Lead Controls Engineer at Armstrong Fluid Technology — NeverHard

Job DescriptionJob Description Imagine working at the forefront of innovation in fluid-flow technology, with over 1,400 colleagues across the globe and eight manufacturing facilities on four continents. Armstrong Fluid Technology is a community of the brightest and most creative minds, driven by a shared mission to engineer the future and safeguard our planet. In this role, you will design and develop the complete control system at the heart of a next-generation critical infrastructure product — serving one of the fastest-growing and most demanding applications in our industry. The scope spans the full controls stack: closed-loop pressure and temperature control, state management and safety interlocks, alarm and event management, HMI, secure communications, energy-efficient operation, and product cybersecurity. This is a standardized product development role, not a one-off project role. Our products are manufactured at scale, so control systems must behave consistently across every unit — released as version-controlled software baselines with standard configurations and formal change control. You will help mature products from concept through production, working alongside electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and embedded software engineers. Key Accountabilities Controls Design and implement closed-loop control strategies for fluid systems — such as pump/flow control and temperature control Architect system control topology Design the alarm, event, and parameter framework Implement secure communications and integration with building/facility management systems and customer equipment, using standard industrial protocols. Optimize control strategies for energy efficiency and equipment performance Embedded Develop control software as a standard, repeatable product Provide ongoing firmware support as units are deployed in the field. Security Embed cybersecurity best practices into the product, including secure firmware update processes, certificate-based authentication, and alignment with recognized industry security frameworks. HMI Develop an intuitive HMI for commissioning, diagnostics, manual overrides, and standalone operation, with role-based access control. Standardization & Release Mature the design through proof-of-concept, pre-production, and production phases, incorporating lessons learned while protecting the standard architecture. Define controls checkout and factory test procedures so that every production unit is verified consistently. Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and embedded software teams, and represent controls design in technical reviews. Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and set controls design standards What We’re Looking For Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, or Computer Engineering; Eng designation is required. Minimum 10 years of experience developing control systems for industrial or mission-critical products (thermal, hydraulic, or rotating equipment) Proven experience designing and tuning closed-loop control for pumps, valves, or thermal-hydraulic systems Experience implementing secure device communications and embedded product cybersecurity practices. Demonstrated experience with engineering change management, BOM and drawing release, and configuration control within a formal product development lifecycle. Critical infrastructure, mission-critical, or HVAC controls product experience — including chillers, heat pumps, boilers, or variable-speed pumping — is a strong asset Technical Skills Controls Closed-loop control design and tuning for pressure, flow, and temperature Sequences of operation for HVAC systems, including ASHRAE Guideline 36 Model-based control design and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink) Redundant sensor handling and fault management Embedded Embedded controller and PLC development Embedded programming in C/C++ and IEC 61131-3 Firmware lifecycle: version control, upgrade procedures, and compatibility matrices HMI HMI design and development for commissioning, diagnostics, and operation Communications & Security Secure device communications and integration using standard building/industrial protocols (BACnet, Modbus, MQTT) Alignment with recognized cybersecurity standards, including IEC 62443 Event logging, telemetry, and remote diagnostics design Standards & Verification HVAC energy and efficiency standards, including ASHRAE 90.1 Product safety and regulatory compliance (UL/CSA 60730, EMC) Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and control system verification Soft Skills Ability to simplify complex problems and provide clear, well-reasoned recommendations. A product mindset — designing for repeatability, reliability, and scale, with the discipline to follow standard documentation and release processes. An ability to communicate openly and authentically in all situations. Why Armstrong Fluid Technology? By joining us, you’ll become part of a global community pushing the boundaries of fluid-flow technology while upholding Armstrong’s commitment to sustainability. Together, we’ll build tomorrow’s solutions today.