Instrumentation & Controls Engineer (Water/Wastewater)


Denver
Permanent
USD100000 - USD190000
Automation and Controls
PR/582837_1772838645
Instrumentation & Controls Engineer (Water/Wastewater)

Role Summary

Join a team delivering automation and control solutions for municipal water and wastewater infrastructure. You'll work on everything from SCADA master planning to detailed I&C design, collaborating directly with client teams and internal disciplines to transform operational needs into robust, secure, maintainable systems. Candidates with deeper experience will also drive technical leadership, mentor others, and guide scope/schedule/budget.


What You'll Work On

  • Client & Project Interface

    • Translate operational objectives into technical requirements and design criteria.
    • Facilitate workshops on instrumentation standards, HMI style guides, control philosophies, and alarm strategies.
    • Prepare technical memos and design reports that clearly communicate assumptions, decisions, and rationale.
  • Planning & Evaluations

    • Perform facility assessments and condition reviews to inform upgrade roadmaps.
    • Develop or contribute to SCADA Master Plans, including governance, cybersecurity posture, standardization, and lifecycle strategies.
    • Produce preliminary and final I&C cost opinions aligned with scope and risk.
  • I&C / SCADA / Networks Design

    • Create or review P&IDs, control narratives, cause‑and‑effect matrices, I/O schedules, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and loop sheets.
    • Architect PLC‑based SCADA solutions and industrial networks (fiber, Ethernet, radio, cellular; Layer‑2/Layer‑3; VLANs; DMZ segmentation).
    • Specify instruments and analyzers, PLC/RTU hardware, industrial switches, servers/VMs, and associated control components.
    • Develop SCADA network block diagrams and device addressing schemes; document integration, security zones, and data flows.
  • Specs, Procurement & Quality

    • Prepare discipline specifications for instruments, panels, networking, PLCs, servers, and historian platforms (ISA‑style preferred).
    • Review vendor submittals and RFIs; support factory/site testing and configuration reviews.
    • Conduct quality checks on drawings and specifications to align with standards and client preferences.
  • Field & Startup Support

    • Support construction coordination, instrument placement reviews, and panel inspections.
    • Participate in FAT/SAT, develop checkout/commissioning plans, and support cutover strategies.
    • Assist with telemetry design and tuning (licensed MAS, microwave, spread spectrum, cellular).
  • Team Contributions

    • Coordinate with CAD/design staff and other disciplines; track deliverables against scope, schedule, and budget.
    • Mentor junior team members (for experienced candidates) and help mature internal design standards and templates.

What You Bring

Required

  • Bachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, or Instrumentation & Control Engineering (or related).
  • Hands‑on experience with I&C for water/wastewater or closely related industrial facilities.
  • Proficiency with PLC/SCADA concepts, industrial communications, and instrumentation selection/specification.
  • Ability to develop or interpret P&IDs, I/O lists, control narratives, and panel drawings.
  • Clear written and verbal communication; proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Preferred (Mid‑Level Profile)

  • ~5-8 years of I&C design and integration experience.
  • Prior work with municipal/utility clients and AutoCAD (or similar) for design documentation.
  • Exposure to SCADA master planning or standardization efforts.

Preferred (Senior Profile)

  • 10-15 years in water/wastewater I&C, with a track record of delivering multi‑site or large facility projects.
  • P.E. license (or ability to obtain) strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated leadership in task planning, mentoring, QA/QC, and client-facing reviews.
  • Depth in industrial networking/cybersecurity for control systems and architecting SCADA/historian ecosystems.

FAQs

Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.

Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.

We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business. 

That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created. 

Yes, we help with resume and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your resume to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.

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