Senior Controls Specialist

Job Details: Level: Senior, Job Location: Maple Grove Office - Maple Grove, MN, Education Level: 2 Year Degree, Salary Range: $85000.00 - $130000.00Salary/year, Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here

At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.

It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

The Senior Controls Specialist serves as a senior technical resource supporting the implementation, validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and lifecycle support of Gradian liquid cooling and air movement products. This role owns end-to-end delivery of complex controls solutions—from requirements definition and risk assessment through detailed design, validation, commissioning support, and field issue resolution—while ensuring compliance with applicable codes and standards. The Senior Controls Specialist partners with product engineering, manufacturing, quality, and sales to set technical direction, improve engineering processes, and scale reusable platforms. Success in this role requires strong troubleshooting skills, system-level understanding, hands-on technical expertise, and the ability to effectively communicate across multiple functions.

Key Responsibilities:

Implement controls solutions for assigned programs by applying established control architectures, hardware selections, software standards, networking practices, and safety requirements.
Define and maintain platform standards (preferred PLC/HMI families, I/O and panel design conventions, network topology, device naming, alarm philosophy, and code libraries) to enable reuse and reduce total cost of ownership.
Lead detailed design and implementation: controls narratives, sequence of operations, control panel architecture, BOM selections, and PLC/HMI/SCADA software development using structured, version-controlled practices.
Establish verification and validation plans; review and approve test procedures; and lead/guide bench, prototype, and system-level testing to ensure performance, reliability, and maintainability.
Serve as the escalation point for complex troubleshooting (controls, instrumentation, networking, and system interactions), performing root-cause analysis and driving corrective/preventive actions.
Ensure designs meet applicable electrical and safety requirements (e.g., panel standards, safe work practices, and customer/site requirements); participate in design reviews and hazard/risk assessments.
Lead cross-functional technical execution: coordinate with mechanical, refrigeration/thermal, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers; manage technical risks, interfaces, and change control through the project lifecycle.
Own and improve engineering documentation quality (drawings, I/O lists, network diagrams, control narratives, commissioning checklists) and drive process improvements (templates, reviews, lessons learned).
Mentor and technically lead engineers/technicians; contribute to hiring and onboarding; and influence the controls technology roadmap by evaluating emerging tools, components, and architectures.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Required:

Associate degree in Electrical Technology, Automation Technology, Mechatronics, Electronics Technology, Industrial Controls, or related technical field.
Equivalent combination of technical education and controls experience may be considered.
5+ years of progressive controls engineering experience (OEM, industrial equipment, HVAC/datacenter infrastructure, or similar), including ownership of complete system deliveries.
Expert ability to design control systems across the full lifecycle (requirements, architecture, detailed design, implementation, validation, commissioning support, sustainment) with disciplined engineering practices (design reviews, documentation, and change control).
Strong industrial networking background (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, BACnet) including network architecture, addressing, diagnostics, and interoperability with third-party devices.
Ability to effectively communicate with customers and internal stakeholders regarding technical issues, commissioning activities, and system performance.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize work effectively, and support project schedules.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control panel drawings, and technical documentation.
Proven capability to lead multiple concurrent projects, estimate effort, identify technical risks early, and drive plans to closure while maintaining schedule and cost commitments.

Preferred:

Hands-on experience with multiple PLC/HMI ecosystems and structured programming practices (e.g., Rockwell/Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, Schneider, Codesys, Beckhoff, Distech), plus version control and code review workflows.

Benefits:

Medical, vision, and dental plans
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
Group term life insurance coverage
HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
401k matching
Company paid events
Annual safety shoe allowance
Education assistance program

EEO Statement:

Gradian Thermal Solutions is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.

Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.
Qualifications: