Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Through its merger with Oil Search, Santos acquired and assumed operatorship over a world-class portfolio of oil leases on the Alaskan North Slope, USA.

Santos' focus in Alaska is the advancement of our Pikka Phase 1 project, which includes a single drill site, an oil processing facility, and other infrastructure to support production of 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Pikka has been identified as being among the top quartile of oil and gas development projects for greenhouse gas emissions performance. Pikka is poised to play an important role in the energy transition and is aligned with our company goal of managing climate change risk. The project is on track to be ready for first oil in 2026.

The Pikka Unit is one of the largest conventional oil discoveries made in the United States in the last 30 years, and the Pikka Phase 1 Project is the most significant development on Alaska's North Slope in more than 20 years.

The permitted Pikka development project includes two additional drill sites. The Alaska assets also include discoveries made from both the Mitquq and Stirrup exploration wells drilled in 2020. These opportunities combine to offer a clear path to long-term growth in Alaska.

Position Purpose

The Senior Automation and Controls Engineer is the Santos Alaska asset Technical Authority for automation, control, and safety systems, accountable for the safe, reliable, and compliant performance of the Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) and supporting automation systems across operating assets.

This role provides end-to-end technical stewardship through the transition from project delivery into steady-state operations and will be the accountable owner of the ICSS once the asset is operational. The position balances asset support and operational assurance with delivery of brownfield upgrades and improvement projects, ensuring systems perform as designed and continue to evolve to meet operational, safety, and regulatory requirements.

As the operating asset comes online, the Senior Automation and Controls Engineer will provide direct technical support to field operations, including troubleshooting complex automation issues, supporting commissioning and startup activities, leading or supporting field-based system upgrades, and providing onsite support when required. The role will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, OT, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment between operational needs and automation solutions.

The position is accountable for the development, implementation, and ongoing stewardship of corporate and regulatory compliant automation management systems within the Santos Management System, and for embedding automation standards, lifecycle practices, and governance across the asset.

In parallel, the Senior Automation and Controls Engineer will lead and deliver automation and controls projects, applying industry best practice and modern technologies to improve safety, reliability, operability, and efficiency. The role is also the champion for ICSS integration into the future Anchorage Primary Control Centre, ensuring seamless connectivity between field assets and centralized operations, and future project phases.

Key Accountabilities

• Promote and lead in the implementation of Santos Ltd policies and procedures, including safety, health, environment, process, people and planning.
• Asset Automation Ownership & Operational Support
  • Act as the Santos Alaska Automation and Controls Technical Authority, accountable for the integrity, availability, and lifecycle management of the ICSS and supporting automation systems across operating assets.
  • Provide direct technical support to Operations and Maintenance teams, including troubleshooting complex automation and control issues, restoring system performance, and providing onsite field support when required.
  • Ensure automation and control systems support safe, stable, and efficient production through effective configuration management, system monitoring, planned proof testing of safety instrumented systems to ensure maintenance of SIL targets, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead automation-related operational assurance activities, including compliance with Process Safety Management (PSM), Management of Change (MOC), alarm management, and configuration control.
  • Participate in risk management, HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, and Process Hazard Evaluation processes related to automation and control systems, ensuring operational risks are identified and appropriately managed.
  • Identify and deliver opportunities to optimise automation system performance to improve safety, reliability, operability, and production efficiency, reducing downtime and unplanned outages.
  • Steward automation and controls management systems within the Santos Management System, ensuring alignment with corporate standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead and support the transition of automation and control systems from project delivery into operational ownership, ensuring effective handover, documentation, and readiness for operations.
  • Provide in-house automation and controls engineering support across design, construction, commissioning, integrated testing, and startup activities.
• Product Delivery, Upgrades, & Technology Implementation
  • Lead or support brownfield automation upgrades, system enhancements, and technology refresh projects, ensuring minimal disruption to operations and alignment with asset priorities.
  • Collaborate closely with automation contractors, system vendors, engineering partners, and project teams to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of automation scope.
  • Participate in the evaluation, selection, and deployment of operations technologies, control platforms, and digital solutions, including assessment of reliability, cybersecurity, and long-term supportability.
  • Ensure all automation designs, modifications, and implementations are safe to install, operate, and maintain, and comply with Santos standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Integration, Governance, & Stakeholder Alignment
  • Participate in the development of operating, maintenance, and startup philosophies to ensure automation systems are operable, maintainable, and fit-for-purpose.
  • Work and lead in an integrated manner across Projects, Operations, Maintenance, OT, and Engineering to ensure automation solutions support both execution success and long-term asset performance.
  • Champion ICSS integration into the future Anchorage Primary Control Centre, ensuring seamless connectivity between field assets and centralized operations.
  • Promote and lead the implementation of Santos Ltd policies, standards, and procedures across safety, health, environment, process safety, and planning.
• Technical Leadership & Capability Development
  • Support the development of discipline standards, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives across the business unit.
  • Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentorship to engineers and cross-functional team members, promoting best practices and operational learning in automation and controls.

Formal Qualifications

• A bachelor's or master's degree or equivalent in an appropriate field.
• Applicants must be eligible and authorized to work in the United States

Experience

• 10+ years of major experience with a focus on designing and implementing complex automation systems. Experience in project/asset management.
• Alaska experience preferred
• Has clearly demonstrated strong technical competence including technical skills in PLC programming, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networking and control system design.
• Expertise of Emerson Delta V preferred
• Ability to work within a diverse cultural environment and demonstrated interpersonal/teambuilding skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Alaska experience preferred