Senior Controls Designer at Salas O'Brien

Job description

Senior Controls Designer – Data Centre Projects (Canada) At Ehvert Mission Critical, a Salas O’Brien Company , we are engineered for impact. This commitment applies not only to our projects, but also to our people. We foster a people-first culture built on collaboration, innovation, and shared ownership, empowering our team members to grow meaningful, high-impact careers while working on some of the most advanced mission-critical facilities in North America. About Us Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm delivering integrated solutions across a wide range of industries. Our specialized expertise includes data centres, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, and other complex facilities, with strong capabilities in mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering. Job Summary As a Senior Controls Designer , you will lead the design, coordination, and documentation of sophisticated building automation and control systems for large-scale mission-critical facilities, including hyperscale and enterprise data centres across Canada and North America. You will provide technical leadership throughout project lifecycles, develop advanced control strategies, mentor junior team members, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient solutions. This role offers a pathway to Controls Lead, Discipline Manager, or Project Management positions within a highly technical and collaborative environment. Key Responsibilities • Lead the development of control system designs for HVAC, chilled water, condenser water, emergency cooling, and mission-critical mechanical systems • Develop advanced sequences of operation, control narratives, control diagrams, points lists, and system architecture drawings • Provide technical oversight and quality review of controls deliverables prepared by junior and intermediate designers • Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, IT, commissioning, and client teams to ensure fully integrated building systems • Support the development of innovative control strategies focused on redundancy, resiliency, maintainability, and energy efficiency • Review BAS/BMS submittals, shop drawings, network architectures, and vendor documentation for compliance with design intent • Participate in design reviews, HAZOP/risk assessments, and constructability reviews • Resolve complex controls design challenges and provide technical recommendations to clients and project teams • Support commissioning, functional performance testing, troubleshooting, and system optimization activities • Ensure compliance with applicable Canadian and international standards, including ASHRAE, CSA, OBC, NBC, NFPA, and client-specific requirements • Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of company controls standards, design guides, and best practices • Mentor and train junior engineers and designers, providing technical guidance and professional development support • Assist with project planning, resource allocation, and coordination across multiple projects simultaneously Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline • 7–12+ years of experience in building automation systems (BAS), building management systems (BMS), or controls design within a consulting engineering environment • Significant experience designing controls systems for data centres, mission-critical facilities, healthcare facilities, or other complex infrastructure projects • Strong understanding of HVAC systems, mechanical equipment controls, control logic development, and BAS architectures • Demonstrated experience developing detailed sequences of operation and advanced control strategies • Experience with major BAS platforms such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Delta Controls, or equivalent systems • Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD and/or Revit with extensive controls drafting and coordination experience • Strong knowledge of networked controls systems, communications protocols, and system integration concepts • Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in a Canadian province, or eligibility to obtain licensure • LEED AP, PMP, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or relevant industry certifications considered an asset • Excellent communication, leadership, organization, and client-facing skills • Proven ability to lead multiple projects and mentor junior team members Benefits • Work on cutting-edge data centre and mission-critical projects across Canada and internationally • Join an employee-owned company with significant long-term career growth opportunities • Leadership and technical advancement opportunities • Ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development support • Collaborative and technically strong team environment • Competitive salary, benefits package, and employee ownership opportunities • Location: Canada (Remote or Hybrid options available) • Travel: Occasional travel may be required ( Equal Opportunity Employment Salas O’Brien is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and accommodate disability-related needs in accordance with applicable laws.

Requirements

Must-haves

Senior Controls Designer – Data Centre Projects (Canada)
Lead the development of control system designs for HVAC, chilled water, condenser water, emergency cooling, and mission-critical mechanical systems
Develop advanced sequences of operation, control narratives, control diagrams, points lists, and system architecture drawings
Provide technical oversight and quality review of controls deliverables prepared by junior and intermediate designers
Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, IT, commissioning, and client teams to ensure fully integrated building systems
Support the development of innovative control strategies focused on redundancy, resiliency, maintainability, and energy efficiency
Review BAS/BMS submittals, shop drawings, network architectures, and vendor documentation for compliance with design intent
Participate in design reviews, HAZOP/risk assessments, and constructability reviews
Resolve complex controls design challenges and provide technical recommendations to clients and project teams
Support commissioning, functional performance testing, troubleshooting, and system optimization activities
Ensure compliance with applicable Canadian and international standards, including ASHRAE, CSA, OBC, NBC, NFPA, and client-specific requirements
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of company controls standards, design guides, and best practices
Mentor and train junior engineers and designers, providing technical guidance and professional development support
Assist with project planning, resource allocation, and coordination across multiple projects simultaneously
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline
7–12+ years of experience in building automation systems (BAS), building management systems (BMS), or controls design within a consulting engineering environment
Significant experience designing controls systems for data centres, mission-critical facilities, healthcare facilities, or other complex infrastructure projects
Strong understanding of HVAC systems, mechanical equipment controls, control logic development, and BAS architectures
Demonstrated experience developing detailed sequences of operation and advanced control strategies
Experience with major BAS platforms such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Delta Controls, or equivalent systems
Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD and/or Revit with extensive controls drafting and coordination experience
Strong knowledge of networked controls systems, communications protocols, and system integration concepts
Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in a Canadian province, or eligibility to obtain licensure
LEED AP, PMP, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or relevant industry certifications considered an asset

Nice-to-haves

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Application prep

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Platform: ukg
Effort: medium

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Professional Development