Operations Controls Expert-London, UK

Operations Controls Expert-London, UK

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Alibaba Cloud

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead integration projects and develop automation tools for infrastructure monitoring systems.
  • Company: Join Alibaba's Infrastructure Operations Team, a leader in global technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on global infrastructure while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Experience in engineering, automation, and strong problem-solving skills required.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

We are the Alibaba Infrastructure Operations Team, a critical component of a leading global technology enterprise's infrastructure strategy.

Our mission is to ensure the highly efficient, stable, and secure operation of infrastructure across the globe.

We are dedicated to delivering \"last mile customer value\" from our operational facilities, providing a seamless, reliable, and highly efficient service experience.

The Controls team serves as the regional technical capability center for infrastructure automation and monitoring systems.

We bridge global headquarters engineering with regional deployment operations, owning the technical standards, platform development, and integration architecture for Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), and Environmental Monitoring Systems (EMS).

Our mission is to ensure that all infrastructure's automation and monitoring meets Alibaba's global reliability standards through rigorous technical governance, code-level quality assurance, and systematic knowledge transfer to regional deployment teams.

We operate as a matrix organization combining both infra operations engineers and platform development engineers, enabling us to address complex technical challenges that span infrastructure systems, software platforms, and regional deployment contexts.

We actively seek engineers who can bring proven practices in observability, automation, and incident management to the infra controls domain — accelerating the evolution of our monitoring and automation capabilities through cross-domain knowledge migration.

  • Own regional technical standards for BMS/EPMS/EMS integration, defining monitoring specifications, protocol requirements, and data quality benchmarks to ensure standardized, reliable monitoring coverage across all regional infrastructure.
  • Lead EMS integration projects across regional colocation providers through structured program management.

Coordinate cross-functional resources (internal engineering, colo provider teams, platform vendors) to ensure standardized telemetry access, data quality, and alarm management aligned with Alibaba global EMS standards.

  • Develop integration tools, data validation scripts, and platform components to automate monitoring deployment, configuration, and quality assurance.

Apply cloud-native practices (Ia C, CI/CD, observability frameworks) to build and maintain the regional integration toolchain, improving delivery efficiency and reducing manual errors.

  • Serve as regional technical escalation point for complex BMS/EPMS/EMS integration faults.

Lead root cause analysis using structured methodologies (post-incident review, blameless retrospectives), develop permanent corrective actions, and establish knowledge base entries to prevent recurrence across the regional fleet.

  • Review and validate electrical and HVAC automation control logic implemented by colocation providers.

Orchestrate technical experts and vendor resources to ensure control strategies meet reliability, efficiency, and safety standards before production deployment.

  • Conduct systematic technical risk assessment of regional automation infrastructure, including single points of failure analysis, redundancy validation, and mitigation roadmap development.

Drive risk closure through structured follow-up with colo providers and internal stakeholders.

  • Establish regional technical training programs for controls deployment engineers and local FM/FE teams.

Transfer integration methodologies, debugging techniques, and operational best practices to build sustainable regional technical capability.

  • Collaborate with global headquarters on platform roadmap, standards evolution, and tool development.

Represent regional perspectives in global architecture reviews and ensure global policies are adapted to local infrastructure contexts.

  • Job Requirements
  • Own regional technical standards for BMS/EPMS/EMS integration, defining monitoring specifications, communication protocol requirements, and data quality benchmarks.

Ensure all regional infrastructure achieve standardized, reliable monitoring coverage.

  • Lead EMS integration projects across regional colocation providers through structured program management.

Coordinate cross-functional resources (internal engineering teams, colo provider technical staff, platform vendors) to ensure standardized telemetry access, data quality, and alarm management aligned with Alibaba global EMS standards.

  • Develop integration tools, data validation scripts, and platform components to automate monitoring system deployment, configuration, and ongoing quality assurance.

Apply cloud-native engineering practices (Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, observability frameworks) to build and maintain the regional integration toolchain, improving delivery efficiency and reducing manual errors.

  • Serve as regional technical escalation point for complex BMS/EPMS/EMS integration faults.

Lead root cause analysis using structured methodologies (post-incident review, blameless retrospectives), develop permanent corrective actions, and establish knowledge base entries to prevent recurrence across the regional fleet.

  • Review and validate electrical and HVAC automation control logic implemented by colocation providers.

Orchestrate technical experts and vendor resources to ensure control strategies meet reliability, efficiency, and safety standards before production deployment.

  • Conduct systematic technical risk assessment of regional automation infrastructure, including single points of failure analysis, redundancy validation, and mitigation roadmap development.

Drive closure of identified risks through structured follow-up with colo providers and internal stakeholders.

  • Establish regional technical training programs for controls deployment engineers and local FM/FE teams.

Transfer integration methodologies, debugging techniques, and operational best practices to build sustainable regional technical capability.

  • Collaborate with global headquarters on platform roadmap, standards evolution, and tool development.

Represent regional technical perspectives in global architecture reviews and ensure global policies are adapted to local infrastructure contexts.

Drive continuous improvement by introducing cloud reliability engineering practices (SLO/SLI management, error budgets, chaos engineering principles) into infra operations where applicable.

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Operations Controls Expert-London, UK employer: Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving AI solutions sector. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, competitive compensation, and the chance to be at the forefront of transformative technologies in the UK market. Join us to make a meaningful impact while working alongside industry leaders in a supportive environment.

Alibaba Cloud

Contact Details:

Alibaba Cloud Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Operations Controls Expert-London, UK

Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups

We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like Alibaba Cloud!

Show Off Your Projects

Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Operations Controls Expert-London, UK position at Alibaba Cloud, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.

Leverage Your Uni Career Services

If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when Alibaba Cloud is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!

Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications

While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Operations Controls Expert-London, UK role at Alibaba Cloud!

We think you need these skills to ace Operations Controls Expert-London, UK

Building Management Systems (BMS)
Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS)
Environmental Monitoring Systems (EMS)
Technical Standards Development
Integration Architecture
Automation and Monitoring Systems
Program Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!

Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to Alibaba Cloud and its goals.

Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!

How to prepare for a job interview at Alibaba Cloud

Master Your Technical Knowledge

In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.

Showcase Your Projects

Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to Alibaba Cloud.

Understand Industry Trends

Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at Alibaba Cloud, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.

Commit to Continuous Learning

As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.