Controls Manager

Job Title: Controls Manager

Job Description

The Controls Manager oversees complex, missioncritical projects in industrial and data center environments, ensuring highquality delivery of building management and electrical power monitoring systems. This role requires 5–10+ years of related experience and combines project management, electrical and mechanical system design, and construction oversight. You will lead crossfunctional teams, collaborate closely with general contractors and controls engineers, and manage project budgets, schedules, and technical documentation from concept through commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls projects from concept through completion, including mechanical system concept development, design, and layout for missioncritical facilities.
• Manage project budgeting, scheduling, forecasting, and earned value to ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Prepare technical sections for project and procurement specifications, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with engineering and construction standards.
• Review and approve drawings and technical specifications for BMS, EPMS, electrical, and automation systems, ensuring compliance with design principles and documentation standards.
• Coordinate daily with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and internal project teams to maintain alignment on project goals and deliverables.
• Lead, mentor, and develop controls engineers and project team members, fostering a culture of quality craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Diagnose and resolve complex automation and controls issues, providing strong troubleshooting guidance during installation, commissioning, and operation.
• Interface effectively with general contractors and electrical contractors, overseeing installation activities and helping to manage field crews as needed.
• Ensure that individual tasks align with broader project objectives, proactively identifying gaps in requirements, potential risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Deliver confident, clientfocused communication and presentations, representing the project team with an entrepreneurial and solutionoriented mindset.
• Support commissioning of BMS, EPMS, and related electrical and automation systems, verifying performance and reliability in missioncritical environments.
• Work safely and effectively in office, industrial manufacturing, construction, and processing environments, adhering to all applicable safety standards and procedures.
• Travel to project sites nationwide for extended onsite assignments, typically lasting 1–3 years, and adapt to varying indoor and outdoor working conditions.

Essential Skills

• 5–10+ years of related experience in controls, electrical construction, project controls, or closely aligned roles.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capability in project management, including scheduling, forecasting, and earned value techniques.
• Handson experience with mechanical system concept development, design, and layout in industrial or missioncritical environments.
• Strong understanding of Building Management Systems (BMS) and Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS).
• Solid grounding in electrical engineering principles, design, and documentation practices, including familiarity with materials, systems, and engineering detailing.
• Experience preparing technical sections for project and procurement specifications and reviewing engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Proven ability to lead teams, mentor engineers, and manage installation activities in the field.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with confident, clientfocused communication and strong presentation abilities.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to diagnose and resolve complex automation and controls issues.
• Ability to build and maintain working relationships with client project teams, peers, contractors, and subcontractors.
• Demonstrated perseverance in overcoming challenges and achieving project goals in demanding environments.
• Ability to understand how individual tasks connect to broader project goals and to proactively identify issues or gaps in requirements.
• Capability to work safely and effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, weather, humidity, dust, and typical construction and industrial conditions.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 100% to project sites nationwide and remain onsite for extended assignments of approximately 1–3 years.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience as a controls engineer transitioning into project and controls management is highly relevant.
• Experience working with general contractors and controls engineers on largescale construction or data center projects.
• Experience on the electrical side, such as working for an electrical contractor, managing crews, or interfacing with general contractors and subcontractors.
• Understanding of instrumentation, switches, PLC controls, and automation systems sufficient to oversee installation and troubleshoot issues.
• Familiarity with commissioning processes for BMS, EPMS, and other electrical and automation systems.
• Exposure to project controls, including construction scheduling, cost control, and progress tracking.
• Experience with ignition or similar automation platforms is beneficial.
• Track record of actively seeking, accepting, and integrating feedback for continuous improvement.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for quality craftsmanship, innovation, and problemsolving in missioncritical environments.
• Ability to lead a team and support installation activities while maintaining strong coordination with site stakeholders.

Work Environment

This role primarily operates in office settings, industrial manufacturing facilities, and new construction sites, including data centers in West Texas and other nationwide project locations. Work is typically performed Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work based on project needs. Depending on project requirements, travel to project sites may be up to 100%, and onsite assignments may last approximately 1–3 years. Weekend travel home may be available up to two times per month, subject to project schedules and approval. Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals are covered in accordance with company policy. The position involves regular use of a computer, standard office applications, and a mobile phone, along with frequent interaction and coordination with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and internal project teams. You must be able to work safely and effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, varying weather conditions, humidity, dust, and other environmental factors typical of construction, industrial, and processing facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

This is a Contract position based out of Addison, TX.

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $80.00/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 fully onsite position in Addison,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

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

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.