Controls Engineer III

Controls Engineer III

Location: Redmond, Oregon

Compensation: $85,000–$105,000 DOE + 20% Annual Incentive Plan + 20% Long-Term Incentive Plan

Employment Type: Full-time

Travel: Approximately 20% annually, primarily within the continental U.S.

About the Company

HireIQ Solutions is leading the search for a Controls Engineer with a U.S. manufacturer of engineered-to-order HVAC equipment serving mission-critical environments, including data centers, cleanrooms, and other highly technical applications.

The company designs, manufactures, tests, and commissions custom HVAC systems where controls are central to equipment performance. This is not a traditional building automation role, and it is not a pure PLC programming role. The right candidate will bring a strong combination of HVAC equipment knowledge, controls programming capability, troubleshooting ability, and practical field-support experience.

About the Role

The Controls Engineer will play a critical role in developing PLC/DDC-based controls programs for custom HVAC production orders, supporting equipment commissioning and testing, and troubleshooting controls issues on equipment that has been installed in the field. This role requires someone who can do more than write code. The ideal candidate will understand how HVAC equipment operates, how systems should perform under different operating conditions, and how to translate that knowledge into control strategies, sequences of operation, and real-world troubleshooting support. The person in this role will work closely with sales engineers, applications engineers, field service technicians, manufacturing teams, and customers to ensure equipment performs as designed.

Key Responsibilities

In-House Engineering & Support

• Develop, modify, and troubleshoot PLC/DDC-based controls programs for custom HVAC equipment

• Work with sales engineers and applications teams to design low-voltage DDC/PLC control systems for customer-specific HVAC equipment

• Create and review P&IDs, points lists, control diagrams, sequence of operation documents, and related controls documentation

• Remotely diagnose controls and programming issues in partnership with field service technicians

• Participate in an after-hours remote support rotation

• Assist with commissioning, functional testing, and troubleshooting of equipment on the manufacturing floor

• Support R&D projects, prototype testing, and system validation efforts

• Provide final project documentation, including as-builts, installation/operation/maintenance manuals, system parameters, and related technical materials

Field Equipment Support

• Travel to customer sites as needed to diagnose programming, controls, and system performance issues

• Partner with field service technicians and customers to troubleshoot equipment in real-world operating environments

• Read and interpret electrical schematics for troubleshooting low-voltage and three-phase systems

• Communicate clearly with customers, technicians, engineers, and internal stakeholders through phone, email, and written reports

• Document work performed, findings, recommendations, and follow-up action plans

Ideal Background

• Experience programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting PLC- or DDC-based controls systems

• Strong understanding of HVAC equipment operation, not just controls architecture

• Ability to develop control strategies and sequences of operation for custom HVAC systems

• Hands-on knowledge of mechanical systems, HVAC systems, and building automation concepts

• Experience working with custom or engineered-to-order equipment is highly relevant

• Familiarity with manufacturing, factory testing, commissioning, or field service environments is preferred

Relevant Technical Experience

• PLC programming experience using ladder logic, function block, structured text, or similar programming languages

• Experience with DDC/PLC platforms such as Carel, Automated Logic, Distech, Johnson Controls, Trane, Alerton, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff, or similar systems

• Knowledge of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, air handling equipment, hydronic systems, boiler systems, and refrigerant-based controls

• Experience with VFDs, ECM motors, fan control, and related components, including systems such as Ziehl-Abegg, ebm-papst, or similar technologies

• Ability to specify and troubleshoot control components such as sensors, valves, actuators, power monitoring devices, and related field devices

• Working knowledge of communication protocols, including MODBUS RTU/TCP, BACnet MSTP/IP, and Ethernet networking

• Ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot low-voltage and three-phase electrical systems

• Experience with AutoCAD or similar design/documentation platforms is preferred

Technical Writing & Documentation

• Develop sequences of operation that clearly define how HVAC equipment should operate

• Prepare user manuals, O&M manuals, commissioning documentation, and test procedures

• Document controls logic, system parameters, field findings, and corrective action plans

• Translate complex controls and HVAC concepts into clear written documentation for internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications

• Two or more years of relevant controls, HVAC, automation, commissioning, or field troubleshooting experience preferred

• Combination of education and relevant hands-on experience will be considered

• Working knowledge of HVAC system concepts, equipment, and terminology

• Programming experience in at least one DDC, PLC, or controls programming environment

• Training will be provided on company-specific product lines and controls platforms

Key Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Effective written and verbal communication

• Ability to work directly with customers, technicians, engineers, and manufacturing teams

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment

• Team-oriented, practical, and hands-on approach to solving technical problems

• Ability to connect controls programming decisions to actual HVAC equipment performance

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as needed

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of the workday

• Periodic visits to manufacturing areas with seasonal temperature variation, dust, and limited chemical fume exposure

Benefits

The company offers a competitive benefits package for full-time team members, including:

• Tuition reimbursement

• Paid time off

• Paid holidays

• Healthcare insurance and Health Savings Account options

• Profit sharing or annual incentive plan bonus

• Premium 401(k) plan

Why Join

This is a high-impact controls role supporting complex, custom HVAC equipment in demanding environments. The company is specifically seeking someone who can bridge the gap between programming and HVAC application knowledge.

A strong candidate will be able to write and troubleshoot controls code, but also understand the operating logic behind the equipment: how chillers, air handlers, hydronic systems, motors, fans, valves, sensors, and field devices work together to deliver performance. That combination of controls capability and HVAC system understanding is central to success in this position.