Automation & Controls Project Manager

Actalent; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 200,579,000 - 257,887,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Automation & Controls Project Manager in Houston, TX for a contract-to-hire role. You will lead complex industrial automation projects from FEED through startup, balancing technical and commercial priorities.

You will serve as technical and commercial authority, manage budgets, schedules, and client relationships across industries such as Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Data Centers, with a focus on margin protection and value realization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
• PMP certification.
• Experience managing control system and automation projects in Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Power Generation, and Data Centers.
• Experience with FEED, detailed design, panel integration, FAT, commissioning, and start-up.
• Hands-on experience with control systems engineering and platforms.
• Budgeting, cost forecasting, earned value tracking, and financial reporting.
• Leadership of multidisciplinary teams of automation engineers, designers, panel shop resources, and commissioning personnel.
• Strong communication for client and internal meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own all phases of automation and controls projects, including FEED, detailed engineering, panel integration, FAT, site commissioning, and start-up.
• Serve as the technical authority for control, safety, and information system solutions across industrial process applications.
• Ensure automation architectures, control philosophies, and system designs align with project scope, client standards, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to resolve complex technical challenges during project execution and commissioning.
• Manage projects with a focus on contract value growth, margin protection, and revenue realization.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules covering engineering, panel fabrication, procurement, and field execution.
• Clearly communicate scope, schedule, and budget expectations to project team members and stakeholders.

Skills

PMP certification

Project management

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

MS Business Central ERP

Job description

This person can sit out of the Plano, TX OR Houston, TX location

This role is a contract to hire with the intent of going permanent

Job Title: Automation & Controls Project Manager

Job Description

The Automation & Controls Project Manager leads complex industrial automation and control systems projects from Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) through detailed design, panel integration, commissioning, and start-up. This role combines deep technical expertise in control and safety systems with strong commercial and execution leadership to ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, and in full alignment with client expectations. The position serves as the primary technical and commercial authority on assigned projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams and maintaining strong, long-term client relationships across a variety of industrial sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own all phases of automation and controls projects, including FEED, detailed engineering, panel integration, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site commissioning, and start-up.

• Serve as the technical authority for control, safety, and information system solutions across industrial process applications.

• Ensure automation architectures, control philosophies, and system designs align with project scope, client standards, and industry best practices.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to resolve complex technical challenges during project execution and commissioning.

• Manage projects with a strong focus on contract value growth, margin protection, and revenue realization.

• Actively manage client scope, identify changes and impacts early, and develop change orders to prevent margin erosion.

• Maintain responsibility for project budgets, cost forecasting, earned value tracking, and financial reporting.

• Balance technical decisions with commercial outcomes to deliver profitable and sustainable projects.

• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules that cover engineering, panel fabrication, procurement, and field execution activities.

• Clearly communicate scope, schedule, and budget expectations to project team members and ensure accountability for meeting milestones.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.

• Proven project management experience managing control system and automation projects in one or more of the following industries: Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Power Generation, and Data Centers.

• Strong experience with MS Business Central ERP.

• Demonstrated project management expertise in industrial automation and control systems, including FEED, detailed design, panel integration, FAT, commissioning, and start-up.

• Hands-on experience with control systems engineering and control system platforms.

• Proficiency in project budgeting, cost forecasting, earned value tracking, and financial reporting.

• Strong skills in project scheduling and coordination of engineering, panel fabrication, procurement, and field execution.

• Proven ability to manage scope, develop change orders, and protect project margins.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams of automation engineers, designers, panel shop resources, and commissioning personnel.

• Effective communication skills, including the ability to present status reports and lead client and internal meetings.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $90.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.