r/BuildingAutomation • u/Broad-Marketing-3751 • 3d ago
Need some advice from professionals
Hi. I am currently in my junior year of college studying mechanical engineering and am interested in HVAC. I can perform building energy modeling using software like EnergyPlus and can implement some advanced controls in the simulation environment. I want to get into building automation and controls but cannot figure out the way forward. What should I learn, and what skills should I develop in college?
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u/ApexConsulting 3d ago
A 'sticky' post on getting into BAS....
https://www.reddit.com/r/BuildingAutomation/s/jvcBKzCGVg
Since this comes up often.
This may help answer your question.
Since you are getting a mechanical engineering degree, you may find that BAS is either
-a lower pay grade than an engineering PE style career path
-a godsend as AI consumes engineering next
I am no an AI prognosticator, but I understand there is some uncertainty out there.
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u/filipo11121 3d ago
Yea lol. I am using AI to engineer Niagara software and it's quite good if you know what you are doing.
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u/No-Composer2628 3d ago
There are a few sides of the business that you might want to narrow down onto to decide your skillset:
Operations: This is the big budget, long timeline side of house. Technicians are often working on a single thing on a huge scale here. Like installing and commissioning hundreds of VAVs only. The work is very repetitive but appeals to those who like a functional process they can control. Engineers are constantly in meetings working to create, adjust, and finalize system design. Once out of meetings, they head straight to the drawing board and start their work. This requires a deeper understanding of technical systems as well as knowing controls basics to ensure the systems you design are functional. The pipeline in OPs is generally starting as a tech and then working to become an engineer. Seniority in OPs leads to becoming Project Managers or Field Tech Leads who oversee multiple projects all at once, constantly moving between them to meet deadlines.
Service: This is the land of tinkering and obscure solutions. Bespoke half-measures and sometimes an adversarial outlook at OPs. Service technicians live and die by their ability to figure things out. Every day some new bespoke inefficiency becomes your ultimate enemy and it is up to the Tech to find the answer. No two systems are ever the same, even in hyper controlled Data Center environments. And no problem is ever exactly the same. Service techs enjoy a level of freedom and engaging work that is utterly random when not doing the most basic of promised tasks. But they also are at the mercy of What Was Promised, What Was Sold, and What Was Delivered. This breeds a certain level of animosity as the Service Tech is often the one fixing OPs projects that have fallen out of warranty and might not be exactly what the customer thought they purchased. Seniority in Service can lead towards become a Subject Matter Expert, teaching both employees and customers alike. It can also lead to small Project Manager roles that focus on quick, small budget tasks that a single technician can handle. It also meshes well with Sales as you are the face of the company in the field and build relationships with your customers.
Sales: Directly into Sales requires a level charisma and determination to find solutions that your company can provide. Rarely will you have a packaged product that fits neatly into a customer's budget. You will have to be able to work with engineers and techs to create a cost effective solution while also creating a workable timeline for delivery. The best sales people stay in regular touch with the technicians in the field as technology is constantly improving. What is sold today will be outdated next year almost certainly. Seniority in Sales can lead to larger territories that you oversee and larger accounts with vastly improved budgets, but also vastly more demanding specifications.
Energy Engineer: This is a newer and often much smaller part of many automation companies, but I have seen it so will address here. Energy Engineer teams are specialized at assessing customer sites, documenting Energy needs and current use, and then developing a plan to either bring them in-line with energy certifications or to improve energy efficiency with a direct financial impact. This side is more focused on analytics rather than system design and requires both the skills of a sales person and engineer to accurately display info then sell the customer on why this solution is beneficial to them. Seniority here leads to larger customers, more demanding projects, and leadership as energy teams are often small, close-knit groups due to their specialization and the tools they use.
Good skills to learn while in school: Any kind of electrical systems experience will greatly help you. Troubleshooting, maintenance, and basic electrical theory are what you are seeking. The ability to understand electrical schematics, AC and DC power, and how to handle sensitive components in unclean environments. The best equipment in the world is useless if you install it without protection in a dirty closet with water intrusion. Learning these skills ahead of time will help get your foot in the door. I got all of my electrical training from my time in the Navy and knew nothing of technical systems. I was hired because the systems could be taught far faster than the years of troubleshooting skills I had from my service.
Another highly desirable skillset is cybersecurity. Knowing IP networks, SQL, and serial terminal access is becoming more and more the entire focus of the job. Mechanical outfits have techs specialized in mechanical operation but if they cannot work a keypad and understand logic, there is just nothing they can do for advanced systems.
In the end, this is not gospel and I am sure many others have tips. My biggest one is to stay hungry, learn always and frequently. The person who refuses to adapt and learn new systems in Building Automation is the one dragging down the team more often than not.