Engineer-Process Controls, Lead

Tallgrass MLP Operations, LLC•Houston, TX

32d

About The Position

The Lead Process Controls Engineer is responsible for leading the designing, implementing, and maintaining control systems that ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of power generation equipment systems. This role involves working closely with project teams, process engineers, operations, and maintenance teams to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable power plant operations through effective control strategies and system integration.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Instrumentation and Controls Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Instrumentation. 15 years of engineering experience. Experience in process control engineering within power generation facilities. Coal, gas, combined cycle renewable energy.
15 years of engineering experience. Experience in process control engineering within power generation facilities (coal, gas, combined cycle, renewable).
Strong knowledge of power plant control systems such as DCS (e.g., ABB, Honeywell, Emerson DeltaV, Siemens PCS7), PLCs, and SCADA.
Familiarity with turbine control systems, boiler control, and balance of plant automation.
Understanding of power plant processes including steam generation, combustion, emissions control, and electrical generation.
Knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements related to power plants.
Proficient in control system troubleshooting, commissioning, and performance optimization.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Ability to work in both office and plant environments, including site visits and shift work if required.
Experience with power plant performance monitoring and optimization tools.
Knowledge of cybersecurity practices for industrial control systems.
Familiarity with environmental control systems (e.g., SCR, FGD).
Project management and vendor coordination experience.
Familiarity with OSHA 1910.119 Process Safety Management ANSI/ISA-61511 Other similar industry standards
Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Calculations
Strong knowledge of electrical equipment design ANSI and IEEE Standards.
Strong proficiency in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).
Knowledge of industry's regulatory compliance issues and standards.
Must be able to take direction from supervisor(s), keep required work schedule, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
Ability to lead execution of work and resolve issues in a team environment.
Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.
Ability to perform quality reviews for detailed engineering documents and specifications.
Ability to travel. accredited program.
Ability to take on additional tasks and shift priorities on short notice.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong focus on safe work practices.
Able to complete work assignments with moderate supervision in an acceptable timeframe.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Aptitude and interest in learning and leveraging new programs to accomplish tasks.
Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
Must be able to work with a team.
Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
The individual must possess the ability to associate and communicate with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science degree in I&CS Engineering a plus.
Professional Engineering License (PE) preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the process controls engineering team throughout the Engineering/design, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) process, adapting I&C plans according to the assigned budget, schedule, engineering/design standards.
Oversee the design, develop, and maintain control systems for power plant equipment including turbines, boilers, generators, and balance of plant systems.
Configure and program Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) specific to power generation processes.
Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex control system issues during design and commissioning phases.
Develop and optimize control logic to improve plant efficiency, reduce emissions, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with process and mechanical engineers to translate operational requirements into control system specifications.
Perform system testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting during startup and ongoing operations.
Monitor control system performance and implement improvements to enhance reliability and availability.
Develop and maintain detailed documentation such as control narratives, logic diagrams, functional specifications, and test procedures.
Ensure all control systems comply with industry standards (e.g., ISA, IEEE, IEC), safety regulations, and environmental guidelines.
Support power plant-wide automation projects and upgrades, including integration of new technologies.
Provide technical support and training to plant operators and maintenance personnel.
Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action for control system-related issues.
Assist in emergency response and plant outage activities as needed.
Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring to other engineers or project staff as assigned to support the process engineering efforts of major process facility projects.
Manage client and team relationships on multiple assigned projects to help ensure that the process design basis (PDP) is technically sound and meets the client project objectives. Provide technical oversight of assigned projects from early Front-End Planning (FEP) through detailed design and construction.
Lead the production of controls design deliverables, including I/O list, Process Control Narratives, Graphic Sketches, Cause & Effect Diagrams, Alarm Rationalization, and manage third-party control system suppliers to comply with the control system design requirements, including participating in Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT).
Lead the production of I&C purchase specifications, review bids, make technical recommendations and manage the overall purchase, review of I&C packages, and review of vendor documentation.
Responsible for compliance with company and project site safety policies.