Senior Automation Engineer

Brunel; San Juan de Terranova; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to enhance and maintain control systems aboard a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading unit. This role demands a seasoned professional with extensive experience in distributed control systems and offshore operations. You will be responsible for providing expert support, leading technical initiatives, and ensuring system reliability. Join a dynamic team that values innovation and offers exciting career opportunities across the globe. If you are ready to make a significant impact in the oil and gas sector, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 12+ years experience with distributed control systems in oil and gas.
• Expertise in DCS, PLCs, and safety instrumented systems.
• Strong project leadership and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical support on control system issues.
• Lead development of Software Change Notices and compliance.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Distributed Control Systems

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

Control Systems Optimization

Problem-Solving Skills

Cybersecurity Principles

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

ABB 800xA

ABB S+ Engineering

Job description

Senior Automation Engineer

St. John’s, NL

Schedule: M-F, Professional Working Day

PERMANENT POSITION

Introduction

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Automation Engineer to lead the maintenance, optimization, and enhancement of a distributed process control system aboard a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) unit. This role is ideal for a technically skilled professional with a strong background in automation, control systems, and offshore oil and gas operations.

Reporting to the Manager of Process Engineering, the successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert on distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), safety systems, and instrumentation. You will also play a key role in supporting operations, sustaining project activities, and advancing control system reliability and lifecycle strategies.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical support on control system issues and advise Operations and Maintenance personnel as needed.
• Support incident investigations related to trips or failures in control and safety systems.
• Review and provide input to sustaining project designs, specifications, and equipment selections from a control systems perspective.
• Contribute to regulatory submissions and responses in collaboration with facilities engineers.
• Oversee the control system software change management process and direct contracted engineering partners on modifications.
• Maintain and update control system documentation including discipline standards and Cause & Effect diagrams.
• Lead the development and execution of Software Change Notices (SCNs) and ensure compliance with Management of Change (MOC) procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and provide commercial support for vendor engagement, service requisitions, and invoice reviews.
• Develop and maintain reliability-based maintenance strategies for control systems and related equipment.
• Monitor and assess control system obsolescence risks and recommend upgrade plans.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues within control system platforms.
• Create and update material masters for control system hardware and software components.
• Plan and execute complex technical studies focused on control system performance and reliability.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers, contractors, and students.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) designation.
• Minimum 12+ years of experience working with distributed control systems, ideally within petrochemical or oil and gas sectors.
• Experience with offshore operations, fixed and floating production systems, and topsides facilities is a strong asset.
• Expertise in control systems including DCS, PLCs, emergency shutdown systems, safety instrumented systems, alarm management, and software security.
• Familiarity with ABB 800xA and ABB S+ Engineering is a strong asset.
• Proven understanding of production processes, systems economics, and optimization.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with originality and ingenuity to develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Working knowledge of environmental, health & safety, and loss prevention practices.
• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to lead through influence.
• Solid understanding of cybersecurity principles related to industrial control systems.
• Excellent planning, communication (written and presentation), and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and SAP.
• Ability to supervise and mentor a diverse technical team.

What We Offer

Why work with Brunel? We are proud to offer exciting career opportunities from over 100 offices globally in 42 countries. Advancing your career takes time and effort – let us match you to your ideal position.

About Us

Brunel has a reputation for working with some of the best in the business. That’s what we continually strive for. Brunel provides the global recruitment and workforce services you need to lead your industry. With 45 years of market experience in Renewable Energy, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Mining and Infrastructure, we help you finish major projects safely, compliantly, on-time, within budget and at the highest quality, so you can keep growing – anywhere in the world.