Controls Engineer

Controls & Automation Engineer

The Controls & Automation Engineer designs, programs, maintains, and optimizes control systems that support continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations. This role leads SCADA development, enhances PLC and DCS logic, integrates historian data, improves alarm management, and strengthens instrumentation reliability to support safety, quality, and throughput targets as the facility scales by approximately 50% over the next five years. The position offers a long-term opportunity with several years of project work in an environment focused on reducing solvent waste and improving industrial sustainability.

• Design, program, and maintain PLC and DCS-based control systems to support continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations.
• Lead SCADA system development, configuration, and optimization to improve visibility, control, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and refine PLC/DCS logic to enhance process reliability, safety, and throughput as the facility scales production.
• Integrate historian data systems to collect, store, and analyze process data for performance monitoring and improvement.
• Implement and optimize alarm management strategies to support safe, stable, and high-quality operations.
• Support instrumentation reliability by ensuring proper specification, configuration, calibration, and troubleshooting of field devices.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, including line and wiring diagrams, to support installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting activities.
• Read and interpret P&IDs and process flow diagrams to understand system design and identify improvement opportunities.
• Troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems and other control platforms to quickly diagnose and resolve control and instrumentation issues.
• Collect, distill, and analyze process data to drive data-based decision making and continuous process improvement.
• Apply knowledge of distillation, tank farms, and hazardous area classifications to ensure safe and compliant control system design and operation.
• Configure and support industrial communication networks such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profibus for reliable connectivity between control systems and field devices.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to support safety, quality, and throughput targets.
• Contribute to projects that reduce solvent waste and improve environmental performance of the facility.
• Work safely in field environments, including elevated work areas and outdoor conditions, while performing control system and instrumentation tasks.

• At least 3 years of experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLC systems in an industrial environment.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and control logic development for continuous process applications.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, including line and wiring diagrams.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs and process flow diagrams for chemical and fuel processing systems.
• Strong skills in data collection, distillation, and analysis to support process improvement and decision making.
• Experience with instrumentation used in process control, including configuration and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with SCADA systems, including development, configuration, and optimization.
• Knowledge of distillation processes, tank farm operations, and hazardous area classifications.
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profibus.
• Strong troubleshooting mindset with a data-driven approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work effectively in systems engineering or controls engineering roles with PLC experience.

• Experience across multiple PLC platforms, including Allen-Bradley, Foxboro, and Red Lion.
• Experience in systems engineering with practical PLC and controls experience.
• Experience in continuous chemical processing or fuel blending environments.
• Familiarity with alarm management best practices and historian data integration.
• Interest in or experience with projects focused on environmental sustainability and waste reduction.

The role is based in an industrial process facility focused on continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations, with a long-term pipeline of project work. The environment involves both control room and field work, including exposure to outdoor conditions and process areas. You must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, both hot and cold, and work at heights using equipment such as cherry pickers up to approximately 60 feet.

The facility operates with typical industrial technologies including PLC and DCS systems, SCADA platforms, historian databases, and industrial communication networks. Safety procedures and appropriate personal protective equipment are integral parts of daily work, reflecting the presence of distillation systems, tank farms, and hazardous area classifications. The culture emphasizes operational…