Principal Automation Systems Engineer, NA

Own the automation standards that keep mission-critical data center operations running. As a Principal Automation Systems Engineer, you will serve as a principal technical authority for SCADA (Ignition) and PLC (Rockwell) software development across new construction, sustaining operations, and live environments. You will define automation architecture and reusable engineering practices across the North America portfolio, providing portfolio-level technical ownership and guidance to internal teams and integration partners.

Hybrid flexibility in San Antonio, TX: This role is based in the US with a flexible work arrangement of 3 days on-site and 2 days remote. Compensation includes a $155,000–$165,000 annual salary range plus bonus (range may vary by location) and an above-market total compensation package.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve portfolio-level automation architecture, including Ignition gateway strategies, PLC design patterns, reusable UDT frameworks, alarm philosophy, data models, and standards for scalable automation delivery.
• Lead governance of automation standards and architecture guidelines, including SOPs, technical documentation, and reusable engineering practices for regional and portfolio needs.
• Provide principal-level technical direction for SCADA, PLC, graphics, UDT, alarming, telemetry, and data integrity solutions across new construction and sustaining operations.
• Serve as a technical decision-maker for complex design, commissioning, production support, and continuous improvement initiatives affecting mission-critical systems.
• Guide and influence Automation Engineering stakeholders, project teams, integration partners, contractors, and cross-functional groups to align with company goals, quality expectations, and operating standards.
• Review and approve significant automation design decisions, code approaches, release strategies, and change management practices for production environments.
• Lead technical reviews of drawings, models, sequences of operation, submittals, factory acceptance testing, commissioning plans, and validation results to ensure operational and customer requirements are met.
• Provide escalation support for high-impact troubleshooting, commissioning, validation, and production issue resolution in live, mission-critical environments.
• Mentor senior engineers and integration team members and coach staff augmentation resources to strengthen engineering judgment, development quality, and technical consistency.
• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Construction, Reliability Engineering, Site Operations, Information Technology, and Automation Engineering peers to deliver and sustain reliable automation solutions.
• Translate project documentation, including drawings, sequences of operation, bills of material, instrumentation diagrams, equipment specifications, and network diagrams, into scalable automation solutions and engineering deliverables.
• Evaluate automation design options and recommend approaches that balance operational reliability, maintainability, deployment risk, cybersecurity, project schedule, and long-term support needs.
• Lead root cause analysis and technical remediation planning for recurring automation issues impacting commissioning, customer reporting, alarming, telemetry, or live operations.
• Identify gaps in standards, tools, quality controls, and work processes, then drive improvements that raise delivery consistency and reduce operational risk.
• Provide technical leadership and coaching without direct people management responsibility.
• Represent Automation Engineering in cross-functional technical discussions, design reviews, project coordination meetings, and stakeholder-facing technical conversations when needed.

Requirements

• Expert-level knowledge of the Ignition (Inductive Automation) SCADA platform or Rockwell Automation PLCs is required, with strong working knowledge of both preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in industrial SCADA or PLC-based controls system development required; data center or other mission-critical infrastructure experience strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of automation systems: control loops, field I/O, alarming, telemetry, data integrity, control narratives, and mission-critical control system behavior.
• Demonstrated experience designing, governing, and improving scalable automation architectures, reusable logic libraries, UDT frameworks, visualization standards, and PLC or SCADA development practices.
• Advanced experience with industrial PLC platforms including (but not limited to) Rockwell Automation and Carel systems.
• Ability to interpret and challenge P&IDs, control narratives, control panel drawings, network architecture diagrams, equipment specifications, instrumentation lists, and sequences of operation.
• Strong software tooling and disciplined engineering practices: version control, structured code reviews, release management, technical documentation, and controlled production deployments.
• Working knowledge of startup and commissioning procedures for industrial automation and control systems, including verification, functional testing, issue resolution, and production readiness validation.
• Experience supporting live mission-critical environments with change control, clear communication, and risk management.
• Excellent analytical skills for troubleshooting complex issues across systems, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
• Track record leading complex control system projects and architecture initiatives from concept through delivery while coordinating stakeholders and deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to explain complex technical topics to engineers, operations teams, contractors, clients, and leadership stakeholders.
• Ability to take portfolio-level technical ownership, influence without direct authority, mentor engineers, and make sound engineering decisions under pressure.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Travel required up to approximately 25% (may vary based on business needs).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life and AD&D
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance
• 401k program with company match
• Many other additional voluntary benefits
• Above market total compensation package

Additional details

• Location: San Antonio, TX (hybrid)
• Compensation: $155,000–$165,000 + Bonus. Range based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Physical demands include occasional standing, walking, sitting, using hands to handle objects, reaching, climbing stairs, balancing, stooping or kneeling, and talking and hearing; occasional lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.