SCADA/Ignition Programmer

Lead Field SCADA Engineer

About the Role

The Lead Field SCADA Engineer is responsible for overseeing a team of field engineers supporting the deployment, commissioning, and validation of SCADA systems across commercial, industrial, and mission-critical environments. This role combines advanced technical expertise with team leadership, serving as both a primary technical resource for complex system challenges and a coordinator of field engineering activities.

The position maintains hands-on involvement in system implementation while ensuring high-quality execution across multiple projects. It requires periodic travel to support onsite deployments, provide technical guidance, and ensure successful system delivery and handover to clients.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Technical Mentorship

• Lead and mentor a team of field engineers, providing technical guidance and professional development.
• Coordinate field resources and activities across multiple concurrent projects.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Develop team capabilities through training, knowledge sharing, and hands-on support.
• Establish technical standards, best practices, and quality expectations for field execution.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex technical issues.

Advanced Technical Execution

• Lead deployment and commissioning of SCADA systems for building automation, industrial processes, or critical infrastructure.
• Perform advanced point-to-point verification of system graphics, data integration, alarms, and visualization interfaces.
• Troubleshoot complex issues including communication failures, data inconsistencies, visualization errors, and performance bottlenecks.
• Execute system validation, user acceptance testing, and interface verification.
• Validate advanced system features such as custom interfaces, user access controls, and cross-platform usability.
• Diagnose and resolve integration challenges between SCADA platforms, PLCs/controllers, historians, and enterprise systems.

Project Coordination & Quality Assurance

• Coordinate field activities with project schedules and client requirements.
• Review and approve commissioning plans, testing procedures, and verification documentation.
• Ensure all field work meets quality standards, documentation requirements, and project specifications.
• Perform technical reviews of team deliverables and provide corrective guidance.
• Identify and mitigate risks during deployment and commissioning phases.
• Track project progress and report status to project or engineering leadership.

Client & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as the primary technical contact for clients during commissioning and system turnover.
• Lead discussions around system functionality, performance, and operational requirements.
• Provide training and support to client teams during system handoff.
• Participate in design reviews and project planning to represent field and commissioning perspectives.
• Build strong working relationships through technical expertise and responsive service.

Knowledge Management & Continuous Improvement

• Document technical solutions, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain procedures, troubleshooting guides, and training materials.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on field experience and emerging technologies.
• Stay current with SCADA platforms, integration methods, and industry standards.
• Contribute to internal technical documentation and knowledge-sharing systems.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience with SCADA systems, including field deployment and commissioning.
• 2+ years of leadership or team coordination experience in a technical field environment.
• Strong proficiency with SCADA platforms, HMI development, and visualization tools.
• Hands-on experience with system commissioning, point verification, and integration testing.
• Knowledge of communication protocols (e.g., OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, BACnet) and data integration.
• Proven troubleshooting ability across control systems, networks, and user interfaces.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate distributed teams.
• Willingness to travel frequently for onsite work and project support.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Experience in mission-critical, industrial, or large-scale automation environments.
• Advanced certifications or training in SCADA or automation platforms.
• Experience with SQL databases, scripting (e.g., Python), or system customization.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity practices for industrial control systems.
• Experience with project coordination, construction environments, or field operations.
• Exposure to both system development and field deployment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel frequently to project sites.
• Ability to stand, walk, and work onsite for extended periods.
• Ability to access elevated or confined spaces as required.
• Ability to lift and handle equipment and materials within typical field limits.
• Manual dexterity for handling tools, wiring, and equipment.
• Ability to work in varied environmental conditions and use required safety equipment.
• Visual and auditory capability to safely perform field tasks and interpret system information.

About the Company

We are a systems integrator specializing in the design, deployment, and support of advanced automation and control systems. Our work spans industrial processes, building automation, and critical infrastructure systems. By combining technical expertise with hands-on field execution, we deliver reliable, scalable, and high-performance solutions tailored to our clients' operational needs.