Automation Engineer – Projects | SANA Technical Solutions | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

SANA Technical Solutions; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 167,000 - 279,000; Full time

Job summary

SANA Technical Solutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, seeks an Automation Engineer - Projects with 2–4 years’ progressive experience in industrial automation, PLC programming, and SCADA commissioning to lead water and infrastructure automation projects on-site.

You will design, program, test, and commission PLC/SCADA systems, perform FAT/SAT, coordinate I/O checks, calibrations, and handovers, and document all control logic and diagrams while ensuring safety and standards compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related discipline.
• 2–4 years in industrial automation, PLC programming, and SCADA commissioning.
• Hands-on expertise in programming/commissioning PLC and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP.
• Experience in water treatment or municipal infrastructure automation.
• Excellent English communication; client-facing.
• Eligible to work on-site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end automation project execution from programming to site commissioning.
• Program PLCs/RTUs, configure HMI systems, and develop SCADA architectures.
• Develop SCADA graphics, alarms, and logging; perform FAT/SAT.
• Coordinate site installation, I/O checks, and loop checks on control panels.
• Site commissioning, instrument calibration, and control loop tuning.
• Troubleshoot PLC/SCADA hardware and network issues.
• Collaborate with project teams, electrical engineers, and clients.
• Produce technical documentation and handover reports.

Skills

PLC programming

SCADA commissioning

Industrial automation

Troubleshooting

English communication

On-site work

Education

Bachelor's in Mechatronics, Electrical, or Automation Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Schneider Electric PLC

Job description

Position Summary:

SANA Technical Solutions is actively seeking an experienced, high-caliber, and technical Automation Engineer - Projects with 2 to 4 years of progressive professional experience in industrial automation, PLC programming, and SCADA system commissioning to join our engineering team on a full-time permanent on-site basis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this critical engineering role, you will be responsible for executing water and infrastructure automation projects, managing end-to-end technical lifecycles from software programming through site testing, commissioning, and final customer handover. You will leverage your deep specialist expertise in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platforms, and industrial networking to deliver uncompromised system reliability, high operational uptime, and technical excellence. This opportunity offers competitive compensation, executive technical visibility, and exceptional career growth prospects within a premier regional industrial automation and infrastructure solutions enterprise.

Detailed Job Description:

As an Automation Engineer - Projects supporting SANA Technical Solutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, you will take full operational, tactical, and technical ownership of water and infrastructure automation project execution, PLC/SCADA programming, and site commissioning. Your day-to-day responsibilities include designing, developing, and deploying PLC logic, HMI screens, and SCADA architectures for water treatment and infrastructure projects, executing comprehensive system programming, simulation, and factory acceptance testing (FAT), coordinating site installation, input/output (I/O) checkout, site acceptance testing (SAT), and field commissioning, diagnosing and resolving complex control loop, instrumentation, and network communication failures, collaborating closely with cross-functional project managers, electrical engineers, and client stakeholders, preparing detailed technical documentation, operational manuals, and as-built drawings, ensuring strict compliance with industrial automation standards and safety protocols, and successfully managing customer handovers upon project completion. You will utilize your proactive troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills to resolve complex automation anomalies under strict project delivery timelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute end-to-end water and infrastructure automation projects from initial programming through site testing and commissioning.
• Design, configure, and program Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), and HMI systems.
• Develop, configure, and optimize SCADA platforms, graphical user interfaces, alarm databases, and historical logging.
• Conduct rigorous factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and loop checks for industrial control panels.
• Perform live site commissioning, I/O validation, instrument calibration, and control loop tuning in operational environments.
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve hardware and software faults across PLC, SCADA, and industrial network layers.
• Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional project teams, electrical contractors, and municipal client representatives.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation of control logic, network diagrams, configuration backups, and handover reports.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 2 to 4 years of progressive professional experience in industrial automation, PLC programming, and SCADA commissioning.
• Strong, demonstrable hands-on professional expertise in programming and commissioning PLC and SCADA systems.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP).
• Solid practical experience in water treatment, wastewater, or municipal infrastructure automation project execution.
• Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, debugging, and problem-solving capabilities under challenging site conditions.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills with strong client-facing presentation and handover abilities.
• Mandatory legal work eligibility and physical availability for full-time on-site operations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Professional certifications in industrial automation or vendor platforms (e.g., Siemens Certified Programmer, Rockwell Automation).
• Prior professional working experience with major SCADA/PLC vendors such as Schneider Electric, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or ABB.
• Hands-on familiarity with industrial cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443) and SCADA redundancy architectures.
• Experience managing sub-contractors, site safety compliance, and multi-disciplinary engineering coordination.

Salary and Application Details:

• Salary/Rate: Market Competitive / Industrial Automation Package
• Deadline: Open until filled (Urgent Riyadh On-Site Opening)
• Notice Period: Immediate to 30 Days Preferred
• Contract Duration: Permanent / Full-Time On-Site Engagement (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
• Company Website: https://www.sanatech.sa

Recruitment Pro Tip

When applying for this Automation Engineer - Projects position at SANA Technical Solutions, ensure your resume explicitly highlights your hands-on PLC and SCADA programming portfolio, and details your experience with water or municipal infrastructure commissioning.