5 schools, data centers, retrofits, and other construction projects. Most projects are located within the New York and New Jersey area, including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and parts of northern and central New Jersey, with a typical travel radius of up to about two hours when field involvement is required. The environment emphasizes growth and progression, where engineers typically start with hardware design, then move into programming, and may later transition into field roles as they gain experience. You will work with modern building automation technologies, enterprise IP networks, and engineering tools in a fast-paced setting where prioritization and coordination across multiple projects are essential.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sylvania, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $60.10/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Sylvania,OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.