Controls Engineer (Data Center Exp)

Decima International is a professional services company, providing project management and controls services to clients in the United States and the Middle East. Our mission is to become the premier professional services provider across all industry sectors we are engaged in. To accomplish this, Decima International’s founders established a simple yet powerful formula:

Approach each client engagement as a partnership , create an environment that attracts the most talented professionals and allows them to flourish, and regulate growth to maintain excellence in our service standards.

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer / Controls Operations Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support mission-critical data center projects through design review, commissioning, operational readiness, and facility operations. This role requires strong technical knowledge of controls architecture, automation strategies, systems integration, operational procedures, and critical environment best practices supporting Tier III and Tier IV data centers.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with Building Automation Systems (BAS), Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), PLC-based control systems, Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), and integrated automation platforms supporting mission-critical facilities.

You will play a key role in evaluating operational risks, reviewing control system design and integration, supporting commissioning and operational readiness, and developing, reviewing, and validating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs), Methods of Procedure (MOPs), and Sequences of Operation (SOO). Experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or mission-critical facilities in Saudi Arabia or the broader GCC region is highly desirable.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide technical expertise for mission-critical controls and automation systems, including BAS, BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLC-based control systems, HMI, data acquisition platforms, networked control systems, and integrated alarm and notification systems.

Review controls system architecture for operability, maintainability, reliability, cybersecurity, resiliency, and alignment with mission-critical facility requirements.

Support design reviews, constructability reviews, controls integration reviews, commissioning readiness reviews, and operational readiness assessments.

Evaluate controls strategies, system redundancies, alarm philosophies, fail-safe logic, sequence of operation compliance, and overall controls system performance.

Provide technical review and operational input for generator and UPS control systems, chiller plant automation, mechanical and electrical system integration, and monitoring platforms.

Support the development, review, and validation of Sequences of Operation (SOO) for critical mechanical, electrical, and controls systems.

Evaluate controls system performance, operational risk, reliability, maintainability, and readiness for mission-critical operations.

Develop and improve preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for automation, controls, monitoring, and operational technology systems.

Support facility operations teams during commissioning, startup, operational readiness, and live operations.

Review maintenance procedures, alarm management processes, controls change management, and control system operating practices.

Perform operational risk assessments and reliability evaluations related to controls systems and integrated facility operations.

Verify software upgrades, system migrations, controls optimization initiatives, and operational technology changes for risk, reliability, and operational impact.

Develop, review, edit, and approve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs), and Methods of Procedure (MOPs).

Ensure procedures comply with client standards, operational best practices, applicable codes, safety requirements, and mission-critical facility expectations.

Verify controls-related switching procedures, alarm response procedures, operational sequences, emergency response steps, and risk mitigation measures.

Conduct technical reviews for operational accuracy, procedural clarity, risk reduction, and safe execution.

Facilitate procedure validation exercises, tabletop reviews, operational readiness workshops, and cross-functional procedure reviews.

Support operational governance and change management programs related to controls, automation, and facility operations.

Review commissioning reports, point-to-point verification records, functional performance testing results, and Integrated Systems Testing (IST) documentation.

Verify proper integration between mechanical, electrical, and controls systems.

Verify sequences of operation, alarm functionality, controls response, system monitoring, and integrated operational performance.

Assist owners and client teams in achieving operational acceptance, reliability, maintainability, and long-term system performance.

Prepare clear, concise, and technically accurate documentation, including engineering reports, risk assessments, controls narratives, sequence of operations documentation, operating procedures, and technical evaluations.

Work effectively with clients, contractors, commissioning authorities, designers, vendors, facility operations teams, and multidisciplinary project teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

10+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation engineering, commissioning, mission-critical engineering, facility operations, or comparable technical environments.

Minimum 5+ years of direct data center or critical facilities operations experience.

Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Experience in one or more of the following areas: data center controls design, controls commissioning, mission-critical engineering, building automation, controls integration, or critical facilities operations.

Strong understanding of mission-critical controls architecture and automation systems supporting data centers.

Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing, and validating SOPs, EOPs, MOPs, and Sequences of Operation (SOO).

Strong technical knowledge of BAS, BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLC-based controls, HMI, data acquisition systems, networked control systems, alarm management platforms, and integrated controls environments.

Ability to evaluate control system operability, maintainability, resiliency, reliability, cybersecurity, alarm management, and operational risk.

Working knowledge of mission-critical industry standards, codes, and operational best practices, including ASHRAE, NFPA, ISO, IEC, Uptime Institute Tier Standards and Operational Sustainability requirements, TIA-942, BICSI, IBC, IFC, IECC, local authority requirements, and other applicable international standards.

Ability to interpret engineering standards and apply them to real-world data center design, controls integration, commissioning, operations, maintenance, operational readiness, and emergency response.

Thorough understanding of critical environment operational practices, including change management, Permit-to-Work systems, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), alarm management, controls change control, cybersecurity awareness for operational technology (OT), risk assessments, incident response, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), and continuous improvement methodologies.

Excellent technical writing, documentation, communication, and presentation skills.

Ability to work effectively with clients, contractors, commissioning authorities, vendors, facility operations teams, and multidisciplinary project teams.

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.

Ability to lead or support multidisciplinary teams in high-risk, mission-critical environments.

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Preferred qualifications:

Direct experience supporting mission-critical facilities in Saudi Arabia or the broader GCC region.

Experience supporting hyperscale data centers, including providers such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, or similar environments.

Experience with colocation providers such as QTS, Equinix, Digital Realty, Compass Datacenters, Vantage, Aligned, STACK Infrastructure, CyrusOne, or similar mission-critical operators.

Experience with major controls platforms such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Delta Controls, Rockwell Automation, ABB, or similar systems.

Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Automation Professional (CAP), or equivalent professional certification.

Experience serving as a Commissioning Authority (CxA), Owner’s Engineer, Owner’s Representative, or client-side technical advisor.

Experience supporting Tier III or Tier IV data center operations, commissioning, operational readiness, or procedure validation programs.

Experience with controls cybersecurity, OT network segmentation, alarm rationalization, controls migration, or integrated systems testing.

Professional certifications related to data centers, commissioning, controls, automation, safety, or operational readiness are preferred.

POSITION DETAILS

Location (On-site): Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Position: Controls Engineer / Controls Operations Subject Matter Expert

Position Classification: Project-Based

Please note: This position is part of our anticipated expansion in KSA . While we are excited about the opportunities this role will offer, the position is not currently active and is associated with the planned launch of our operations in the region. By applying, you acknowledge that this is a future opportunity and not an offer of immediate employment. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to express your intent to be considered once the role becomes available.

Decima International is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to the safety and well-being of all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law.