Controls Engineer

NAES•The Woodlands, TX

17d•$123,500 - $142,050

About The Position

The Controls Engineer is a corporate-level technical resource in a centralized support organization, providing billable controls engineering services across a fleet of power generation facilities. The engineer is deployed to multiple sites based on operational needs, project demand, and outage schedules. The role combines hands-on control system engineering with project execution and requires independent work in field environments, sound technical judgment, and the ability to deliver quality outcomes with minimal supervision. The position coordinates with site teams, corporate engineering, vendors, customers, OEMs, and other stakeholders while supporting safe and effective execution. The Controls Engineer performs control system troubleshooting, modifications, commissioning support, lifecycle maintenance, and outage and upgrade planning. The role leads technical discussions, tracks action items, supports vendor engagement, manages scope changes and technical risks, monitors project progress and budgets, and contributes to continuous improvement and standardization of engineering practices. The position reports to the IT/OT Director and has no direct reports. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours potentially required. Ground and air travel are required, with travel up to 50–70%. Work takes place in a home office or headquarters office and at industrial sites, where protective clothing and equipment are required. Facility work may involve industrial hazards, high noise levels, and new construction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university recognized by the United States Department of Education, or equivalent; relevant work experience may substitute for education year for year.
Six years of controls engineering experience.
Experience with control system troubleshooting, logic analysis, system modifications, and commissioning in live plant environments.
Experience with control system architecture, including HMIs, historians, field instrumentation integration, and industrial networking.
Strong hands-on experience with one or more major control system platforms: Siemens TXP/T3000, GE Mark, Emerson Ovation, Rockwell, or ABB, including configuration, troubleshooting, and modification.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, including diagnosing and resolving complex control system issues under time and operational constraints.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, especially conveying technical information to plant personnel, engineers, and stakeholders.
Practical understanding of project execution, including planning, risk identification, and change management in operational environments.
Ability to work effectively in field environments without direct supervision and exercise sound technical judgment and decision-making.
Ability to review technical scopes of work and translate requirements into executable engineering tasks.
Ability to coordinate with vendors, review technical proposals, and support scope execution.
Ability to travel up to 50–70% by ground and air.
Ability to work at industrial facilities around hazards, high noise levels, and construction; use protective clothing and equipment; and traverse stairways, ladders, grating, and uneven terrain.
Ability to see, hear, read, and react to warning signs, lights, and alarms.
Participation in a post-offer physical examination and drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Responsibilities

Perform hands-on control system troubleshooting, system modifications, commissioning support, and lifecycle maintenance across multiple facilities.
Work independently in field environments to provide controls support to power plants, using sound technical judgment in operationally critical situations.
Develop and execute pre-activity and outage plans for control system upgrades and maintenance, including scope definition, risk identification, and commissioning activities.
Support multiple facilities across the fleet, including mobilization for outages, projects, and emergent support events.
Coordinate control system work with site personnel, corporate engineering, third-party vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure safe and effective execution.
Lead technical discussions and meetings, track action items, and drive timely resolution of control system issues.
Support vendor engagement as needed, including scope development, proposal review, and work coordination, while performing core technical work directly.
Ensure control system work meets technical requirements and customer expectations, and take accountability for successful execution.
Identify and manage scope changes arising from site and project conditions while maintaining alignment with contractual requirements.
Identify technical risks affecting system performance or project delivery and escalate them appropriately.
Capture lessons learned and contribute to standardization and improvement of control system engineering practices.
Track and report project progress, including labor hours, schedule adherence, and technical deliverables.
Support execution within established budgets and identify cost-optimization opportunities while maintaining system reliability and performance.
Coordinate directly with customers, automation vendors, OEMs, and other external parties to support scope execution and troubleshooting.
Comply with NAES safety rules and procedures, safety warnings, and posted safety signs; participate in the Fitness for Duty Program.