Control Systems and Automation Engineer - Managed Pressure Drilling

Weatherford • Houston, TX

1d

About The Position

Weatherford International is seeking an experienced Control Systems and Automation Engineer to join the Controls Systems and Automation Engineering team at its Centre of Excellence in Houston. The role is a senior technical individual contributor and design lead for Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) control systems, with technical ownership and leadership responsibilities. It covers the architecture, design, development, validation, and deployment of complex control systems, including PLC/RTU systems, HMIs, control panels, and other safety-critical applications. The engineer will support new product development and sustaining engineering and collaborate with global MPD teams to support Weatherford’s product development strategy.

Weatherford is a global energy services company whose experts partner with customers to optimize resources and realize the potential of their assets. The company operates manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities, and describes its culture as grounded in core values, collaboration, learning, and innovative customer solutions. Weatherford is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Control Systems, Automation, or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of Control Systems Engineering experience within Oil & Gas, Oilfield Services, Industrial Automation, or Motion Control.
• Strong hands-on experience with Siemens S7-1200/S7-1500 PLCs, TIA Portal, HMI development (WinCC/J-Mobile), and industrial automation systems.
• Proficiency in Ladder Logic, SCL, FBD, and Graph programming, with experience in control system architecture and design.
• Experience with industrial communication protocols including Modbus, Profinet/Profibus, and OPC UA.
• Knowledge of instrumentation, sensors, actuators, 4-20mA circuits, and electrical design tools such as EPLAN, E3 Series, and AutoCAD Electrical.
• Experience designing and supporting SIL-rated, hazardous-area control systems compliant with API, IECEx, ATEX, IEC 60079, UL, CSA, NORSOK, and related standards.
• Familiarity with IT/OT integration, SCADA systems, industrial networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, firewalls), and Windows/Linux environments.
• Experience with commissioning, validation testing, troubleshooting, FMEA, risk assessments, and root cause analysis.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, technical documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• IADC WellSharp and IWCF certifications.
• Technical publications and industry participation.
• Experience with offshore and onshore control systems and safety applications.
• TwinCAT, LabVIEW, and Creo experience.
• Programming knowledge of JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS, and Visual Basic.
• Siemens certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, architecture, development, and validation of MPD control systems and automation solutions.
• Develop and test PLC and HMI applications for Siemens SIMATIC S7-1200/S7-1500 using TIA Portal.
• Conduct technical design reviews, FMEA, risk assessments, validation plans, qualification activities, and system integration.
• Act as the technical interface across hardware, software, electrical, electronics, firmware, automation, and mechanical teams.
• Partner with Product Line, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Test Labs, and Field Operations.
• Support commissioning, testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and performance evaluations.
• Analyze field performance data and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with API, IECEx, ATEX, SIL, IEC 60079, and company standards.
• Promote HSE, safety, ethics, and compliance standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior