We are a Los Angeles, CA engineering and building‑technology talent firm specializing in recruiting Controls Engineers for MEP‑intensive environments including hospitals, high‑rise commercial buildings, universities, laboratories, and mission‑critical facilities.
Our client is a leading MEP engineering and controls‑integration firm supporting complex HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building‑automation projects across Southern California. Their controls engineering team designs, programs, and optimizes high‑performance building systems to meet stringent California energy‑efficiency and operational standards.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement control strategies for HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems within commercial and institutional buildings.
- Program and integrate DDC/BAS platforms (Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Trane, Schneider Electric, Distech, Niagara N4) for air handlers, VAV systems, chilled water plants, boilers, heat‑recovery systems, and central utility plants.
- Develop sequences of operation, control logic, alarm strategies, and trend‑logging structures for MEP systems.
- Perform system modeling, control‑loop tuning, and optimization for temperature, pressure, flow, humidity, and energy‑management applications.
- Integrate sensors, actuators, VFDs, meters, and field devices into BAS networks using BACnet/IP, BACnet MSTP, Modbus TCP/RTU, and proprietary protocols.
- Support commissioning activities including functional performance testing, point‑to‑point verification, and system startup for HVAC and MEP equipment.
- Collaborate with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, commissioning agents, contractors, and facility teams to ensure proper system installation and operation.
- Develop control drawings, wiring diagrams, network architecture layouts, and panel designs.
- Troubleshoot control‑system issues including communication failures, sensor drift, actuator faults, and control‑loop instability.
- Support energy‑efficiency initiatives including Title 24 compliance, ASHRAE 90.1, LEED commissioning, and building‑performance optimization.
- Prepare technical documentation, test reports, and O&M manuals for turnover and regulatory compliance.
- Provide technical support during construction, startup, commissioning, and post‑occupancy phases.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field required.
- Master’s degree preferred.
Required Skills and Experience
- 8–15+ years of experience as a Controls Engineer in MEP, HVAC, building automation, or commercial building systems.
- Expertise with DDC/BAS platforms (Siemens, JCI, Honeywell, Trane, Schneider, Distech, Niagara).
- Strong understanding of HVAC fundamentals, mechanical systems, electrical distribution, and plumbing system interactions.
- Ability to develop sequences of operation, control logic, and system‑integration strategies for complex MEP systems.
- Experience with BACnet/IP, Modbus, MSTP, and building‑controls networking.
- Ability to read and interpret MEP drawings, control schematics, riser diagrams, and engineering specifications.
- Strong troubleshooting skills for sensors, actuators, VFDs, controllers, and network devices.
- Experience supporting commissioning, functional testing, and system validation.
- Excellent communication, documentation, and cross‑discipline coordination skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with hospitals, laboratories, universities, or mission‑critical facilities.
- Niagara N4 certification or manufacturer‑specific controls credentials.
- Experience with energy‑management systems, analytics platforms, and fault‑detection diagnostics (FDD).
- Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA, or industrial controls integration.
- Experience with LEED commissioning, Title 24 compliance, or California energy‑efficiency programs.
