Controls Engineer

Hydrite • Waterloo, IA

4d

About The Position

The Controls Engineer is an individual contributor responsible for evaluating, designing, programming, commissioning, and sustaining Hydrite’s control systems (PLC/DCS/HMI) and related instrumentation. This role executes standards, implements changes through the MOC process, maintains Maximo PM/calibration plans, and ensures reliable data collection and historian integrations to support safe and efficient operations across assigned facilities.

Requirements

• A Bachler’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with instrumentation and control systems
• Minimum of 3 years of experience interfacing with contractors
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of Power Point, Word, and Excel required
• Must have communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to read, write and speak English
• Ability to sit and/or stand up to 10 hours per day.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. on an occasional basis.
• Ability to climb ladders and work at heights up to 40 feet on occasion.
• Ability to travel overnight, ride in a car and/or plane for up to 6 hrs and travel 25% of time.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Hydrite’s safety vision, mission, and values by promoting safe work practices across all controls, instrumentation, and contractor activities.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and standards (including PSM, RMP, and MOC requirements) through collaboration with SQRA and other regulatory stakeholders.
• Evaluate, design, program, install, test, commission, and sustain plant control systems (primarily Delta V but can include PLC, SCADA, HMI) and associated instrumentation.
• Maintain the functional integrity and lifecycle reliability of control systems through troubleshooting, hardware/software updates, backups, calibration, and preventive maintenance execution.
• Execute control system changes in accordance with the controls Management of Change (MOC) process, including audits to verify compliance.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce control system standards, procedures, practices, security requirements, and engineering documentation across facilities.
• Program, test, and commission control system changes, including loop tuning, control optimization, interlock testing, alarm rationalization, FAT/SAT, startup, and operational handover.
• Provide controls engineering support for capital projects, including procurement support, system configuration, commissioning, and startup of new systems or equipment.
• Own execution plans and technical quality for assigned controls and automation projects.
• Develop, maintain, and standardize DeltaV and PLC configurations, programming practices, I/O lists, cabinet drawings, and related documentation.
• Support and expand plant automation capabilities to improve process reliability, operational efficiency, and production performance.
• Configure, maintain, and expand data historians and data collection systems to ensure data quality, tagging standards, accessibility, and business value.
• Improve access, visualization, and presentation of control system and process data to support operations, engineering, compliance, and management decision-making.
• Execute, manage, and support preventive maintenance and calibration programs within Maximo, including development of job plans aligned with SOPs.
• Support small-scale and stand-alone control systems (e.g., skid-mounted PLC/HMI systems) while ensuring cybersecurity, backup, and recovery practices.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for control systems, instrumentation, and plant data systems.
• Provide technical support, guidance, and training to operations, maintenance, and engineering personnel on control system usage and standards.
• Develop and maintain training materials and conduct training for control systems, instrumentation, and data collection platforms.
• Mentor technicians and junior engineers and share knowledge across sites and engineering disciplines.
• Collaborate with electrical, instrumentation, IT/OT, and engineering teams to support industrial networks, servers, and control system security.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve plant automation, information systems, KPIs, and technology adoption and present recommendations to management.
• Ensure control system documentation (P&IDs, loop diagrams, cabinet drawings, I/O lists) remains accurate and up to date.
• Uphold Hydrite’s Standard of Excellence by supporting quality systems, effective communication, and continuous improvement across facilities.

Benefits

• Up to 10% Retirement Contribution
• $600 per Year Wellness Incentive
• Front-loaded Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, and Vision - Eligible first day of the month following hire date.
• 401k and profit sharing
• medical/dental/vision/life insurance
• paid time off
• tuition reimbursement
• adoption assistance
• legal services insurance
• scholarship awards for children of employees
• summer picnic
• community giving events
• free family wellness coaching including nutritionist and fitness coach

What This Job Offers

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