Controls Engineering Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Controls Engineering Technician Job Description

This role supports commissioning, installation, and troubleshooting activities at a large-scale data center campus. The Controls Engineering Technician focuses on electrical controls, instrumentation, power monitoring systems, and building automation infrastructure in a mission-critical environment. You work primarily with low-voltage electrical systems and industrial controls, and you operate independently in a fast-paced construction setting while helping ensure reliable and efficient operation of critical data center systems.

• Install and terminate control wiring, instrumentation, and communication cabling for data center systems.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and control drawings to complete installations and modifications accurately.
• Perform terminations in control panels, junction boxes, and field devices, ensuring neat, safe, and compliant work.
• Install, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation including sensors, transmitters, and switches used in monitoring and control systems.
• Support commissioning activities, including loop checks, point-to-point checks, I/O verification, and overall system testing.
• Troubleshoot control system and instrumentation issues to restore proper functionality and minimize downtime.
• Assist engineers with testing and startup of PLC and building automation systems, including SCADA platforms.
• Review project drawings and BIM models to understand system layouts, routing, and installation requirements.
• Generate testing documentation and reports that clearly capture commissioning results and system status.
• Safely operate lifts and other mobile elevating work platforms and access equipment as required during installation and commissioning.
• Travel to data center sites to perform installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting work as needed.

• At least 4 years of low-voltage electrical construction experience.
• At least 1 year of experience as a Controls Technician, Instrumentation Technician, or Automation Technician.
• Hands-on experience with control wiring and terminations in control panels and junction boxes.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and control drawings.
• Experience with instrumentation installation, calibration, and troubleshooting for sensors, transmitters, and switches.
• Familiarity with RS-485 and Modbus communication protocols in control and monitoring systems.
• Comfort working inside control panels and junction boxes while following safety best practices.
• Ability to work effectively with limited supervision in a fast-paced construction and commissioning environment.
• Experience supporting PLC systems, including PLC troubleshooting and basic PLC programming.
• Ability to perform point-to-point checks for commissioning and I/O verification.
• Ability to navigate and open SCADA platforms to support testing and troubleshooting activities.

• Recent experience working in data center environments.
• OSHA 10 certification demonstrating foundational safety training.
• Experience operating mobile elevating work platforms and lifts (MEWP/lift experience).
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
• Experience with Rockwell PLC platforms and related industrial control hardware and software.
• Familiarity with ignition or similar SCADA platforms for monitoring and control.
• Willingness and ability to travel to data center sites, including locations in Iowa.

This position operates in a large-scale, mission-critical data center campus within a fast-paced construction and commissioning environment. Work involves frequent interaction with low-voltage electrical systems, control panels, junction boxes, PLCs, SCADA platforms, and building automation systems. You use lifts and other mobile elevating work platforms to access equipment, and you follow established safety procedures and standards at all times. The role is field-based and requires travel to data center sites, including locations in Iowa, where you collaborate with engineers, construction teams, and commissioning personnel to support installation, testing, and startup of critical infrastructure.

This is a Contract position based out of Cedar Rapids, IA.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $45.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract position based out of Cedar Rapids, IA.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Cedar Rapids,IA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.