Instrumentation And Controls Engineer

Job Title: Instrumentation and Controls Engineer
Job Description
This role focuses on the specification, procurement, and documentation of instrumentation for large frame gas turbines, as well as the development and maintenance of gas turbine control logic. The engineer supports project engineering and bid activities, ensures compliance with applicable technical standards and codes, and collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality instrumentation and control solutions for power plant and related industrial applications.
Responsibilities

• Specify and procure instrumentation for large frame gas turbines, ensuring suitability for power plant and related process applications.
• Create, maintain, and manage I/O lists, including all design input documents required for their development.
• Develop, process, and refine control logic, including generating logic velocity and maintaining gas turbine control logic documentation.
• Create and maintain all supporting instrumentation documentation, including instrument data sheets, loop diagrams, and related drawings.
• Determine customer instrumentation and control contract requirements, including delivery dates and technical obligations.
• Develop instrumentation procurement schedules and prepare detailed technical specifications and requests for quotes.
• Verify supplier quotations for technical compliance and completeness, and confirm that all instrumentation aligns with system P&IDs and instrument lists.
• Create instrument loops and associated data sheets, ensuring accurate representation of field devices and control system interfaces.
• Produce and update instrumentation drawings and ensure resolution of customer comments on all responsible drawings.
• Develop, maintain, and improve instrumentation and controls procedures and checklists.
• Support project engineering teams in addressing all customer gas turbine instrumentation questions and requirements.
• Participate in bid assessment and support activities for new gas turbine builds, providing technical input and review.
• Liaise with clients, suppliers, contractors, project management, and relevant authorities to meet project objectives within cost and time constraints.
• Collaborate with design engineers, operations engineers, purchasers, sales and marketing, and other internal staff to ensure integrated project delivery.
• Troubleshoot and resolve instrumentation and control issues at various project sites, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with technical standards and codes applicable in the countries where projects are executed.
• Interpret and apply relevant industry codes and standards such as ISA, ANSI/NEMA, NFPA, AGA, and others as required.
• Participate in new vendor qualification activities when necessary, including technical evaluation of products and solutions.
• Conduct Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) for instrumentation when required, ensuring systems meet design and performance criteria.
• Support field operations with on-site installation of instrumentation when necessary, including start-up and commissioning support.
• Provide operations and troubleshooting support for equipment failures, determine root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Travel up to approximately 15% of the time to project sites, vendor facilities, or customer locations as needed.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of relevant instrumentation and controls (I&C) experience in power plants, process or chemical plants, or oil and gas environments.
• Strong experience with instrumentation specification, selection, and procurement for large industrial applications, particularly gas turbines.
• Proficiency in developing and maintaining I/O lists and associated design input documents.
• Experience with process instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) and the ability to verify instrumentation against system P&IDs.
• Hands-on knowledge of plant processing and balance of plant (BOP) systems.
• Experience with gas turbine or power plant control systems such as Netmation, MK5, MK6, Complicity, T3000, R3000, Simatic, Ovation, or Delta V.
• Technical knowledge of key instrumentation devices including pressure transmitters, switches, gauges, control valves, thermocouples, RTDs, vibration sensors, speed sensors, positioners, LVDTs, level instruments, calorimeters, and CEMS (continuous emissions monitoring systems).
• Ability to develop and manage I/O counts, I/O lists, and signal interfaces for control systems.
• Capability to interpret and apply industry codes and standards such as ISA, ANSI/NEMA, NFPA, and AGA.
• Bachelor's degree (BS) in Engineering from a four-year college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in I&C disciplines applicable to power plants.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, general business publications, and governmental regulations.
• Effective presentation skills, including the ability to present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and public audiences.
• Solid mathematical skills, including probability and statistical inference, plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry, and the ability to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical engineering problems.
• Strong analytical and reasoning abilities, including defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, drawing valid conclusions, and interpreting complex technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with control valves, including specification, sizing, and application in industrial process environments.
• General understanding or experience with Smart Plant Instrumentation (SPI) and Smart Plant 3D (S3D).
• Experience conducting Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) for instrumentation systems.
• Experience supporting on-site installation, start-up, and commissioning of instrumentation and control systems.
• Experience in providing operations and troubleshooting support for equipment failures and performing root cause analysis.
• Exposure to emissions monitoring systems and balance of plant controls.
• Experience working with multiple control platforms such as Netmation, MK5, MK6, Complicity, T3000, R3000, Simatic, Ovation, and Delta V.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, including design, operations, purchasing, and sales and marketing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and projects within cost and time constraints.
• Comfort with limited travel (up to approximately 15%) to support project and field activities.

Work Environment
The role is based in an engineering office environment working within a team of approximately twelve professionals. The position involves close collaboration with engineers, project managers, purchasing, and other internal stakeholders, as well as regular interaction with clients, suppliers, and contractors. Work is primarily office-based with the use of modern engineering tools and control system platforms, complemented by periodic travel of up to about 15% to project sites, vendor facilities, and customer locations for troubleshooting, testing, installation, and commissioning activities. The organization operates within a stable project pipeline in the gas and steam turbine sector, offering exposure to large-scale power projects across North and South America and a culture that emphasizes technical excellence, adherence to industry standards, and collaborative problem-solving.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Houston, TX.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $135000.00/yr.
Strong Medical Insurance Minimum of 10 days of PTO 11 paid holidays 401k match
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Houston,TX.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.
About Actalent


Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.


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