Staff Engineer - Data Center Modeling & MPC

Build your best future with the Johnson Controls team!

Who we are:

Johnson Controls is global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings. Our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places, and the planet. Join a winning team that enables you to build your best future! Our teams are uniquely positioned to support a multitude of industries across the globe. You will have the opportunity to develop yourself through meaningful work projects and learning opportunities. We strive to provide our employees with an experience focused on supporting their physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing. Become a member of the Johnson Controls family and thrive in an empowering company culture where your voice and ideas will be heard – your next great opportunity is just a few clicks away!

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary

• Paid vacation/holidays/sick time

• Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care.

• On-the-job/cross-training opportunities

• Encouraging and collaborative team environment

• Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy

What you will do:

As a Staff Engineer in Data Center Modeling & MPC, you will lead the development of advanced thermal models, digital twins, and optimization algorithms that drive next‑generation cooling control strategies for high‑density data centers.
 

You will architect and implement Model Predictive Control (MPC) frameworks, develop constrained optimization routines, and design algorithms that improve energy efficiency, reliability, and thermal stability across air‑side and water‑side cooling systems.

This role requires deep expertise in dynamic modeling, control theory, and system‑level engineering. You will operate with considerable autonomy and serve as a technical leader within the team.

This position is 100% on‑site at our new Controls Product Development Center and Lab in Glendale, WI, where you’ll collaborate closely with cross‑disciplinary teams and work hands‑on with real products. The role may include up to 20% travel.

How you will do it:

• Develop dynamic thermal models and digital twins for data‑center cooling systems

• Design and implement MPC algorithms with hard/soft constraints, disturbance models, and safety envelopes

• Perform system identification and state‑space modeling

• Develop state estimation algorithms and observers

• Implement classical control techniques (PID, anti‑windup, feed‑forward, bumpless transfer)

• Optimize control strategies for air‑side and water‑side cooling equipment

• Collaborate with embedded and IoT teams to deploy algorithms on edge platforms

• Use MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow/Simscape and Python scientific tools for modeling and simulation

• Lead algorithm validation through simulation, lab testing, and field pilots

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers

• Contribute to long‑range planning for algorithmic capabilities and product evolution

What we look for:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred

• 10+ years of experience in control systems, modeling, or algorithm development

• Expertise in MPC, constrained optimization, and state‑space control

• Strong background in system identification and dynamic modeling

• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and Python (NumPy, SciPy, etc.)

• Experience with thermal systems, HVAC, or data‑center cooling

• Ability to work independently with considerable latitude

• Excellent communication skills and ability to represent engineering across department

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with digital twins and reinforcement learning for control

• Familiarity with PHM, FMEA, and reliability engineering

• Experience deploying control algorithms to embedded or edge platforms

• Knowledge of data‑center operations, CRAH/CRAC systems, liquid cooling, or heat‑rejection systems

• Experience leading technical team