What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Automation Engineer position at CTS Complete Technical Services?
Sr. Automation Engineer
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Description
We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Automation Engineer with 10 years of experience in the design, implementation, and optimization of energy industry control systems processes. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of process safety, instrumentation, and control system architecture as it applies to the oil & gas or a similar heavy industry environment with a proven ability to deliver complex engineering projects from concept to completion. This role is for a technical leader who can solve complex problems, drive innovation, and help ensure operational efficiency, reliability, and safety for our client’s facilities.
Engineering Responsibilities
- Control System Architecture and Design: Lead the design and specification of new and upgraded process control systems. This includes creating detailed P&ID diagrams, logic diagrams, cause-and-effect charts, and selecting appropriate field instrumentation and final control elements. (e.g., PLCs, HMIs, networking components), defining system layouts, and creating detailed control narratives.
- PLC / DCS Programming: Develop, test, optimize, and maintain complex control strategies and logic within Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) using languages such as ladder logic, structured text, and function block diagrams.
- Alarm Management and Safety Systems: Develop and manage alarm rationalization programs. Design, program, and test Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) to ensure they meet required Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) and comply with industry standards.
- SCADA and HMI Development: Design, configure, and deploy SCADA and HMI applications to provide intuitive operator interfaces, real-time data visualization, alarming, and intuitive system control over plant processes.
- Industrial Networking: Engineer and maintain industrial network architectures, ensuring reliable communication between devices using protocols like EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus TCP/IP.
- Process Optimization and Simulation: Utilize simulation tools to validate system designs, optimize cycle times, and perform virtual commissioning.
- Advanced Troubleshooting: Serve as the primary technical expert for diagnosing and resolving complex issues related to automated equipment. Conduct root cause analysis on system failures and implement preventative engineering solutions to enhance reliability.
- Project Leadership: Manage the full lifecycle of automation projects, including defining technical requirements, creating engineering drawings, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and overseeing commissioning and factory acceptance testing (FAT).
Qualifications
Required Engineering Qualifications
- Experience: A minimum of 10 years of hands-on engineering experience in a continuous process industry like oil & gas, chemicals, or refining.
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science.
- Technical Skills:
- Expertise in PLC programming (e.g., Rockwell, Siemens, DeltaV, Honeywell).
- Strong knowledge of control systems theory, including PID loops and process control.
- In-depth understanding of industrial networking protocols (e.g., Modbus TCP, PROFINET, OPC UA).
- Demonstrable experience within energy industry project execution, including programming, safety integration, and field application processes.
- Familiarity with industry standards such as ISA-18.2, ISA-84, API 14C and IEC 61511.
- Competency in software development for industrial applications (e.g. Python, C#, Ignition, SQL, Visual Basic).
- Allen Bradley a Plus
Soft Skills:
- Excellent analytical skills and a methodical approach to problem-solving.
- Strong communication skills for interacting with operators, project managers, and vendors.
- A deep commitment to safety and operational integrity.