Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Iowa
Project Controls Specialist jobs in Iowa are concentrated in construction, infrastructure, and utilities, with steady demand across both project management offices and field-facing operations roles. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Ames are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by employers such as MidAmerican Energy, Alliant Energy, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Cost engineering, schedule control, and earned value management are the specialties most consistently sought after in Iowa listings. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Project Controls Specialist jobs
Job Description
About Us
Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.
For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry-leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real-world results and help move society forward.
HVAC Controls Project Manager
Johnson Controls is a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, and this role supports the delivery of HVAC control systems that help customers improve performance, reliability, and comfort. As an HVAC Controls Project Manager, you will lead projects from planning through closeout while balancing technical execution, customer communication, safety, and financial results.
Role Overview
Under general direction, you will act as the on-site project leader for assigned HVAC controls projects. You will coordinate the full lifecycle of the work, from design and programming through commissioning, documentation, billing, and warranty handoff, while maintaining strong customer relationships and supporting profitable project delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead assigned control systems projects from planning and execution through final closeout.
- Coordinate hardware design, system programming, installation activities, system and network commissioning, and project closeout.
- Direct subcontractors, electrical installers, technicians, designers, and administrative support as needed to complete the work.
- Maintain responsibility for project financial performance, including costs, billings, collections, profitability, and cash flow.
- Communicate with customers throughout all phases of the project and pursue change orders when scope or conditions change.
- Ensure work performed complies with applicable state, local, and federal requirements and is completed with the highest ethical standards.
- Oversee the selection, ordering, budgeting, and delivery of project materials and coordinate vendor and subcontractor pricing.
- Provide site-specific training, accurate documentation, as-built information, manuals, and warranty support upon completion.
How You Will Do It
- Own the outcome by staying accountable for scope, schedule, cost, safety, and integrity from kickoff through completion.
- Evaluate contractual scope, field directives, bulletins, and schedule changes carefully, then translate them into clear project actions and change order opportunities.
- Complete or delegate hardware design and software programming using established standards, then validate system functionality until the installation operates as intended.
- Provide accurate commissioning records, as-built documentation, and jobsite coordination so field installation matches project requirements.
- Stay close to the work by working directly with customers, subcontractors, and internal teams to remove obstacles and resolve issues quickly.
- Track progress with regular updates, monthly forecasts, and clear communication to management regarding revenue, cost, and gross margin expectations.
- Improve every day through candid problem-solving, learning from field conditions, and tightening coordination across design, execution, and administration.
- Win as one team by building trust across all partners, sharing technical guidance, and valuing different perspectives that improve project delivery.
Qualifications
- Technical associate degree with four years of field experience, or six years of equivalent related field experience in the HVAC/Building Automation industry.
- Hands-on experience in systems design and commissioning of digital HVAC/Building Automation controls systems.
- Knowledge of HVAC controls, control theory, and HVAC/Building Automation systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information to a non-technical audience.
- Proven ability to work independently, stay organized, and lead projects effectively.
- Computer proficiency in Windows, Excel, and related applications.
- Understanding of project accounting, costing principles, and contracting.
Nice to Have
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, or equivalent and six years of field experience in the HVAC industry.
- Experience preparing project status reports for upper management.
- High regard for employee and subcontractor safety.
Why Join Us
We offer competitive salary, paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, and a comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care. You will also have access to extensive product and on-the-job cross-training opportunities, an encouraging and collaborative team environment, and dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy.
If you are ready to lead HVAC controls projects with confidence, customer focus, and technical expertise, we invite you to apply.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $78,600 - 108,150 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us.
Job Description
About Us
Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.
For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry-leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real-world results and help move society forward.
HVAC Controls Project Manager
Johnson Controls is a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, and this role supports the delivery of HVAC control systems that help customers improve performance, reliability, and comfort. As an HVAC Controls Project Manager, you will lead projects from planning through closeout while balancing technical execution, customer communication, safety, and financial results.
Role Overview
Under general direction, you will act as the on-site project leader for assigned HVAC controls projects. You will coordinate the full lifecycle of the work, from design and programming through commissioning, documentation, billing, and warranty handoff, while maintaining strong customer relationships and supporting profitable project delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead assigned control systems projects from planning and execution through final closeout.
- Coordinate hardware design, system programming, installation activities, system and network commissioning, and project closeout.
