Control Systems Designer and Engineer

Control Systems Engineer

Our client provides full multi-discipline engineering, design, project management, procurement, and project management services to the refining and petrochemical industries. They are currently looking for Control Systems Engineers and Control Systems Designers (junior and mid-level). The positions can be based in Billings (MT), Anchorage (AK), Salt Lake City (UT) or Bellingham (WA).

Job Summary

This is a mid-level control systems and instrumentation engineer position. The position requires strong technical ability to perform engineering tasks, ability to work independently with guidance, working knowledge and understanding of stage-gated industrial projects, and strong communication skills in written, spoken, and personal formats. Our mid-level engineers are expected to work largely independently, with basic guidance from a lead engineer or project leader. This position requires enough technical experience and competence to perform the majority of controls and instrumentation engineering tasks on a variety of projects without senior support, and to quickly recognize when an engineering problem requires more expertise. A successful candidate may desire either a technical career path, or a path directed toward leadership and management.

Required Skills and Abilities - Technical

• Read and develop Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
• As-build control and instrument systems in the field, producing accurate markups of documents and drawings
• Specify and size instrumentation in all applications of industrial control: flow, pressure, level, temperature
• Able to recognize when unique solutions are needed for instrumentation and control items in difficult services
• Specify and size control valves and regulators: self-contained, pneumatic, sliding stem and rotary
• Understand and apply basic material and alloy considerations for instruments in various industrial processes
• Specify and design infrastructure for industrial communication and control networks
• Specify and design wiring, conduit, and cable tray methods for NEC-hazardous classified areas
• Prepare detailed design of projects in compliance with governing codes, regulations, and client standards
• Integrate control strategies and wiring with electrical motor controls related to motor starters, VFDs, electrical safety relays, electrical monitoring networks, etc.
• Specify HMI, PLC, and DCS hardware and wiring.
• Understand physical and soft I/O and point types, create I/O lists for project scope, and review loop drawings
• Basic understanding of design considerations for control panel layout, wiring, BOM, etc.
• Working knowledge of industrial equipment (pumps, vessels, heaters, flares, etc) and respective considerations for instrument design

Required Skills and Abilities - Other

• Familiar with and able to work within stage-gated project processes and requirements
• Prioritize work based on guidance from team leader and project leaders
• Perform effectively in a team environment, both in-person and remotely
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Able to develop basic engineering and design budgets and provide input to project schedules
• Experience developing construction packages for small to medium projects ($1MM to $30MM TIC)
• Able to point out and provide solutions for drawing consistency, quality, and presentation errors in deliverables.
• Highly detail oriented with a strong, self-driven work ethic
• Able to identify areas of personal technical strengths and weaknesses, ask for help when needed, and quickly learn new responsibilities
• Able to evaluate equipment in the field, including climbing ladders, flights of stairs, etc.
• Able to travel to remote work sites on occasion
• Strong computer skills - Microsoft Applications
• Fluent in English language

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide instrument engineering for small to large capital and maintenance projects
• Develop scope for projects in the detailed design phase; provide input to project plans and deliverable lists
• Review and provide input to basic project schedules
• Develop project P&IDs of moderate complexity
• Develop procurement specifications, documentation, and data sheets of basic to moderate complexity
• Perform detailed vendor document reviews
• Establish engineering budgets for small projects
• Develop basic Total Installed Cost (TIC) estimate Material Take-Offs (MTO)
• Work within an engineering budget, forecast work, manage scope and budget
• Develop detailed specifications and construction packages
• Write detailed construction scope of work documents for basic to moderately complex projects
• Perform Factory and Site Acceptance tests (FAT/SAT) on vendor equipment. Travel may be required.
• Perform quality checks on ones' own work
• Perform work with minimal supervision and guidance
• Work within a small team of engineers and designers; guide and direct design team in development of construction work packages
• Work with other technical resource groups and project management to meet the requirements of a given project
• Develop and foster working relationships with vendor and client representatives
• Able to work in heavy industrial facilities: climb ladders, work off elevated surfaces, and walk over uneven surfaces while wearing required PPE
• Able to sit/stand for long periods of time working at a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Basic working knowledge of INtools (SPI)
• Specify and design Pressure Safety Valves
• Some experience in front-end project development (FEL 1-2)
• Working knowledge and basic understanding of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)
• Working knowledge of PLC and DCS HMI design, point configuration, and control types
• Basic DCS and/or PLC programming experience
• Basic knowledge of specialty instrumentation and control for rotating equipment
• Experience working on-site at an industrial facility in maintenance, reliability, or projects groups
• Specify and size motor-operated valves (MOVs) and corresponding control schemes
• Basic understanding of analyzers for various purposes, both in-situ and extractive
• Interpret and design ladder logic, both for hardwired relay systems and software
• Create test plans and perform Factory and Site Acceptance Tests; review and approve vendor FAT/SAT plans
• Create high-level and detailed control design and configuration documents, such as Control Narratives, Cause & Effects diagrams, Logic diagrams, and block diagrams.
• Understand and participate in Process Hazard Assessments (PHAs) and Layer of Protection Analyses (LOPA)

Education & Certifications

• B.S. in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical or Control Systems Engineering - required
• 5-15 years of professional experience within the oil and gas or related industry - required
• P.E. or Prof. Eng. in Control Systems Engineering - preferred
• ISA or TUV certification in Functional Safety - preferred

Hourly wage: $50-$75 (depending on experience)

Apply now for immediate and confidential consideration!