Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Design Lead

Catalyx•Frederick, MD

About The Position

The Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Technical Design Lead defines, coordinates, and maintains project instrumentation and controls design requirements, equipment data, specifications, installation standards, and testing requirements. The role ensures I&C designs are technically sound, consistently documented, and aligned with the Process Control System (PCS) architecture, the site automation roadmap, industry standards, and project objectives. The lead coordinates I&C design across project disciplines and stakeholders, including site I&C and automation personnel, process and electrical teams, equipment vendors, the Design-Build Firm, System Integrators, construction, and commissioning teams. The role also provides early technical input to long-lead process equipment packages and supports design documentation for the overall project and related engineering workstreams.

Requirements

Degree or equivalent qualification in Instrumentation and Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated experience in instrumentation and controls engineering design for complex industrial or process facilities.
Strong knowledge of field instrumentation, control valves, actuators, instrumentation interfaces, cabling, junction boxes, panels, and termination arrangements.
Experience developing and reviewing I&C specifications, instrument schedules, equipment data sheets, loop diagrams, cable schedules, installation details, and testing documentation.
Understanding of Process Control System architectures, industrial communication protocols, hardwired I/O, and integration of vendor-supplied equipment packages.
Experience coordinating instrumentation requirements with process, electrical, automation, equipment vendors, construction, and commissioning teams.
Knowledge of applicable instrumentation standards, hazardous-area requirements, and relevant regulatory and industry practices.
Experience defining and reviewing vendor Statements of Work and technical requirements for long-lead process equipment and packaged systems.
Ability to assess emerging technologies and develop practical recommendations that balance innovation, site standards, operational requirements, and long-term automation strategies.
Strong technical coordination, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
Ability to lead technical design discussions, resolve cross-disciplinary interfaces, and drive design consistency across multiple project stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, coordination, and review of I&C design requirements, specifications, schedules, and supporting engineering documentation.
Evaluate emerging instrumentation technologies, communication protocols, and industry standards and develop recommendations aligned with site operations, the automation roadmap, and FMC F&E objectives.
Define requirements for field instruments, valves, actuators, junction boxes, panels, cable interfaces, terminations, signal types, and installation arrangements.
Coordinate I&C design interfaces with process, PCS, electrical, equipment layout, construction, and commissioning teams.
Establish and maintain I&C equipment data, instrument and final-element specifications, cable identification and sizing requirements, panel and junction-box arrangements, calibration requirements, and installation standards.
Collaborate with site I&C and automation personnel to understand existing operations, validate design decisions, and align with current and future automation strategy.
Provide early technical input to long-lead process equipment packages, including bioreactors and vendor-supplied skids, to ensure I&C requirements are complete and compatible with the future PCS architecture.
Define and review I&C requirements in vendor Statements of Work, including instrumentation, valves, actuators, local devices, panels, junction boxes, cable interfaces, terminations, and hardwired I/O.
Work with the APEO – PCS team to define interfaces between vendor-supplied equipment, including “dumb skids,” and project instrumentation and control systems.
Define and coordinate installation, loop testing, calibration, and other I&C verification requirements for construction, commissioning, and system handover.
Identify and resolve gaps or inconsistencies in instrumentation data, loop and cable information, layouts, termination arrangements, and testing documentation before they affect procurement, fabrication, installation, or commissioning.
Ensure designs consider applicable engineering standards, hazardous-area classifications (including ATEX where applicable), environmental conditions, accessibility, maintainability, and safe installation practices.
Serve as the technical I&C design lead when coordinating with the Design-Build Firm and applicable System Integrators to ensure consistent implementation of project design requirements.
Develop and support I&C design documentation for the overall project, long-lead process equipment workstream, and other related engineering deliverables.