Senior Controls Engineer

NAES•The Woodlands, TX

17d•$137,500 - $158,100

About The Position

The Senior Controls Engineer is a corporate-level technical leader in a centralized support organization, delivering billable controls engineering services across a fleet of power generation facilities. This experienced, deployable resource supports multiple sites according to operational needs, project demand, and outage schedules. The role provides technical leadership and oversight for complex control system projects, mentors other engineers, and independently leads technically challenging work in field environments to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes across the fleet. The position performs hands-on engineering work across multiple facilities, including troubleshooting, system modifications, commissioning support, and lifecycle maintenance. It develops and executes plans for upgrades and maintenance, coordinates with site personnel and external parties, manages technical risks and changing scope, and tracks project progress and budgets. The role requires ground and air travel, potentially up to 50–70%, and work at a home office or headquarters as well as industrial sites. Site work may involve protective clothing and equipment, industrial hazards, high noise, new construction, and movement across stairways, ladders, grating, and uneven terrain. Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; extended hours may be required based on specific requirements. Employees participate in a Fitness for Duty Program that includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening. Smoking is extensively restricted in and around facilities. Safety is a core value, and employees are expected to remain alert, follow safety warnings and signs, and comply with company safety rules and procedures.

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 on a year-for-year basis.
10 years of controls engineering experience.
Experience troubleshooting control systems, analyzing logic, modifying systems, and performing 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, including Siemens TXP/T3000, GE Mark, Emerson Ovation, Rockwell, or ABB, covering 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, particularly for 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 when required.
Ability to travel by ground and air, up to 50–70%.
Physical mobility to traverse stairways, ladders, grating, and uneven terrain; ability to see, hear, read, and react to warning signs, lights, and alarms.
Ability to work at industrial sites around industrial hazards, high noise levels, and new construction, using protective clothing and equipment.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience leading control system upgrades, migrations, or major maintenance efforts.
Proven ability to independently execute and direct work in high-risk or high-consequence operational environments.
Experience mentoring or providing technical leadership to other engineers.
Strong experience coordinating multi-party efforts involving site personnel, vendors, and corporate teams.
ISA Certified Automation Professional certification.
ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Certificates.
SANS GICSP.

Responsibilities

Lead complex control system efforts, including major upgrades, migrations, and troubleshooting of critical system issues, and provide technical direction across concurrent efforts.
Mentor and support Controls Engineers on troubleshooting, design approaches, and project execution; serve as the primary escalation point for complex or high-risk technical issues beyond less experienced engineers’ capabilities.
Perform hands-on control system engineering, including troubleshooting, system modifications, commissioning support, and lifecycle maintenance across multiple facilities.
Provide independent controls support in field environments with minimal supervision and 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 based on operational demand, including mobilization for outages, projects, and emergent support events.
Coordinate with site personnel, corporate engineering, third-party vendors, OEMs, and other external parties to support safe and effective work execution and troubleshooting.
Lead technical discussions and meetings, track action items, and drive timely resolution of control system issues.
Support vendor engagement as required, including scope development, proposal review, and coordination of work, while performing core technical work directly.
Ensure control system work meets technical requirements and customer expectations, and be accountable for successful execution.
Identify and manage scope changes as site and project conditions evolve while maintaining alignment with contractual requirements.
Identify technical risks that may affect 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.