Data Center Controls Engineer (BMS / EPMS)

About the Team OpenAI is building the infrastructure foundation for the next generation of AI. The Data Center Engineering team defines the strategy, reference architectures, technical requirements, and delivery standards for the large-scale data centers that support OpenAI research, products, and infrastructure partners. As a Data Center Controls Engineer, you will program, configure, integrate, and commission the controls systems that support high-density AI data centers. You will work hands-on with mechanical or electrical controls, partnering with mechanical, electrical, IT/networking, security, commissioning, operations, and external delivery teams. About the Role We are seeking hands-on, early-career controls engineers with practical experience in building management systems (BMS) and mechanical controls, or electrical power monitoring systems (EPMS) and electrical controls. This role focuses on implementing and commissioning control systems, including PLCs, field devices, instrumentation, and sequences of operation, rather than owning OT/IT network or cybersecurity architecture. The ideal candidate has day-to-day experience programming and commissioning controls, ideally with a controls systems integrator. We welcome depth in either BMS/mechanical or EPMS/electrical controls; expertise in both is not required. You will work with experienced engineers and delivery partners to turn design requirements into reliable, tested systems. Key Responsibilities - Program and configure PLCs and control systems for mechanical/BMS or electrical/EPMS applications in AI data center campuses. - Implement and test sequences of operation, control logic, alarms, and interlocks against approved functional requirements. - Review and maintain controls documentation, including control diagrams, I/O and point lists, instrumentation details, sequences of operation, and commissioning records. - Integrate field devices, sensors, instrumentation, equipment controllers, and supervisory systems; validate point mapping, communications, and data quality. - Maintain control programs, configuration backups, version history, change records, and rollback procedures to support safe commissioning and operations. - Partner with mechanical, electrical, IT/networking, cybersecurity, and operations teams to resolve integration issues and implement approved OT connectivity and security requirements. - Configure and troubleshoot relevant industrial communications, such as BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, or IEC 61850, according to the system and controls discipline. - Work directly with controls integrators, equipment vendors, contractors, and commissioning teams to resolve programming, installation, and functional performance issues. - Execute and document factory and site acceptance testing, point-to-point checks, sequence verification, and integrated systems testing; troubleshoot control logic, instrumentation, alarms, and device communication failures. Qualifications - Practical hands-on experience programming, configuring, integrating, or commissioning control systems in data centers, industrial automation, buildings, or other critical infrastructure environments. - Working knowledge of PLC programming and control logic, with the ability to implement and troubleshoot sequences of operation. - Experience in either BMS/mechanical controls or EPMS/electrical controls, with an understanding of the equipment and operating sequences in that discipline. - Experience configuring field devices and instrumentation, validating I/O and point mapping, and diagnosing control system behavior. - Working knowledge of relevant industrial communication protocols and basic OT networking needed to connect and troubleshoot control sys