Data Center Senior Field Engineer Controls and Building Management Systems

DATA4'S MISSION

DATA4 creates Smart & Scalable digital facilities for our customers. Our network of highly connected, resilient and sustainable data center campuses underpins our customers’ digital growth in Europe.

DATA4 Group finances, designs, constructs and operates its own data centers. Delivered through our data center campus model, we provide our customers with secure, scalable and high-performance data hosting solutions.

DATA4 VALUES

At DATA4 we are driven by our values. These are the core of everything we do – from the proactivity we show in delivering great outcomes for our clients, to the responsibility we show as a key contributor to the digital economy. Our three values are:

1. To be entrepreneurial – we are teams of doers who make things happen - with autonomy, energy and a sense of responsibility
2. To always take responsibility – for our impact on the people we work with, the society we are part of, and the environment in which we operate
3. To constantly be adaptable – our business is designed to adapt, answering not only today’s challenges, but also anticipating what’s coming next.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Data Center Field Engineer – Controls and Building Management Systems (BMS) is a leadership role focused on the controls, automation and operational supervision aspects of data center infrastructure. This position involves overseeing the design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of controls and building management systems within the data center environment. Typically, controls and BMS comprise of controlling and automation equipment (programmable logic controllers [PLC], automation cards, sensors, operational data analysis and supervision). The Field Engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, provides technical expertise, and ensures the reliability and efficiency of the controls, building management and electrical power management components supporting data center operations.

The Data Center Field Engineer – Controls and BMS is responsible for conducting technical audits of data center control, monitoring, automation and actuation systems to assess their resilience, reliability, maintainability and compliance with established standards. The role performs in-depth evaluations of operational readiness, engineering practices and technical capabilities across the organization, ensuring that critical systems are effectively managed throughout their lifecycle.

In addition, the Senior Field Engineer actively drives the development of engineering competencies across Data4 by delivering structured training programs, technical workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions and hands-on mentoring. Through regular technical reviews, drills, simulations and competency assessments, the role strengthens the expertise of Engineering, Operations and Technical Services teams in controls systems architecture, troubleshooting methodologies, system optimization and best operational practices.

The position acts as a subject matter expert for Controls, BMS and EPMS technologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, technical excellence and standardization across all sites. By promoting consistent engineering practices, improving technical knowledge and supporting complex operational challenges, the Field Engineer ensures that teams are equipped to maintain the highest standards of safety, reliability, efficiency and resilience within mission-critical data center environments

RESPONSIBILITIES

JOB SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct comprehensive technical audits of Controls, BMS, EPMS and critical monitoring systems across all data center sites, ensuring documentation accuracy, system resilience, maintainability and compliance with corporate standards. Maintain and update technical documentation including architecture diagrams, network topologies, control philosophies, SLD, functional analysis, EOPs, SOPs and MOPs.
• Establish and maintain a centralized technical knowledge base for Controls, BMS and EPMS systems, including standards, lessons learned, engineering guidelines, troubleshooting procedures, as-built documentation and commissioning records.
• Review, adapt and harmonize the global process of control systems operations and support local teams in streamlining energy efficiency with proper use and settings of control systems
• Support commissioning (Cx) and integrated systems testing (IST) for new buildings, retrofits, and capacity expansions, validate sequence of operations (SOO) against design
• Foster technical collaboration and engineering alignment across all countries by promoting common engineering standards, best practices, shared lessons learned and cross-site technical
• Develop and deliver structured technical training, workshops, competency assessments, simulations and knowledge-sharing programs to strengthen engineering expertise in controls systems, troubleshooting methodologies, system optimization and critical environment operations.
• Develop and implement technical reporting, performance dashboards and analytical tools that support proactive management of critical monitoring systems, operational performance, asset reliability and service continuity.
• Participate in technical discussions with customers, auditors, engineering partners and vendors, providing expert support for design reviews, operational assessments, resilience studies and responses to technical inquiries.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience

• 7+ years of hands-on field engineering experience with BMS/BAS and controls systems in data centers or other mission-critical facilities
• Bachelor's Degree in Automation and Control Systems Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), including certifications from Siemens, Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley), or similar.
• Advanced expertise in at least one BMS/BAS platform and associated SCADA environment, including system architecture, database management, graphics development, alarm management, trend analysis, integration troubleshooting, redundancy validation, and operational support within mission-critical facilities.
• Extensive experience investigating and resolving complex automation and monitoring system failures across Controls, BMS, PLC, SCADA and EPMS platforms in critical facilities. Proven track record of leading root cause investigations, developing corrective action plans, restoring system functionality and implementing long-term reliability improvements involving hardware, software, communications infrastructure and system integrations
• Certifications in platforms like Honeywell BMS, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure, Siemens Desigo, or equivalent.

Technical skills

Required

• In-depth knowledge of control and building management systems, including chillers and associated cooling plant controls, electrical power management systems, electrical systems relay and programmable logic controllers, generators controllers, automatic transfer switch controls and any related components.
• In-depth knowledge of mission-critical construction, commissioning and operational readiness processes, with demonstrated experience validating Controls, BMS and EPMS systems through FAT, SAT, IST, integrated systems testing and final handover activities. Ability to assess system integration, control sequences, alarm strategies, redundancy performance and compliance with engineering and operational requirements.
• Hands-on experience in actively participating in construction projects, especially during the commissioning phase, ensuring seamless integration of controls and building management systems
• Demonstrated ability to review, validate and approve engineering documentation including control philosophies, functional descriptions, cause-and-effect matrices, points lists, network architectures, single-line diagrams (SLD), sequence of operations, as-built documentation and commissioning records prior to operational handover
• Hands-on experience leading controls and BMS commissioning activities, including verification of control sequences, network communications, alarm functionality, trend collection, redundancy testing, failover validation and system integration with mechanical and electrical infrastructure

Preferred

• Experience in people management
• Ability to participate in technical discussions with customers and contribute to addressing their technical requests.
• Skills in liaising with other Data4 teams and vendors to retrieve technical details and studies requested by customers during audits.
• Capability to develop a technical constructive synergy between different countries, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Experience in increasing operational teams' involvement through training initiatives, knowledge-sharing, and skill development programs

Language proficiency

• Fluent English (B2/C1)
• Additional language at B1 level minimum a plus (French, Spanish, Polish, Italian, German)

Soft skills

• Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong collaboration skills to work closely with cross-functional teams
• Analytical mindset and strong problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve complex issues
• Ability to address engineering and design challenges during deep dives
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, technologies, and project requirements
• Effective project management skills to oversee and actively participate in construction projects, ensuring timely and successful completion
• Skills in developing and implementing training programs to increase the technical knowledge and skills of operational teams