Controls Engineer

Hanwha Energy USA•Houston, TX

2h•$170,000 - $210,000

About The Position

The Principal Instrumentation & Controls Engineer is accountable for the overall control, automation, and operational intelligence of utility-scale gas-fired power plants, including gas turbine– and gas fired reciprocating engine–based generation facilities. This role serves as the owner-side technical authority for all instrumentation & control-related systems across the full project lifecycle—from early development and Pre-FEED through EPC execution, commissioning, and operations. The Principal defines control philosophy, governs EPC and OEM designs, and ensures reliable, high-availability operation, particularly for mission-critical loads such as data centers. This position owns the integration and performance of multi-layer control architectures, including engine package controllers, plant-level PMS, and supervisory EMS. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by management. All duties will be assigned in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Control, or Automation Engineering.
15+ years of experience in power plant control systems, automation, or protection engineering.
Proven experience with gas fired reciprocating engine–based and/or gas turbine power plants.
Demonstrated experience acting as a discipline lead or technical authority in owner-side, EPC, or OEM environments.
Deep expertise in:
Power plant DCS, PLC, and SCADA systems
Gas engine and generator control systems
PMS and EMS architectures
Protection, sequencing, and interlock design
Strong understanding of:
Plant dynamic behavior and transient response
Grid-connected and islanded operation
Black start and resynchronization logic
Familiarity with applicable standards (IEEE, IEC, NEC, NFPA, ISO 8528).
Ability to define technical direction and enforce standards across multiple projects.
Strong engineering judgment balancing reliability, cost, schedule, and risk.
Confident communicator with EPCs, OEMs, utilities, and executive stakeholders.
Comfortable operating in complex, fast-moving project development environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting data center power supply projects or other mission-critical loads.
Exposure to ERCOT or other U.S. ISOs/RTOs.
Experience with BESS control integration or hybrid power plant operation.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Responsibilities

Control & Automation Technical Authority (Owner-Side)
Establish and own the overall control, protection, and automation philosophy for gas-fired power plants (SCGT, CCGT, and gas fired reciprocating engines).
Act as the final technical decision-maker for control system architecture, design acceptance, and performance-related issues.
Define company-wide standards for:
DCS, PLC, and SCADA architecture
Control system redundancy and fail-safe strategies
Protection, sequencing, and interlock philosophies
Multi-Layer Control Architecture – Reciprocating Engine Gas Fired Power Plants
Define and govern the hierarchical control architecture for gas reciprocating engine–based power plants, including:
Engine package controllers (OEM scope)
Unit- or block-level controllers
Plant-level Power Management System (PMS)
Supervisory Energy Management System (EMS)
Clearly define control boundaries, interfaces, and responsibilities between OEMs, EPCs, system integrators, and the owner.
Ensure stable coordination across all control layers during:
Start-up and shutdown
Load changes and transient events
Islanded and grid-connected operation
Abnormal and failure scenarios
Power Management System (PMS) Ownership
Own and define PMS architecture and control philosophy, including:
Generator and engine dispatch logic
Load sharing and load shedding / restoration schemes
Islanding, black start, and resynchronization logic
Frequency and voltage control coordination
Govern PMS implementation by EPCs and integrators to ensure compliance with owner requirements and performance targets.
Energy Management System (EMS) & Supervisory Control
Provide technical leadership for EMS concepts supporting plant- and campus-scale power systems.
Define EMS strategies for:
Energy dispatch and operational optimization
Coordination between engines, BESS, and grid supply
Data center–driven load profiles and availability requirements
Ensure seamless integration between EMS, PMS, plant DCS, and utility interfaces.
Plant Dynamic Performance & High Availability
Ensure control strategies meet high-availability and transient performance requirements, including mission-critical data center loads.
Oversee evaluation of:
Load step response
Frequency and voltage excursions
Transient performance (e.g., ISO 8528 criteria)
Define control strategies for black start, island operation, and rapid load recovery.
EPC, OEM & Owner’s Engineer Governance
Lead control & automation engagement with:
EPC contractors
OEMs (engine, generator, and control system suppliers)
Owner’s Engineers (OE)
Review, challenge, and approve key deliverables, including:
Control narratives and functional descriptions
Cause & Effect matrices
Protection and automation philosophies
Network architecture and control system redundancy concepts
Ensure EPC and OEM designs align with owner objectives for reliability, operability, and lifecycle cost.
Project Development, Risk & Due Diligence
Provide control engineering leadership during:
Pre-FEED and FEED decision gates
Project acquisitions and technical due diligence
Identify control-system-related risks affecting:
Availability and reliability
CAPEX and OPEX
Schedule and commissioning
Support mitigation strategies and owner positions in commercial and technical negotiations.
Technology Strategy & Future Readiness
Define long-term control and automation strategy to support:
BESS integration
Future SCGT → CCGT conversion
Digitalization and advanced plant monitoring
Evaluate emerging control technologies, vendors, and architectures from an owner’s perspective.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment
Coordinate closely with:
Electrical engineering leadership
Mechanical and process engineering teams
Development, commercial, and operations teams
Translate complex control and automation topics into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership.