Nexus Circular – Sr Instrumentation & Controls Engineer - Atlanta

Nexus Circular•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Nexus Circular is seeking a Senior Instrumentation & Controls Project Engineer to serve as the technical lead and primary interface for instrumentation, automation, and controls on capital projects, facility expansions, and process upgrades. Reporting to the Electrical Engineering Manager, this role leads I&C activities from conceptual design through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and project closeout. The engineer coordinates EPC firms, system integrators, equipment suppliers, contractors, and multidisciplinary Nexus teams. Basic electrical engineering knowledge is required to manage power, grounding, motor-control, and packaged-equipment interfaces associated with instrumentation and controls. The position supports Nexus Circular, a commercial leader in advanced recycling technology that converts landfill-bound plastics into circular feedstocks for sustainable virgin-plastic production. Nexus describes its culture as collaborative, transparent, data-driven, diverse, environmentally committed, and focused on growth and sustainability. The role includes approximately 10%–20% travel, depending on project requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
Seven or more years of instrumentation and controls experience in chemical, petrochemical, energy, manufacturing, or a related process industry.
Experience delivering capital projects through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
Experience serving as an I&C discipline lead, project technical lead, or owner’s engineer.
Experience managing technical interfaces among EPC firms, system integrators, vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
Strong knowledge of process instrumentation, analyzers, control valves, PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O, and industrial networks.
Experience developing and reviewing P&IDs, instrument data sheets, I/O lists, loop diagrams, control narratives, and cause-and-effect matrices.
Knowledge of instrument grounding, shielding, signal segregation, intrinsic safety, and hazardous-area installations.
Basic knowledge of industrial electrical systems through 480 VAC, including MCCs, motors, VFDs, control panels, UPS/DC systems, and grounding.
Experience supporting FAT, SAT, construction, calibration, loop checks, functional testing, commissioning, and startup.
Knowledge of applicable ISA, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, ANSI, UL, OSHA, and hazardous-area requirements.
Strong technical leadership, project coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects, contractors, and priorities.
Strong instrumentation and controls project leadership and ability to manage technical interfaces across multiple disciplines and organizations.
Ability to evaluate EPC, integrator, and vendor deliverables for completeness and quality.
Strong understanding of process measurement, automation, and packaged-equipment integration.
Ability to balance safety, operability, constructability, cost, and schedule.
Self-starter with sound technical judgment and strong initiative; effective communicator capable of leading through influence.
Comfort managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Rockwell ControlLogix, Siemens TIA Portal, Codesys, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, Profibus, Profinet, HART, and related protocols.
Experience with safety instrumented systems, analyzer systems, alarm rationalization, and shutdown testing.
Familiarity with AutoCAD Electrical, SPI/Intools, or similar engineering tools.
Experience with project controls, technical change management, and contractor change-order review.
Exposure to medium-voltage electrical systems and power-system studies.
Experience in advanced recycling, chemical processing, refining, plastics, or renewable fuels.

Responsibilities

Serve as Nexus’s I&C project lead and owner’s technical representative for assigned capital projects.
Establish design criteria, scopes of work, battery limits, deliverables, schedules, and technical acceptance requirements.
Lead and coordinate work performed by EPC firms, consultants, system integrators, vendors, and contractors.
Develop and review P&IDs, instrument indexes, data sheets, I/O lists, instrument layouts, installation details, loop diagrams, cable schedules, control narratives, operating sequences, cause-and-effect matrices, and PLC, HMI, remote I/O, and industrial-network architectures.
Develop and review alarm, interlock, permissive, and shutdown requirements.
Select and specify process instruments, analyzers, control valves, actuators, and related accessories.
Review instrument ranges, sizing, accuracy, materials, process connections, environmental ratings, and hazardous-area suitability.
Coordinate instrument power, grounding, shielding, signal segregation, intrinsic safety, surge protection, and cable routing.
Ensure control-system designs implement process requirements, operating philosophies, alarms, interlocks, permissives, and shutdown functions.
Coordinate interfaces between plant control systems and packaged equipment, motor controls, safety systems, and industrial networks.
Provide basic electrical engineering support for 120/480 VAC power distribution, MCC and VFD interfaces, control panels, UPS/DC systems, grounding, and heat tracing.
Review single-line diagrams, load lists, wiring diagrams, equipment data sheets, and cable-sizing calculations as they relate to I&C systems.
Prepare and review specifications, RFQs, technical bid evaluations, vendor submittals, RFIs, deviations, and field changes.
Monitor engineering progress and identify design gaps, interface conflicts, long-lead items, and cost or schedule risks.
Evaluate project deliverables for technical accuracy, completeness, integration, constructability, operability, and commissioning readiness.
Support construction walkdowns, installation inspections, FAT, SAT, calibration, loop checks, I/O verification, functional testing, commissioning, and startup.
Participate in PHA, HAZOP, MOC, PSSR, constructability, and commissioning-readiness reviews.
Verify final project documentation reflects the installed and commissioned system.
Mentor engineers and designers and provide technical direction across multidisciplinary teams.