I&C System Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The System Engineering Group within the Nuclear Facility Management Section of the Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities Division (NNFD) is seeking to hire an Instrumentation and Controls System Engineer. This group is responsible for the NNFD facility’s configuration management program, provides technical support to operations and maintenance, and performs system performance analysis. The role designs, develops, installs, upgrades, and maintains instrumentation and control systems and components. Much of the legacy instrumentation is analog pneumatic (3–15 psig), using instrument air to drive pneumatic actuators and pneumatic or electro-pneumatic valve/damper positioners (e.g., 4-20 mA to I/P transducer). The engineer also performs instrument loop uncertainty analyses and setpoint calculations to support operability, safety basis, and setpoint determinations. The primary objective is to ensure facility systems operate effectively, efficiently, and safely in compliance with applicable codes and nuclear quality requirements. Many of the nuclear-safety-credited I&C components control building ventilation systems. This role requires a thorough understanding of the operational processes in a multidisciplinary role and working closely with a variety of colleagues in operations, procurement, design, and craft organizations. The person in this role may also be expected to support NEC compliance reviews and coordinate NRTL field evaluations/labeling as needed.

Requirements

BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechanical, Chemical, or related with I&C experience.
5-8 years of experience in industrial/nuclear instrumentation and controls system engineering
Ability to diagnose equipment problems and develop formal instructions for performance and documentation of repairs.
Experience in leading maintenance tasks, procedure development, procurement of materials, and equipment analysis is required.

Nice To Haves

One year or more of nuclear experience is highly preferred.
Familiarity with maintenance activities in a nuclear operating environment and regulatory programs, including DOE Orders pertaining to conduct of operation and maintenance
Experience with design/procurement of components according to NQA-1 requirements
Experience with preparation of loop accuracy/uncertainty (sensor+transmitter+signal conditioning+display), setpoint uncertainty for safety limits, and calibration tolerances/as-found/as-left impacts
Experience programming, testing, and troubleshooting industrial PLC-based control systems (e.g., ladder logic/function block), including I/O checkout, field commissioning, and controlled changes to existing PLC logic in support of facility operations (ventilation/HVAC controls preferred)
Experience with legacy pneumatic instrumentation and pneumatically actuated control valves/dampers
Experience working with SCADA/Historian data logging software is a plus
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Good interpersonal skills, and ability to work well as a team member
Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Responsibilities

Prepares engineering designs for replacement and upgrade of structures, systems, and components
Performs calculations and interpretations of industry codes and standards to support design development
Reviews design specifications to determine performance criteria for material upgrades
Writes material specifications and initiates procurement of nuclear safety-related components
Prepares and implements rigorous testing and inspection methods for utilizing commercial grade components in nuclear safety systems
Implements modifications in accordance with configuration control processes
Designs and develops new control systems
Develops design output documents
Troubleshoots and analyzes system and component failures and develops corrective actions
Provides field work technical direction to craft supervisors and craft personnel
Develops and implements preventive maintenance instructions
Develops operating/test procedures
Performs and maintains the aging status of I&C components (instrumentation, control panels, PLCs, field devices, actuators, etc.) on a continual basis
Maintains the maintenance equipment database for new and existing I&C equipment
Performs evaluations to determine equipment impact on facility operation
Provides guidance on purchase, fabrication, and/or modification of electrical equipment to meet NRTL listing/labeling requirements and electrical AHJ approval prior to use
Acquires and maintains the ‘Qualified Electrical Worker’ role (for access to areas where instrumentation may present the possibility for exposure to energized electrical components) as needed to support I&C installation/maintenance activities
Assists with the development of research safety summaries, work plans, procedures, instructions, and other documents; approves these documents as requested by line management
Reviews and approves work activities or safety procedures related to custom or special research equipment
Analyzes and trends results of preventive and predictive maintenance data
Analyzes equipment performance history
Ensures compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements