Chief Controls Engineer
ABOUT POOLSIDE
In this decade, the world will create Artificial General Intelligence. There will only be a small number of companies who will achieve this. Their ability to stack advantages and pull ahead will define the winners. These companies will move faster than anyone else. They will attract the world's most capable talent. They will be on the forefront of applied research, engineering, infrastructure and deployment at scale. They will continue to scale their training to larger & more capable models. They will be given the right to raise large amounts of capital along their journey to enable this. They will create powerful economic engines. They will obsess over the success of their users and customers.
poolside exists to be this company - to build a world where AI will be the engine behind economically valuable work and scientific progress.
About the role
The Chief Controls Engineer is responsible for the overall controls architecture of our data center. This includes BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLC systems, networking interfaces, trending, alarming, and automation logic. The role also includes controls oversight for liquid-cooling technologies used in high-density AI/HPC deployments such as CDUs, MCDUs, rack manifolds, rear-door heat exchangers, leak-detection networks, and coolant loop monitoring. The Chief Controls Engineer ensures controls reliability, supports commissioning, manages system configurations, leads troubleshooting efforts, and oversees controls integrations across electrical, mechanical, and liquid-cooling systems.
Responsibilities
Serve as technical authority for all BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLCs, controls communication networks, and related documentation including network diagrams, point lists, alarm matrices, and controls narratives.
Own all controls sequences, alarm logic, trending strategies, system interlocks, and reliability strategies including software revisions, failover validation, and trend-based failure prediction.
Oversee CDU/MCDU controls integration, flow/DP monitoring, coolant loop alarms, D2C cooling logic, and high-density cooling equipment optimization.
Create and approve MOPs, SOPs, and EOPs for controls modifications, graphics updates, alarm changes, and SCADA work while ensuring compliance with cybersecurity policies and industry standards.
Support real-time troubleshooting and incident response during electrical, mechanical, and liquid-cooling events, including data pulls and trending analysis.
Coordinate with engineering teams to optimize sequences of operation, CDU setpoints, and controls alignment for new buildings, expansions, and AI cooling deployments.
Oversee PM activities for all controls systems, network devices, and instrumentation while ensuring system backups, redundancy testing, and change-control records are maintained.
Evaluate and manage vendor performance for controls integrators, instrumentation contractors, and monitoring providers.
Lead integrated systems testing, controls validation, and commissioning activities, validating all controls points, alarms, trends, and interlocks before system turnover.
Review design documents for new construction and expansions to ensure controls integration and alignment.
Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and training development for controls engineers and technicians on fundamentals, alarm management, and troubleshooting.
Support long-term succession planning and skill development across the controls team.
Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
8+ years of experience managing controls systems in data centers, industrial plants, utilities, refineries, or similar environments.
Strong knowledge of BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLC, and controls networking.
Experience with CDU/MCDU controls, coolant monitoring, and AI/HPC liquid-cooling systems.
Ability to develop controls documentation, lead troubleshooting events, and manage change-control processes.
Experience with major BMS/EPMS platforms such as Schneider, Siemens, Honeywell, Delta, Johnson Controls, or ABB a plus
Knowledge of Modbus, BACnet, OPC UA, and industrial controls protocols a plus
Exposure to machine-learning-based predictive maintenance platforms a plus
This is a full-time onsite role based in Fort Stockton, TX
Participation in an on-call rotation for controls-related events
Occasional night or weekend work during cutovers or controls commissioning
Process
Interview w/William Gauthier our Director of Critical Facilities
Interview w/Molly Anderson, Senior Manager of People Operations
Interview w/Lance Smith our VP of Data Centers