Deputy Engineering Leader - Building Management Systems and EMCS

Overview

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence®.

We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation’s most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises.  With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment.  At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

As a Deputy Engineering Leader (BMS and EMCS), you will provide day‑to‑day leadership for a small team of controls engineers and field technicians delivering Building Management and Energy Management System solutions for mission‑critical facilities. This role is the first step into a formal engineering leadership and management career path, combining hands‑on technical expertise with responsibility for people leadership, engineering resource planning, and technical oversight across multiple BMS projects. You will guide engineers through requirements analysis, system architecture, design, implementation, and troubleshooting while ensuring workloads, schedules, and technical standards align with project and business objectives.

The role requires a strong technical understanding of BMS hardware and software platforms such as Niagara, Desigo, and EcoStruxure, along with system integrations using industry protocols including BACnet and Modbus. You will have a very strong understanding of HVAC and mechanical systems supporting mission‑critical operations, with knowledge of EPMS and electrical infrastructure considered an advantage. You will provide technical guidance through design reviews, project gate checks, and commissioning support—including startup and point‑to‑point testing—ideally within data center and critical facilities environments. Working closely with project managers, you will help deliver reliable, scalable, and operationally sound BMS and EMCS solutions while mentoring engineers and reinforcing best practices across the team.

Responsibilities

Deputy Engineering Leader (BMS and EMCS) responsibilities include:

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership, direction, and technical oversight for a small team of BMS controls engineers and field technicians supporting mission‑critical projects.
• Coordinate engineering and field resources across multiple projects, including workload planning, schedule alignment, and short‑term resource forecasting in collaboration with project managers.
• Serve as a technical and people leader, mentoring engineers and technicians, supporting skill development, and helping prepare individuals for increased responsibility and future leadership roles.
• Participate in project planning and execution by reviewing technical scope, staffing needs, schedules, deliverables, and risk items with project leadership.
• Guide the team through requirements development, system architecture, detailed design, implementation, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Ensure engineering best practices, standards, and quality expectations are consistently applied across BMS, EMCS, and automation projects.
• Provide oversight and review of BMS controller programming, sequences of operation, alarming, trending, and graphics / user interfaces, ensuring solutions meet project standards and operational requirements.
• Lead and participate in design reviews, project gate checks, and technical reviews to manage technical risk and ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Provide technical input into client‑specific BMS solutions, including controls strategies, system architectures, integration approaches, and commissioning plans.
• Drive the creation, review, and maintenance of key project artifacts such as design documentation, control narratives, point lists, test procedures, and commissioning records.
• Identify, recommend, and support the implementation of engineering and work‑process improvements to improve delivery efficiency, quality, and consistency.
• Support integration of data from building, controls, and enterprise systems, and assist with technical evaluation of integrated solutions where required.
• Reinforce safety expectations within engineering and field teams by ensuring safety requirements are understood, followed, and issues addressed promptly.
• Maintain strong, professional working relationships with engineers, project managers, and stakeholders to achieve project milestones and overall project success.

Qualifications

Core Qualifications

• Strong understanding of BMS control system programming concepts (e.g., ladder logic, structured text) with the ability to review, guide, and approve work developed by others.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex automation and integration challenges and provide technical direction to project teams.
• Demonstrated readiness for a leadership role, including mentoring engineers, providing technical oversight, and supporting team coordination and delivery.
• Ability to lead and contribute to technical discussions with project teams, clients, and stakeholders.

BMS Platforms & Systems Experience

• Experience designing, programming, troubleshooting, or reviewing BMS (DDC) controllers on one or more major platforms such as Johnson Controls, Siemens, Honeywell, Distech, Alerton, or Schneider.
• Experience implementing or overseeing BMS supervisory / front-end platforms such as Niagara Framework (or OEM equivalents), Ignition, Metasys, or Desigo.
• Experience reviewing controller programming, sequences of operation, alarming, trending, and graphics / user interfaces.

Field & Systems Experience

• Strong ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, and control drawings and specifications.
• Solid understanding of startup, point‑to‑point testing, functional testing, and commissioning processes, ideally in mission‑critical or data center environments.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC and mechanical systems; familiarity with EPMS and electrical infrastructure is a plus.

Tools / Software

• Working knowledge of control system networks and protocols (e.g., BACnet/IP, Modbus).
• Experience using CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD) for design review and coordination.
• Proficiency with standard office and project documentation tools.

Preferred Certifications

• BMS or automation platform certifications (e.g., Niagara N4, Siemens Desigo, Schneider EcoStruxure, Ignition).
• DBIA, CSSA, and/or Certified Automation Professional (CAP).

 Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 5+ year’s recent experience in the construction industry with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, 3+ year’s recent experience in the construction industry with a Master's Degree in Engineering.
• Detailed, motivated, self-starter; must be able to work independently and lead in a team environment.

 Abilities:

• Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Identify and understand the speech of another person.