Principal Electrical Controls Engineer – Data Center Infrastructure

At Jabil (NYSE: JBL), we are proud to be a trusted partner for the world's top brands, offering comprehensive engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions. With 60 years of experience across industries and a vast network of over 100 sites worldwide, Jabil combines global reach with local expertise to deliver both scalable and customized solutions. Our commitment extends beyond business success as we strive to build sustainable processes that minimize environmental impact and foster vibrant and diverse communities around the globe.

How will you make an impact?

We are seeking a highly experienced and innovative Principal Controls Engineer to lead the development, optimization and implementation of advanced control systems across critical infrastructure products and automation platforms. This role is critical to ensuring the performance, reliability, and scalability of critical systems, with a strong emphasis on data center infrastructure, power/energy management, and industrial automation.

This role will involve designing and developing wiring harness systems, including schematic creation, harness architecture, panel layout, developing specifications, selecting key components, and transitioning design to manufacturing. Furthermore, the position includes leading test process implementation and ensuring equipment alignment to maintain the highest standards of operational excellence and reliability.

Job Title: Principal Electrical Controls Engineer

Organization: Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team

Location: Remote* OR Austin, TX

*Requires up to 25% domestic and/or international travel (rare)

What will you do?  

• Define and own the control system architecture across multiple platforms, including PLCs, BMS, EPMS, and ATS systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability.

• Develop detailed control system specifications, functional design documents, and interface definitions for all subsystems.

• Proficiency in PLC/SCADA programming, HMI development, and system integration with IT networks and facility equipment.

• Ability to read and create BOMs. visual aids, electrical schematics, control diagrams, and sequence of operations.

• Define control logic, sensor integration, and communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, BACnet, SNMP) for intelligent power and cooling management.

• Validate control systems through simulation, testing, and commissioning to ensure reliability, safety, and responsiveness.

• Experience with critical infrastructure systems: UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers, CRAC/CRAH units, fire suppression systems.

• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for new projects and revisions.

• Drive the development of system-level simulations and digital twins to validate control strategies before deployment

• Architect integration strategies for control systems with enterprise platforms such as SCADA, CMMS, and cloud-based monitoring tools

• Establish design patterns and best practices for modular and reusable control logic across projects

• Lead root cause analysis and resolution of complex control system issues during commissioning and operations

• Evaluate emerging technologies and automation trends to continuously improve system performance and efficiency

• Develop and maintain documentation for system architecture, control logic, and operational procedures

• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software, and facilities engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of control systems with physical infrastructure

• Work closely with cross functional teams to align control system designs with business requirements, timelines, and operational constraints

• Facilitate design reviews, technical workshops, and cross-functional planning sessions to ensure alignment and transparency across engineering disciplines

• Support commissioning and field teams during deployment, troubleshooting, and optimization of control systems

How will you get here?

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline.

Experience:

• 8+ years pf experience in control system design and implementation

• Deep expertise in the following:

  • PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric)

  • Building Management Systems (BMS) integration and optimization

  • Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS/EDPM) for real-time energy analytics

  • Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) control and failover logic

• Strong proficiency in control theory, system modeling, and simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink)

• Experience with industrial protocols (Modbus, BACnet, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP)

• Familiarity with NFPA, IEC, and ISO standards related to control systems and safety.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:  

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Creative, self-motivated, accountable, and team-oriented

• Able to work independently with minimal oversight as part of a global team

• Proficient in reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business publications, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations

• Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedural guides

• Effective at presenting information and responding to management, clients, and public queries

• Capable of influencing others and sharing best practices while mentoring less experienced engineers

• Capable of assessing projects, articulating risks, and developing project milestones

• Familiar with stage-gate processes in project lifecycle management (PLCM)

• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail

• Experience in EPlan, WindChill, SolidWorks, and DevOps are a plus

• Experience with hyperscale or colocation data center environments

• Familiarity with low and medium-voltage systems

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license

• Experience in mission-critical environments such as data centers, manufacturing, or energy systems.

• Experience with digital twin modeling and predictive maintenance strategies.

About the Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) Team:

The DCI team consists of technical subject matter experts who specialize in end-to-end large scale physical infrastructure that powers and enables modern data centers. This includes power distribution systems such as transformers, substations, generators, switchgear, switch panels, busways, ATS units, EDPM, BMS systems, and control panels, as well as cooling solutions ranging from traditional evaporative and indirect cooling systems to emerging liquid cooling technologies including chillers, heat exchangers, CDUs, pumps, and secondary fluid networks. The team also addresses the mechanical structures that house these systems - hot aisle containment, steel enclosures, blanking panels, cable trays, and fiber and networking infrastructure.

The DCI team operates as a cross-industry center of excellence, partnering primarily with various cloud providers across the industry. Team members function as deeply technical subject matter experts who engage directly with customers and supply chain partners to assess requirements, identify challenges, and design infrastructure solutions end-to-end. The ideal contributor brings engineering-level expertise in either power or cooling disciplines, a working knowledge of the full infrastructure dependency chain, and the ability to translate that expertise into clear recommendations and collaborative problem-solving with both technical and business stakeholders.

The pay range for this role is $132,400 - $238,400. Job-related, non-discriminatory factors used to determine the actual offered rate include qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity. The anticipated close date of this job requisition is: December 31, 2026. As part of the total rewards package, this position is eligible for a short-term incentive based on performance. In addition, Jabil offers benefits to enhance your health, wealth, and resilient self. These include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; paid time off accruing at a rate of 3.07 hours during your first year of employment; 4 weeks of paid parental leave; in 2027, 11 company-paid holidays (9 fixed holidays and 2 optional floating holidays), subject to change yearly; 401(k) retirement plan; and employee stock purchase plan. BE AWARE OF FRAUD: When applying for a job at Jabil you will be contacted via correspondence through our official job portal with a jabil.com e-mail address; direct phone call from a member of the Jabil team; or direct e-mail with a jabil.com e-mail address. Jabil does not request payments for interviews or at any other point during the hiring process. Jabil will not ask for your personal identifying information such as a social security number, birth certificate, financial institution, driver’s license number or passport information over the phone or via e-mail. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations internet crime hotline (www.ic3.gov), the Federal Trade Commission identity theft hotline (www.identitytheft.gov) and/or your local police department. Any scam job listings should be reported to whatever website it was posted in.

Jabil, including its subsidiaries, is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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