Process Controls Engineer

JOB TITLE: Process Controls Engineer

LOCATION: South Houston

SALARY: $110K - $163 PLUS Bonus

BENEFITS: Incredible!! 401K the best I've ever seen!!!

We are seeking working with a client to source for an experienced Process Controls Engineer to join their engineering team. This onsite position is ideal for a hands-on engineer who enjoys improving industrial processes through automation, instrumentation, and advanced control systems.

As a Process Controls Engineer, you will play a key role in supporting plant operations, maintenance, and capital projects by designing, implementing, and optimizing industrial control systems. You will collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering, and third-party consultants to improve reliability, efficiency, safety, and cybersecurity across critical process systems.

Reporting directly to the Technical Director, this position offers the opportunity to lead automation initiatives while supporting the continued growth and modernization of industrial operations.

Position Summary

The Process Controls Engineer provides technical leadership for industrial control systems, instrumentation, PLC programming, SCADA/HMI systems, process automation, and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. This position is responsible for evaluating existing control systems, implementing new technologies, supporting capital projects, and ensuring reliable operation of plant automation and electrical power systems.

Key Responsibilities

Process Automation & Controls

• Design, specify, and implement instrumentation and control systems for mechanical, process, and electrical operations.
• Develop and optimize process control strategies to improve plant performance and reliability.
• Assist with the development and review of P&IDs.
• Develop and maintain control narratives and sequences of operation.
• Configure, maintain, and optimize PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems.
• Coordinate control logic development and HMI programming with system integrators and automation consultants.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), commissioning, loop checks, startup, and final system acceptance.
• Maintain plant data historian systems and support operational reporting and trend analysis.

Operations & Maintenance Support

• Troubleshoot PLC programs, instrumentation, SCADA systems, HMI applications, and industrial control systems.
• Work closely with maintenance and operations personnel to identify and resolve process control issues.
• Prepare technical documentation and provide training to operations and maintenance teams.
• Maintain inventory and lifecycle documentation for automation and control system assets.

Capital Projects

• Provide engineering support for plant expansion and capital improvement projects.
• Coordinate engineering activities between operations, maintenance, project teams, equipment suppliers, and system integrators.
• Manage outside engineering consultants and automation contractors.
• Assist with the design and implementation of electrical power distribution projects.

Industrial Cybersecurity

• Support the development and implementation of OT cybersecurity strategies.
• Identify industrial control system vulnerabilities and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop patch management strategies while balancing system reliability and operational uptime.
• Monitor industrial control networks for anomalies and unauthorized access.
• Maintain awareness of emerging cybersecurity threats affecting industrial automation systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Instrumentation & Controls Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of industrial controls engineering experience, including hands-on field support.
• Texas Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred or the ability to obtain licensure within three years.

Preferred Technical Experience

Experience with the following is highly desirable:

• PLC programming and troubleshooting
• SCADA and HMI development
• Industrial process automation
• Instrumentation and control systems
• Flow, pressure, temperature, level, and analytical instrumentation
• Control valves and final control elements
• Instrument calibration
• Ladder logic
• Loop drawings and wiring diagrams
• Electrical schematics
• P&ID development
• Alarm management and performance optimization
• Industrial networking
• Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity
• Data historian systems
• Root cause analysis
• Reliability engineering
• Electrical power distribution systems

Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate will possess:

• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation and process control systems.
• Ability to develop and optimize control strategies for complex industrial processes.
• Excellent troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
• Experience interpreting ladder logic, wiring diagrams, and control schematics.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze operational trends and large data sets.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across operations, maintenance, engineering, contractors, and consultants.
• Ability to assist maintenance personnel with troubleshooting electrical and control system issues in the field.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Please email resumes to linda.fields@openwork.com