Senior Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer

Austin, TX

Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE: AESI) is a leading solutions provider to the energy industry. Atlas' portfolio of offerings includes oilfield logistics, distributed power systems, and the largest proppant supply network in the Permian Basin. With a focus on leveraging technology, automation, and remote operations to enhance efficiencies, Atlas is centered around a core mission of improving human beings' access to hydrocarbons that power our lives and, by doing so, maximizing value creation for our shareholders.

How You Will Make an Impact:

The Senior Automation Engineer leads the technical design and development of industrial automation applications at Atlas, combining hands-on development with technical leadership. This role builds complex automation solutions on Ignition and Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platforms while defining and enforcing development standards, application architecture, and engineering best practices. The Senior Automation Engineer also serves as a technical mentor to the automation team, guiding how solutions are designed, developed, and maintained while actively contributing to project delivery.

Responsibilities

Solution Development & Delivery

• Design, develop, and deploy automation solutions using Ignition and Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platforms.
• Lead the technical implementation of automation projects from design through commissioning.
• Troubleshoot complex automation, controls, and SCADA issues across on-premises and cloud environments.

Architecture & Standards

• Design application architectures and integration patterns between PLCs, SCADA systems, databases, APIs, and business systems.
• Define and maintain standards for PLC programming, Ignition development, documentation, and system integration.
• Establish reusable templates, libraries, and development frameworks that accelerate delivery and improve consistency.
• Review designs and code to ensure quality, consistency, and maintainability.

Technical Leadership & Vendor Oversight

• Mentor Automation Engineers and provide technical guidance during project execution.
• Provide technical oversight of third-party automation vendors, including review of deliverables, issue resolution, project coordination, and confirmation that solutions align with Atlas engineering standards and architecture.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation for automation systems, standards, and architectures.
• Comply with all Atlas Energy Solutions safety policies, procedures, and site requirements when working in plant and field environments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Required:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• Directly related experience may substitute for education
• 4+ years of experience with industrial automation systems
• Experience with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and Studio 5000
• Experience developing applications in Ignition Perspective and/or Vision
• Strong understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, Modbus TCP, and MQTT
• Experience integrating automation systems with databases, APIs, and enterprise applications
• Experience working with both on-premises and cloud environments for VM hosts and third-party applications
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor other engineers
• Experience providing technical oversight of third-party automation vendors, including deliverable review, issue resolution, and alignment to engineering standards
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills
• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and to be on-call after hours
• Willingness to work at multiple geographic locations within Texas, including travel to Kermit, Monahans, and other locations
• Valid Driver's License and qualified through our company insurance/Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Policy
• Preferred:
• Ignition or Allen-Bradley certifications
• Strong software development experience with Python, JavaScript, or similar programming languages, including object-oriented programming principles, source control (Git), code review practices, and modern software development workflows
• Experience developing scripts, tools, and automation solutions that improve operational efficiency and streamline administrative processes across Windows and Linux environments
• Familiarity with industrial automation and networking technologies, including LAN/WAN infrastructure, routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and distributed control platforms such as Opto 22 groov EPIC, CODESYS, edge computing devices, and remote operations systems
• Experience with industrial data platforms, historians, and reporting systems such as OSI PI, Canary, SQL-based solutions, and cloud-connected analytics platforms
• Experience in mining, manufacturing, energy, or similarly demanding industrial operations

Reporting Relationship:

• Reports To: Process Engineer Manager
• Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility but may provide mentorship, guidance, training, or work direction to others

Work Location & Travel Requirements

• Location: Austin, TX
• Work Environment: Office, Field, and Plant; industrial plant environments with exposure to operating equipment and limited climate control during site work
• Travel %: 15%

Schedule/Work Arrangement: Monday–Friday, with flexible hours and after-hours on-call support as required; travel to multiple Texas locations, including Kermit and Monahans

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Regular use of hands to handle, finger, and reach equipment, tools, and controls
• Required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs and ladders when working in plant and field environments
• Must be able to work in and around operating and energized equipment while wearing required personal protective equipment
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and heavier items with appropriate assistance
• Required vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Must be able to travel by vehicle to project and operating sites within Texas
• Must be able to tolerate conditions associated with plant and outdoor environments, including heat, cold, dust, noise, and limited climate control

How You Will Stand Out

• You write code and standards that the next engineer can pick up without calling you.
• You think in architecture, and you can see where an integration will break before it is built.
• You mentor deliberately, and the engineers around you get measurably better.
• You hold vendors to your standards and review their deliverables like you would your own.
• You are a methodical troubleshooter who works from data and logs rather than guesswork.
• You document thoroughly, because an undocumented system is a future outage.
• You are team-oriented and approachable, and you work well with Operations, IT, and Engineering alike.

What You Will Love About Us

• Best People and Team. Great Place to Work, Hire Vets, Top Place to Work For – Austin American Statesman
• Your Well-Being is a Priority. 100% covered Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Invest in Your Future. 401K with company match, immediate vesting
• Relax and Recharge. Paid time off (non-rotational roles), 15+ company paid holidays

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Atlas Energy Solutions is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including