Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

The Senior Automation & Controls Engineer leads and executes Automation and Controls Engineering design activities for minor to major scale Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects in food, consumer products, pharmaceutical, life science, aerospace, and industrial facilities. Responsible for executing automation and controls deliverables for project(s) in the front end, detailed design, construction, and start-up phases. Projects range from controls projects working directly for the client to controls self-execution on full-scale Automation and Controls EPC projects.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with safety policies.
• Design responsibility for all Automation and Controls scope on the project.
• Lead a team of Automation and Controls Engineers, Specialists, and Designers in the execution of design. Interface with a multi-faceted project team internally consisting of project manager, electrical, controls, estimating, procurement, construction, and other engineering disciplines.
• Develop software design deliverables including PLC and HMI programming, Batch, MES, servers, and virtualization. Responsible for commissioning and startup of those deliverables.
• Prepare controls design deliverables: instrument/device list, I/O list, controls narratives, control panel and hardware design, device location plan drawings, and installation details.
• Specify, design, and procure control panels and equipment; manage vendors and lead Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).
• Prepare electrical design deliverables including 480VAC and below equipment and motor power design, installation plan drawings, and conductor schedules.
• Determine process instrument measurement protocols (temperature, pressure, flow, level, analyzers, control valves).
• Review P&IDs and collaborate with process engineers to define controls scope.
• Manage verification of design, calculations, project studies, and report preparation.
• Coordinate with offsite design offices and track execution of controls deliverables.
• Perform quality reviews of project design submittals.
• Apply knowledge of automation and controls engineering/design concepts, principles, practices, codes, and procedures.
• Interface with construction personnel for contracts and execution.
• Develop project estimates using tools such as Proposal Works, Integrated Architecture Builder (IAB), SIL Solver, Bluebeam, Excel, and Visio.
• Support project manager in budget development and tracking.
• Work with clients and vendors to develop design; maintain strong client relationships and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Provide leadership, technical direction, and development to team members.
• Allocate resources to projects and resolve design-related installation issues.
• Lead technical execution during onsite start-up and commissioning.
• Develop and submit discipline change notices as needed.
• Execute EPC project approach.
• Travel to job sites for surveys, installations, and startups (approx. 30%).
• Collaborate with business development team on key pursuits.
• Attend and host client events.
• Develop business strategies for future projects.
• Review and develop engineering hour estimates and proposals.
• Support interviewing and hiring process.
• Coordinate workload with department manager.
• Comply with all company policies and standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering (ABET accredited) and FE exam completion with 7 years of electrical engineering experience. EPC and Automation & Controls experience preferred.
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and 6 years of experience preferred.
• Expert knowledge of engineering techniques and procedures; strong knowledge of electrical equipment design standards (ANSI, IEEE).
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience leading discipline design for large projects and delegating tasks.
• Critical thinking, analytical problem-solving, and attention to detail.
• Ability to perform quality reviews for engineering documents and specifications.
• Ability to travel.
• Must have or be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
• Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred.

Preferred:

• Ability to apply diversified knowledge to broad assignments and devise new approaches.
• Knowledge of design standards (NFPA, ISA, IEC, IEEE, ISA/IEC 61511, ISO13849, UL508A).
• Experience with control and safety systems (PLC, SCADA, SIS, BMS, DCS).
• Familiarity with Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms; experience with GE, Modicon, Opto22, Mitsubishi, Triconex a plus.
• SCADA experience with FactoryTalk, Wonderware; Ignition Software a plus.
• MES design and implementation experience (PTC ThingWorx, Ignition/Sepasoft, Parsec TrakSYS).
• Machine safety risk assessment and PL design compliance (ISO13849).
• Process safety SIF/SIS design compliance (ISA/IEC 61511).
• Experience with PlantPAX and PackML preferred.
• Familiarity with tools like SISTEMA, CCW, IAB, BatchSIM, PlantSIM.

Travel: Yes, approx. 25%