Principal Instrumentation & Control Engineer [HOU]

Hanwha Ocean Energy Plant Unit • Houston, TX

5d

About The Position

At Hanwha Ocean EPU, we empower our people to engineer the future of sustainable energy through meaningful work on cutting-edge offshore, onshore, and global infrastructure projects that create lasting impact for industries and communities worldwide. As we evolve into a comprehensive EPCI(O) solutions provider, our expanding portfolio now spans FPSO, FLNG, floating production units, renewables, onshore power generation, and future centric infrastructure projects. Our globally connected teams collaborate across regions and disciplines to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver world-class end-to-end solutions. Explore opportunities to be part of our dynamic team at the Energy Plant Unit and contribute to groundbreaking projects that redefine the onshore and offshore industry. #OneEPU “Build, what matters. Grow, without limits. Power, the future with Hanwha Ocean EPU.”

You will serve as the principal engineer for instrumentation, controls, and automation systems across onshore power and microgrid projects. The role establishes plant‑wide and microgrid control architectures, including DCS, PLC‑based systems, SIS, EMS, PMS, and SCADA, and defines control philosophies and interface standards governing coordinated operation of generation assets, BESS, and backup systems to meet high availability and reliability requirements typical of data‑center‑driven microgrids. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of experience in onshore natural‑gas‑based power generation and BESS, gained within EPC/EPCI contractors, project developers, or utility organizations. You will have led I&C engineering for complex power and microgrid projects and possess strong experience across Pre‑FEED, FEED, and EPC(I) phases, including bid‑phase technical definition. Project experience includes simple‑cycle and combined‑cycle plants with gas turbines, gas engines, HRSGs, steam turbines, and Balance‑of‑Plant systems. This role provides end‑to‑end discipline leadership from FEED through commissioning and startup, including control system architecture development, DCS/PLC/SCADA specification, SIS lifecycle ownership, and integration with OEM, electrical protection, and grid‑interconnection systems. The position also provides technical leadership to Hanwha Ocean’s onshore global engineering centers, ensuring consistent standards, effective workshare execution, and strong technical governance across regions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in Instrumentation & Control engineering within power generation facilities, including projects serving high reliability or mission critical loads.
• Hands on experience with major DCS and PLC platforms, including Emerson Ovation/DeltaV, Siemens, Honeywell, ABB, and Rockwell Automation.
• Strong foundation in industrial instrumentation, control loops, automation systems, and overall plant controls.
• Demonstrated ability to read, develop, and review P&IDs, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and control narratives.
• Experience supporting procurement activities for Instrumentation & Control systems, including preparation and technical review of RFQs, bid evaluations, and vendor selection for instruments, control systems, and automation packages.
• Knowledge of project procurement workflows and coordination with engineering, construction, and commissioning teams to support schedule-driven purchasing activities.
• Working knowledge of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and applicable standards, including IEC 61511 and ISA 84, with experience supporting functional safety lifecycle activities.
• Experience with combustion controls, turbine controls, and Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS).
• Experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and/or integrated hybrid power or microgrid systems, including control and system integration aspects.
• Proficiency with CAD software and engineering design tools used for instrumentation and control engineering.
• Proven leadership and mentoring capability, with experience leading engineering teams and complex design efforts.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and technical decision making skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with gas turbine, combined‑cycle, renewable, nuclear, or hybrid power generation facilities, including greenfield and brownfield projects.
• Experience supporting power systems serving mission‑critical or high‑availability loads, such as data centers, industrial campuses, or critical infrastructure.
• Familiarity with high‑availability power architectures, including redundancy concepts (N, N+1), fault tolerance, and recovery strategies designed to minimize load interruption.
• Exposure to fast transfer, ride‑through, and seamless transition philosophies, including grid‑connected and islanded operating modes.
• Experience with plant or microgrid control strategies that support rapid response to disturbances, load changes, and grid events.
• Understanding of reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) principles as applied to power generation and distribution systems.
• Experience working on projects with stringent uptime, performance, or operational continuity requirements, whether driven by utilities, IPPs, industrial customers, or data‑center operators.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and troubleshooting skills applied to complex control, automation, and instrumentation systems.
• Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols and networks, including Modbus, Profibus, Ethernet/IP, and related fieldbus technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work safely and effectively within operating power plant and construction environments, with a strong commitment to safety procedures and hazard awareness.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with operations, maintenance, commissioning, and construction teams to support safe and reliable plant operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, review, and approval of core I&C deliverables, including control philosophies, I/O lists, loop diagrams, datasheets, alarm rationalization, and cause‑and‑effect matrices.
• Provide technical leadership for control system upgrades, migrations, and expansions, ensuring continuity, cybersecurity, and operational resilience.
• Lead and support FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup activities, resolving complex technical and integration issues.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with EPC contractors, OEMs, system integrators, and clients.
• Drive improvements in control and instrumentation systems to enhance plant reliability, availability, and performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, regulatory, and industry requirements (NERC, OSHA, EPA), including SIS and alarm management standards.
• Enforce QA/QC and Management of Change (MOC) processes, maintaining accurate and auditable project documentation.
• Review specifications and client requirements for contractual alignment and prepare formal technical responses to RFIs, comments, and deviations.
• Conduct technical evaluations and feasibility studies to assess system performance, reliability, and risk.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and designers, ensuring consistent quality of deliverables.
• Oversee installation, commissioning, and startup activities to meet schedule, cost, quality, and safety objectives.
• Maintain and govern discipline documentation, including instrument indices, standards, specifications, and as‑built records.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, standards, and best practices in instrumentation, controls, and automation.

Benefits

• Hanwha believes that diversity and inclusion are vital to our success. We believe that by embracing different ideas and approaches, we enhance our ability to deliver the best results for our employees, our environment, and ultimately our business partners and customers. We foster a culture where all colleagues are able to share their passions and ideas in order that we may collectively embrace and overcome the challenges in our industry, and work toward a brighter future.
• Hanwha is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal