Senior Automation Systems Engineer, NA

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Automation Systems Group

The Automation Systems Group is responsible for the design, construction and support of cutting-edge data center automation and control infrastructure. The department collaborates with Operations, Sales, Engineering, Information Technology and Management to ensure the system continues to fulfill Vantage customer requirements. Automation Systems works closely with partner contractors to come up with the best design and helps manage these partners to success by providing accurate requirements, goals, and timelines. In addition to design and construction, we are also responsible for the technical requirements of the Operations department involving troubleshooting, calibrating, and repairing mission critical control systems throughout all Vantage locations.

Position Overview

This role can be remote in the US.

Vantage is looking for an ambitious, detail-oriented, hands-on Senior Automation Systems Engineer to lead Ignition and PLC software development supporting both new construction and sustaining mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role functions as a senior individual contributor within Automation Engineering, with expectations for technical ownership, architectural decision-making, and cross-team influence. You will review mechanical and electrical drawings, sequences of operation, and instrumentation diagrams to develop and maintain scalable, reusable automation logic and visualization applications. This role contributes to standardization and continuous improvement efforts across the Vantage North America portfolio while maintaining equal responsibility for both new builds and live production systems. You may also be called on to provide escalation support and technical expertise for troubleshooting, commissioning, and validation activities in live, mission-critical environments.

Essential Job Functions

• Support and maintain graphics, UDT, and PLC code repositories, including change management, version control practices, and controlled release into production environments

• Coordinate with internal Automation Engineering stakeholders, project teams, and contractors to ensure alignment with company goals, standards, and critical continuous improvement initiatives

• Drive, develop, and manage automation standards, architecture guidelines, SOPs, and user documentation supporting both regional and portfolio-wide needs

• Design and evolve automation architectures, data models, UDT frameworks, and reusable logic to support new construction and sustaining operations

• Support development, testing, and controlled deployment of new automation applications and updates

• Provide development-focused support during commissioning activities, including validation of software functionality, alarming behavior, and data integrity

Duties

• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Construction, Reliability Engineering, Site Operations, and Automation Engineering peers to deliver and sustain reliable automation solutions

• Act as an escalation and advisory resource for complex automation issues impacting live, mission-critical systems

• Develop automation logic and visualization applications based on project documentation including drawings, sequences of operation, bills of material, and instrumentation diagrams

• Design and maintain Ignition gateway architectures, including redundancy, performance, and long-term maintainability considerations

• Promote abstraction, reuse, and standardization of automation logic across the portfolio

• Provide technical leadership to integration team members and staff augmentation resources without direct people management responsibility

Job Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of the Ignition (Inductive Automation) SCADA platform is required

• Five years of experience in industrial automation SCADA development required, with seven to nine years preferred

• Data center experience strongly preferred but not required

• Strong understanding of automation systems including control loops, field I/O, and mission-critical control system behavior

• Experience with industrial PLC platforms, including but not limited to Rockwell Automation and Carel systems

• Familiarity with software development tools and practices such as version control systems and structured code reviews preferred

• Demonstrated ability to take technical ownership, influence across teams, and make sound engineering decisions

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and SharePoint

• Travel required up to approximately 25 percent, with potential variation based on business needs

Physical Demands and Special Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details 

• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits. 

• Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. 

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We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.

We’ll be accepting applications for at least one week from the date this role is posted. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply soon—we’re excited to find the right person and will keep the role open until we do!