Ignition SCADA Lead

Job Description

Lead Field SCADA Engineer

About the Role

The Lead Field SCADA Engineer is a senior-level, hands-on leadership position responsible for driving the successful deployment, commissioning, validation, and optimization of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems across a wide range of environments. These environments include commercial buildings, industrial facilities, manufacturing plants, utilities, and mission-critical infrastructures such as data centers, healthcare systems, and energy sites.
This role is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technical expertise and team leadership. As a Lead Field SCADA Engineer, you will serve as the primary escalation point for highly complex technical challenges while simultaneously overseeing and mentoring a team of field engineers. You will be responsible for ensuring that all systems are delivered to the highest possible standards of quality, reliability, and performance.
The position requires a strong blend of hands-on engineering capability and operational coordination. While you will provide leadership and direction to your team, you are also expected to remain deeply involved in system deployment, commissioning activities, troubleshooting, and final system validation. Your ability to balance technical execution with strategic oversight will be critical to the success of multiple concurrent projects.
You will work closely with project managers, controls engineers, software developers, and client stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of SCADA systems within broader automation architectures. From pre-deployment planning through system handover, you will play a central role in ensuring that all technical and operational requirements are met.
Regular travel is an essential component of this role, as you will be required to support onsite commissioning, provide technical guidance in real-time environments, and build strong working relationships with clients. The ability to adapt quickly, think critically under pressure, and communicate effectively across teams is key.
This position is ideal for a driven SCADA professional who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex system challenges, and is passionate about leading teams to deliver high-impact engineering solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Technical Mentorship

As a Lead Field SCADA Engineer, you will be responsible for building, guiding, and developing a high-performing field engineering team. Leadership in this role goes beyond task management; It involves empowering engineers, fostering growth, and setting clear expectations for excellence.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading and mentoring a team of field engineers, ensuring they are supported both technically and professionally
Providing hands-on technical guidance during system deployment, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities
Coordinating engineering resources across multiple concurrent projects while balancing timelines and priorities
Conducting performance evaluations, setting development goals, and delivering continuous feedback
Supporting the onboarding process for new engineers, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed
Promoting a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team
Encouraging knowledge sharing and cross-training to strengthen overall team capability
Establishing and enforcing technical standards, best practices, and consistent approaches to field execution
Acting as the escalation point for complex or high-risk technical issues that require senior expertise
Creating a structured development pathway for engineers, helping them progress into more advanced roles

Advanced Technical Execution

This role requires deep technical expertise and a strong ability to execute in the field. You will be actively involved in commissioning and troubleshooting some of the most complex SCADA systems, ensuring seamless system performance and reliability.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the end-to-end deployment and commissioning of SCADA systems across diverse environments
Configuring and validating human-machine interfaces (HMIs), dashboards, alarms, and data visualization components
Performing advanced point-to-point verification to ensure all field devices, sensors, and controllers are correctly mapped and functional
Identifying and resolving complex system issues such as communication failures, network instability, and data inconsistencies
Troubleshooting performance bottlenecks, latency issues, and visualization errors
Conducting system validation, user acceptance testing (UAT), and operational readiness assessments
Testing and validating advanced system functionalities such as redundancy, failover, and multi-user access control
Supporting integration between SCADA platforms and related systems such as PLCs, RTUs, historians, and enterprise-level software
Diagnosing and resolving challenges across multiple layers including applications, networks, databases, and field devices
Optimizing system performance to ensure long-term scalability, reliability, and maintainability
Supporting commissioning under tight timelines while maintaining high standards of safety and quality

Project Coordination & Quality Assurance

The Lead Field SCADA Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring projects are delivered successfully, on time, and in line with technical specifications. This includes coordinating activities across teams and maintaining rigorous quality control standards.
Key responsibilities include:
Coordinating all field activities to align with project schedules and client expectations
Reviewing and approving commissioning plans, test scripts, and verification procedures
Ensuring all work performed meets internal standards, client specifications, and industry best practices
Performing technical reviews of deliverables produced by field engineers
Providing corrective guidance where necessary to ensure consistency and quality
Identifying risks during project execution and implementing mitigation strategies proactively
Monitoring project milestones and ensuring progress remains on track
Reporting project status, risks, and updates to engineering leadership and project managers
Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to resolve technical and logistical challenges
Ensuring documentation is completed accurately and consistently throughout the project lifecycle

Knowledge Management & Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is a key component of this role. You will play a vital part in strengthening engineering processes and contributing to organizational knowledge.
Key responsibilities include:
Documenting technical solutions, system configurations, and lessons learned from projects
Developing standard operating procedures, commissioning guides, and troubleshooting documentation
Identifying recurring issues and implementing long-term improvements to prevent them
Contributing to internal knowledge bases and technical documentation systems
Staying up to date with emerging technologies, new SCADA platforms, and evolving standards
Supporting the development of internal training materials and mentoring frameworks
Driving innovation within the team by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and system performance
Recommending improvements to workflows, tools, and engineering processes

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, candidates should bring a strong combination of technical expertise, field experience, and leadership capability.
Required qualifications include:
A minimum of 6+ years of experience working with SCADA systems in real-world environments
Proven experience with field deployment, commissioning, and system validation
At least 2+ years of experience leading or coordinating technical teams in a field setting
Strong knowledge of SCADA platforms and human-machine interface design
Hands-on experience with system integration, including PLCs, RTUs, and data historians
Solid understanding of industrial communication protocols such as OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, BACnet, or similar
Strong troubleshooting skills across networks, control systems, and visualization layers
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
High attention to detail and commitment to quality
Willingness and availability to travel frequently for onsite project support

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following qualifications will strengthen a candidate's application:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline
Experience working in mission-critical industries such as data centers, utilities, or advanced manufacturing
Advanced certifications or specialized training in SCADA or industrial automation platforms
Proficiency with SQL, databases, and scripting languages such as Python
Experience with system customization, reporting tools, and advanced data visualization
Familiarity with cybersecurity practices within industrial control systems
Experience working in construction or large-scale project environments
Exposure to both system design and field implementation phases
Knowledge of cloud-based SCADA systems and modern architecture trends

Work Environment & Travel

This role offers a dynamic work environment that combines office-based collaboration, remote flexibility, and hands-on fieldwork.
Work will be performed across multiple environments, including office, remote, and onsite client locations
Travel is a key component of the role and may involve regional or national assignments
Projects may involve industrial sites, commercial buildings, energy facilities, or mission-critical environments
Flexibility is required to accommodate commissioning schedules, including occasional extended hours

Why Join

This is an opportunity to take on a leadership role within a growing and technically advanced area of the building automation and industrial systems industry. You will work on complex, high-impact projects that directly support critical infrastructure and operational systems.
The role offers:
Exposure to cutting-edge SCADA technologies and large-scale system deployments
The opportunity to lead and develop a high-performing engineering team
A balance of hands-on technical work and strategic leadership responsibility
Career progression within a specialized and high-demand field
The opportunity to work across diverse industries and challenging environments
If you are an experienced SCADA professional looking to step into a leadership role while maintaining strong technical involvement, this position offers a unique and rewarding career path.