How to apply for Senior Control System Designer, Data Centers - Remote (U.S.)

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm that designs and builds major projects in transportation, buildings, water, and environment. The Buildings and Places group works on data center and mission critical projects for clients worldwide. The company describes its work as building sustainable legacies through infrastructure and environmental solutions.

About the role

This role designs automation and SCADA systems for mechanical and electrical systems in data centers and mission critical facilities. You will coordinate with mechanical designers to develop control sequences, diagrams, and points lists. The position is remote with occasional travel for client meetings and project milestones, and it involves working with AECOM teams in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

A typical day

A typical day may involve coordinating with mechanical designers on control sequences, diagrams, and points lists for data center systems. You might review SCADA designs, attend a client meeting remotely, or prepare for an upcoming project milestone. Occasional travel may take you to a client site or an AECOM office for collaboration.

Who AECOM is looking for

• Experience designing control systems for mechanical and electrical systems in data centers or mission critical facilities.
• Familiarity with SCADA, automation, control sequences, diagrams, and points lists for building and process systems.
• Able to coordinate with mechanical design teams and work on fast-paced, global projects.
• Comfortable in a client-facing role with occasional travel for meetings and onsite collaboration.

Tips for this application

• Use the job title 'Senior Control System Designer, Data Centers' in your resume headline and cover letter. AECOM lists the Arlington, VA office but allows fully remote work, so state your location and willingness to travel occasionally.
• List specific data center or mission critical projects you have supported. Name the systems you designed controls for, such as cooling, power, or SCADA.
• Describe your work with mechanical design teams. The posting explicitly mentions developing control sequences, diagrams, and points lists with them.
• Mention SCADA and automation platforms you have used. Be concrete about the mechanical and electrical systems you have controlled.
• Note any experience working with global teams or clients, since AECOM emphasizes teams in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience designing control systems for data center or mission critical mechanical and electrical systems.', 'How you coordinate with mechanical design teams to produce control sequences, diagrams, and points lists.', 'Your ability to work remotely while traveling occasionally for client meetings and project milestones.', "Your interest in working on global data center projects with AECOM's Buildings and Places group."]

Research before applying

• Review AECOM's Buildings and Places group and its data center consulting work. Look for project examples on the AECOM website.
• Read about AECOM's global data center teams in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Note any published case studies.
• Check the Arlington, VA office location and confirm which other U.S. offices allow remote work for this role.
• Find recent AECOM news or reports on mission critical infrastructure and sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a control system you designed for a data center or mission critical facility. What systems did it cover?
• How do you develop control sequences and points lists with a mechanical design team?
• What SCADA or automation platforms have you used, and how did you apply them to mechanical and electrical systems?
• How do you handle client-facing work and occasional travel for project milestones?
• Describe a time you worked with a global team on a fast-paced project. How did you coordinate across time zones?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without mentioning specific data center or mission critical control system experience. The role is not general building controls.
• Ignoring the travel requirement. The posting states occasional travel is expected for client meetings and milestones.
• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not reference AECOM's global data center work or the Buildings and Places group.