- Direct subcontractors, electrical installers, technicians, designers, and administrative support as needed to complete the work.
- Maintain responsibility for project financial performance, including costs, billings, collections, profitability, and cash flow.
- Communicate with customers throughout all phases of the project and pursue change orders when scope or conditions change.
- Ensure work performed complies with applicable state, local, and federal requirements and is completed with the highest ethical standards.
- Oversee the selection, ordering, budgeting, and delivery of project materials and coordinate vendor and subcontractor pricing.
- Provide site-specific training, accurate documentation, as-built information, manuals, and warranty support upon completion.
How You Will Do It
- Own the outcome by staying accountable for scope, schedule, cost, safety, and integrity from kickoff through completion.
- Evaluate contractual scope, field directives, bulletins, and schedule changes carefully, then translate them into clear project actions and change order opportunities.
- Complete or delegate hardware design and software programming using established standards, then validate system functionality until the installation operates as intended.
- Provide accurate commissioning records, as-built documentation, and jobsite coordination so field installation matches project requirements.
- Stay close to the work by working directly with customers, subcontractors, and internal teams to remove obstacles and resolve issues quickly.
- Track progress with regular updates, monthly forecasts, and clear communication to management regarding revenue, cost, and gross margin expectations.
- Improve every day through candid problem-solving, learning from field conditions, and tightening coordination across design, execution, and administration.
- Win as one team by building trust across all partners, sharing technical guidance, and valuing different perspectives that improve project delivery.
Qualifications
- Technical associate degree with four years of field experience, or six years of equivalent related field experience in the HVAC/Building Automation industry.
- Hands-on experience in systems design and commissioning of digital HVAC/Building Automation controls systems.
- Knowledge of HVAC controls, control theory, and HVAC/Building Automation systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information to a non-technical audience.
- Proven ability to work independently, stay organized, and lead projects effectively.
- Computer proficiency in Windows, Excel, and related applications.
- Understanding of project accounting, costing principles, and contracting.
Nice to Have
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, or equivalent and six years of field experience in the HVAC industry.
- Experience preparing project status reports for upper management.
- High regard for employee and subcontractor safety.
Why Join Us
We offer competitive salary, paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, and a comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care. You will also have access to extensive product and on-the-job cross-training opportunities, an encouraging and collaborative team environment, and dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy.
If you are ready to lead HVAC controls projects with confidence, customer focus, and technical expertise, we invite you to apply.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $78,600 - 108,150 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us.
See All 6 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Iowa
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Find JobsProject Controls Specialist Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Controls Specialist Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project controls specialist jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related technical field
- Proficiency with scheduling software such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
- Experience applying earned value management principles on capital or infrastructure projects
- Familiarity with cost estimating, forecasting, and variance analysis processes
- PMI or AACE certification such as PSP, EVP, or PMI-SP preferred by most Iowa employers
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder reporting and documentation
Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project controls specialist in Iowa?
Iowa does not require a state-issued license to work as a project controls specialist, so the path runs through education and professional certification. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. From there, credentials from AACE International, such as the Planning and Scheduling Professional or Earned Value Professional, or the PMI Scheduling Professional designation, carry the most weight with Iowa hiring managers in construction, utilities, and infrastructure.
How much do project controls specialists make in Iowa?
Project controls specialists in Iowa earn a median of about $96,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,000 for the lowest 10% to over $150,290 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project controls specialists in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring project controls specialists in Iowa include BAKER, Jacobs, and Loenbro, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's energy buildout and ongoing infrastructure investment keep demand from utilities and construction firms particularly consistent.
Which Iowa cities have the most project controls specialist jobs?
Ankeny, Iowa City, and Des Moines have the most project controls specialist openings in Iowa. Des Moines dominates because of its concentration of utilities, financial sector capital projects, and state agency infrastructure programs, while Cedar Rapids and Ames generate openings through manufacturing expansion, university-affiliated construction, and regional energy projects.
How can I get hired as a project controls specialist in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a project coordinator or scheduler assistant role with an Iowa-based construction firm, utility, or engineering consultancy. Employers such as MidAmerican Energy and large Iowa general contractors regularly bring on candidates from adjacent roles in estimating, field supervision, or document control. Earning an entry-level AACE certification or completing a construction management degree at Iowa State University strengthens a resume considerably for candidates without direct controls experience.
Where can I find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings in one place. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 6 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Iowa
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