Discipline Engineer SME

Discipline Engineer Sme

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Discipline Engineer Sme with our large power and utilities client in Charlotte, NC. This is a 12-month contract with a potential for extension.

Pay: $76.00 - $86.00/hr; W2 contract, no PTO, no Benefits. ACA-compliant supplemental package available for enrollment. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to sit on Primary Talent Partners W2 without sponsorship.

Project Management and Construction organization is seeking a DCS Start-Up Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on field engineering support for Distributed Control System installation, checkout, commissioning, start-up, and turnover on major generation projects. This role serves as a key interface among project engineering, construction, vendors, commissioning teams, operations, cybersecurity, and other stakeholders to ensure control system scope is delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with project requirements.

Key Responsibilities

The DCS Start-Up Engineer will support the deployment of the Ovation logic and graphics at the control's development lab located in the Charlotte corporate office and remote support. The DCS start-up Engineer will then transfer to the site for Ovation control-related activities during start-up and commissioning of the new combined cycle plant.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead or support DCS field start-up activities, including hardware checkout, controller and cabinet inspections, network verification, power-up support, system readiness reviews and system walk-downs.
• Coordinate with vendors, EPC contractors, construction teams, commissioning personnel, operations, and engineering stakeholders to plan and execute DCS commissioning activities.
• Support control system configuration, logic checkout, graphics verification, alarm validation, historian and interface checks, and controller-to-field device integration.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in loop checks, functional testing, cause-and-effect testing, interlock validation, permissive testing, sequence testing, and control tuning, as applicable.
• Troubleshoot DCS hardware, software, communications, field instrumentation interfaces, I/O, networks, and related control system components.
• Review DCS drawings, logic diagrams, control narratives, I/O lists, network architecture drawings, cabinet layouts, test procedures, and vendor documentation for constructability, accuracy, and readiness.
• Support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning test procedure development, deficiency tracking, and resolution of punch list items.
• Ensure DCS start-up activities are performed in accordance with project requirements, contracts, design criteria, safety expectations, cybersecurity requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Provide field engineering support during energization, first fire, synchronization, performance testing, turnover milestones, and initial operation of new generation assets, as applicable.
• Prepare and maintain start-up documentation, test records, turnover packages, marked-up drawings, issue logs, lessons learned, and technical correspondence.
• Monitor controls-related scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and readiness concerns; communicate issues and recommended actions to project leadership.
• Manage the company control change management procedure throughout the commissioning of the site. Daily coordination with EPC startup team and PMC engineering team.
• Support project closeout, warranty resolution, and transfer of control system knowledge to operations and maintenance personnel.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work arrangement when project demands allow.
• Significant onsite support is required during construction, commissioning, start-up, and turnover periods.
• Onsite assignments may include extended periods at project locations, including active construction and commissioning environments.
• Travel requirement is typically 25-50%, with higher travel possible during critical start-up and commissioning phases.

Basic / Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of engineering experience, including experience with control systems, commissioning, start-up, power generation, industrial controls, or related technical project execution.
• Strong working knowledge of Distributed Control Systems and related control system hardware, software, networks, and integration.
• Ability to support field engineering activities in active construction and commissioning environments.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, documentation, and coordination skills.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• Experience with Emerson Ovation or similar Distributed Control System platforms.
• Experience supporting hardware checkout, software validation, logic testing, graphics verification, and commissioning activities.
• Experience with power generation facilities, combustion turbines combined cycle facilities, and balance-of-plant systems.
• Familiarity with PLCs, field…