Chief Commissioning Engineer, Plant Automation

Wärtsilä•Houston, TX

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wärtsilä Energy’s Construction and Commissioning Services team is seeking an experienced Chief Commissioning Engineer – Plant Automation to support the commissioning and startup of Wärtsilä power plant installations. This is a travel-intensive, field-based role focused on automation testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting across customer sites, primarily in the United States with occasional international travel. The position is home-office based within the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering
Minimum 10 years of hands‑on experience with Wärtsilä products, particularly power plant automation systems, HMI platforms, and industrial networks
Expert‑level knowledge of plant automation systems, including system tuning, optimization, and commissioning
Strong expertise in PLC programming, automation software, and industrial control systems
Proven ability to work independently in dynamic and demanding field environments
Proactive, analytical, and solution‑oriented mindset with a strong focus on results
Excellent communication and technical reporting skills
Strong team orientation with the flexibility to collaborate across global and multicultural teams
Mandatory experience with Wärtsilä 4‑stroke engines and associated plant automation systems
Siemens Step 7
Siemens TIA Portal (V13 or higher)
Modicon Unity

Nice To Haves

Experience with Wärtsilä UNIC / sWOIS systems is considered a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

Lead and execute automation testing and commissioning activities for Wärtsilä power plant installations
Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and corrective actions on Wärtsilä products and systems
Supervise installation and commissioning of plant automation and control systems
Support warranty activities and contribute to continuous improvement of new and existing products
Diagnose system issues, perform adjustments, and support testing activities in accordance with engineering instructions and standards
Verify, adjust, and validate system performance to meet operational and safety requirements
Prepare and submit internal and customer-facing technical reports in line with Wärtsilä standards
Configure and troubleshoot HMI systems and industrial networks
Work with industrial networking technologies including IP networks, ring topologies, switches, and routers
Support server and virtualization environments, including Microsoft Hyper‑V
Apply knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as CAN Bus, Modbus, and Profibus
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams during commissioning and handover phases