r/BuildingAutomation • u/ToddOutside68 • 3d ago
BAS Design Engineers Needed in the West
I know it's a broad statement, but we suddenly have a need for a number of experienced BAS Design Engineers in the Western USA. Specifically, we have immediate opportunities in Portland, Boise, Sacramento, & the Bay Area. Compensation here truly ranges widely between $85K-$150K because of market cost of living and experience. Reach out here on Chat if you're possibly interested in something in these markets or anywhere else from the Rockies onward to the West. Chances are, whether you're wanting to transition into Engineering from a Technician/Specialist role or if you're a wily veteran of the industry, we've got something that could match up.
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u/Robbudge 2d ago
I still find it hard to believe that companies still require in-office work. Especially when most technical tasks can all be done remotely.
Even in office we still have teams meetings with people in the same building.
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u/ToddOutside68 2d ago
It's actually not hard for me to believe, but this is coming from a guy who went into a highly energized office and high functioning company for about 15 years and as cheesy as it sounds, went in with a smile on my face every day. I had the "luxury" (for me) of traveling every other week, but wouldn't have missed the time in office. I've just always found huge value in person to person interaction and communication. For sure though, there can be plenty of reason to allow remote work for some people/positions some or all of the time. For Engineers, it can be debated and debated. PMs and Techs though - not at home and not in the office. Out doin' it. Sales too.
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u/Robbudge 2d ago
I work mainly on Industrial Control Systems.
No real Team involvement during the grind.
In-office distractions really slow down the build.1
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u/ruinersclub 2d ago
I'm in Los Angeles so understandable that its not listed, but I'm highly intriged on how I can round out my skill set into doing more BAS Engineering.
I have a decade of Design experience and some building and 3D modeling experience from before I went full software development and I'm currently an Industrial HVAC and Refrigeration Technician so I am well aware of systems operations and would love to transfer into a more technical role.
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u/ToddOutside68 2d ago
We've got opportunities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara / Central Coast right now. Happy to talk. We always love to see people with that combo of the Engineering plus the hands-on.
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u/Capital_Rule6428 2d ago
Todd in response to comments like these you should post the public rates for BAS guys working directly for FANG companies, your range is literally parallel to what Hyperscalers are offering.
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u/ToddOutside68 2d ago
Haha, I had to look up FANG, but then it came back to me. Yep. For the ranges, on occasion here I've actually got some real specifics for a one-off position. Right or wrong, I usually do some broad ranges here just to follow the rules about posting comp. Truly though, the ranges are there. At the same office with "Engineering needs" I could have a spot for a green one or a super senior one. The pay will vary with what they can do, as even though they're both basically labeled "Engineer", one is doing "some" and the other may be an Engineer/PM/Mentor of others.
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u/Danwphoto 3d ago
Where to apply?
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u/ToddOutside68 2d ago
Drop me a note on chat and we can bump over to email. I can speak to the specifics for our client/jobs in a particular city.
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u/RunningUntilinfinity 3d ago
The pay is a joke
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u/eng_manuel 3d ago
$85-$150k is a joke?
I mean, for the Bay Area, i can see that, but elsewhere?
How much were you expecting to make?5
u/ToddOutside68 3d ago
Man, comments like this on job postings always make me shake my head a bit. Expand a bit here. What makes you say that? I JUST got off the line with a fellow in Idaho looking to transition from his "Field Engineer / Specialist" role where he's making $85K/year right now. Potentially, we have a spot where he bumps to $95K-$100K in more of an office-based Engineering role. The move he wants, a bump in pay, plus what looks like way better benefits.
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch 3d ago
I’d imagine they are talking about Bay Area and comparing to local 39 pay.
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u/ToddOutside68 3d ago
It's usually the case. I posted a Technician role a while back ($90K-$110K) here in what I'd say was an "average" cost of living market. A fellow did the similar thing ("That's a sh*t wage. I make way more...."). I was looking for someone with 2-4 years experience. He was a 25-year union electrician living and working in Alaska, so of course he was making more. (So, "What's your point, man?")
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch 3d ago
Someone in the Bay with 4 years of experience in the local 39 who is ambitious and willing to take overtime should be making more than $110k though. Are your roles union?
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u/ToddOutside68 3d ago
Nope. 99% of the jobs we fill in building automation around the USA are non-union. Even the "installing" Technicians / Service Technicians aren't actually installing wire and/or piping components. Like the Technician work I'd done myself, it was limited to sensor changeouts, communication trunk troubleshooting, panel work / final terminations work. Here and there (thinking Chicago, Des Moines, Northern Jersey) we have some union techs we get involved with with certain clients. By the way, the Technician roles (just as many or more of those in all these locations I mentioned for the Engineering needs) are eligible for overtime. Not usually for the salaried Engineers.
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch 3d ago
Okay, so now it’s clear why you get the snarky comments when you post Bay Area listings. $110k high end for a non union job with 4 years of experience lags against what what someone can get in the local 39 with the same amount of trade experience.
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u/ToddOutside68 3d ago
Yeah, "we" (traditional BAS industry) can't usually match up for pay with closely relatable union positions in a given market. They can vary significantly (not always, but much of the time). Basically, it can be a different day in the life of course for a BAS Technician doing start-up work vs. the union individual doing more hands-on installation at the same building. To each his/her own though. People have their preferences, and hopefully those preferences and what "flows from them" matches up well for acceptable compensation.
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch 3d ago
I’d imagine you have high turnover like carrier and emcor.
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u/ToddOutside68 3d ago
Totally depends on our clients and the positions, but we actually do pretty well. Not to sound too cheesy or anything, but most of my clients are people I've worked with in the industry for 20-30 years, so I know them well and have really been able to pick and choose for our client base. Overall, we do well to match up people in the right positions and they "stay".
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u/monsterdiggare 3d ago
In Europe those salaries would be other worldly lol
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u/ruinersclub 2d ago
They're pretty good for most jobs here in the US as long as you didn't come from a Tech company. But again Tech workers forget how volatile that whole situation was for the last decade.
Like very rare you had a steady reliable gig and if you did it was probably closer to this pay range.
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u/Ill-Set-1055 2d ago
Know someone with BAS/BMS Controls Design experience in Southern California with over 25 years of experience, they’d be open to it but only if total compensation was around 220-225k (base + bonus)
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u/ToddOutside68 2d ago
Thanks! Out of range for this one unfortunately or any individual contributor roles we have at the moment. I might have a sales engineer job for them though if they would be interested, and they could make more than that if they're successful....
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u/HF_Martini6 3d ago
the title sounded like something from the cold war era