Senior Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer

Senior Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer

We are seeking a Senior Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer for a contract-to-hire opportunity with our client in Santa Clara, CA. This position will lead a local team of engineers, technicians, and programming specialists supporting critical semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in industrial automation, PLC/HMI programming, SCADA systems, and engineering team leadership. This role involves overseeing system design, integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning while ensuring projects meet technical requirements, schedules, and budgets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage an onsite team of engineers, technicians, and automation programming specialists.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for instrumentation, controls, and automation projects supporting semiconductor manufacturing operations.
• Develop and implement automation solutions involving PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, and field instrumentation.
• Oversee the design, programming, integration, and commissioning of facility management, gas life safety, and gas cabinet monitoring systems.
• Lead HMI/SCADA development with an emphasis on system reliability, performance, and usability.
• Troubleshoot complex automation and control system issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate with project leadership and internal and external engineering teams to establish project scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Ensure engineering designs and system integrations meet client requirements and applicable industry standards.
• Support team recruitment, hiring, training, performance evaluations, and professional development.
• Establish team responsibilities, provide mentorship, resolve personnel issues, and oversee resource allocation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited U.S. institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant instrumentation, controls, and automation engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and managing technical project deliverables.
• Advanced PLC programming experience with Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000, RSLogix), Siemens (TIA Portal, S7), and Emerson (Machine Edition).
• Strong proficiency with SCADA platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk, WinCC, and CIMPLICITY.
• Experience designing and integrating PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial communication networks, and field control systems.
• Knowledge of motion control, robotics, and high-speed industrial automation systems.
• Familiarity with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), SQL databases, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting semiconductor manufacturing facilities or data center environments.
• Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity principles and best practices.
• Extensive experience with system troubleshooting, field verification, testing, and commissioning.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD and engineering design documentation.
• Experience with facility monitoring, gas life safety systems, and gas cabinet controls.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams in fast-paced operating environments.