Automation Engineer / Technologist

3001 TC USA Services Inc; Estelline Township (SD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

TC Energy seeks an Automation Engineer or Technologist to support safe, reliable operation of compressor-station control systems. You will troubleshoot automation, electrical, instrumentation, and network systems, collaborate with field operations, and implement changes with strong change-management practices.

Responsibilities include diagnosing malfunctions, reviewing PLC/HMI configurations, and assisting with lifecycle management and project work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or graduation from a two- or three-year technical program.
• Six or more years of related experience.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting electrical, instrumentation, automation, and control systems.
• Working knowledge of PLC and HMI platforms.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, control narratives, logic diagrams, network architecture drawings, and technical manuals.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and root-cause troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to operations, engineering, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct technical support to field operations for maintaining and troubleshooting automation, electrical, instrumentation, communications, monitoring, and control systems.
• Diagnose control-system malfunctions, identify root causes, and implement safe, practical, and timely corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, remote communications, data-acquisition systems, instrumentation, and associated control equipment.
• Support inspection, testing, calibration, repair, replacement, and lifecycle management of control-system components.
• Review PLC and HMI applications, communications configurations, alarms, and system data to resolve issues and improve reliability.
• Coordinate software, configuration, and control-logic changes in accordance with company change-management, testing, backup, and documentation requirements.
• Monitor system performance and recurring equipment issues to identify reliability risks and improvement opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance for operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying compressor-station control systems.
• Support capital, growth, and upgrade projects through design review, technical input, commissioning, startup, functional testing, and validation of new or modified systems.
• Review automation designs, schedules, and construction plans to ensure installations are maintainable, reliable, consistent with company standards, and compatible with existing facilities.
• Perform or support engineering studies, facility assessments, and audits involving company standards and applicable regulatory and industry requirements.
• Promote standardization and share lessons learned, technical guidance, best practices, and recurring issue information across the organization.
• Support technical training, mentoring, Operator Qualification activities, and technical knowledge-sharing forums.
• Coordinate vendor and service representative support when specialized assistance is required.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Electrical engineering

PLC and HMI

Electrical drawings interpretation

Analytical troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Two- or three-year technical program

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Allen-Bradley HMI

Industrial networks

Cisco networking equipment

Job description

At TC Energy, we are proud to connect the world to the energy it needs. Guided by our values of safety in every step, personal accountability, one team and active learning, we deliver the critical energy that North America and the world rely on while balancing reliability, affordability and sustainability. Join us. Connect to what matters.

The Opportunity

The U.S. Gas Automation & Electrical team is seeking an Automation Engineer or Technologist to support the safe, reliable operation of control systems at compressor stations and related facilities. The primary focus of this position is maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving automation and control systems. The successful candidate will work closely with field operations to diagnose equipment and system issues, restore reliable operation, manage control-system changes, and provide ongoing technical guidance. The role will support PLCs, HMIs, communications networks, data-acquisition systems, instrumentation, and associated electrical and control equipment. This position requires strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, sound technical judgment, and the ability to manage shifting priorities during both routine maintenance and time-sensitive operational events. Position location is flexible among the locations listed.

What You'll Do

• Provide direct technical support to field operations for maintaining and troubleshooting automation, electrical, instrumentation, communications, monitoring, and control systems.
• Diagnose control-system malfunctions, identify root causes, and implement safe, practical, and timely corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, remote communications, data-acquisition systems, instrumentation, and associated control equipment.
• Support inspection, testing, calibration, repair, replacement, and lifecycle management of control-system components.
• Review PLC and HMI applications, communications configurations, alarms, and system data to resolve issues and improve reliability.
• Coordinate software, configuration, and control-logic changes in accordance with company change-management, testing, backup, and documentation requirements.
• Monitor system performance and recurring equipment issues to identify reliability risks and improvement opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance for operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying compressor-station control systems.
• Support capital, growth, and upgrade projects through design review, technical input, commissioning, startup, functional testing, and validation of new or modified systems.
• Review automation designs, schedules, and construction plans to ensure installations are maintainable, reliable, consistent with company standards, and compatible with existing facilities.
• Perform or support engineering studies, facility assessments, and audits involving company standards and applicable regulatory and industry requirements.
• Promote standardization and share lessons learned, technical guidance, best practices, and recurring issue information across the organization.
• Support technical training, mentoring, Operator Qualification activities, and technical knowledge-sharing forums.
• Coordinate vendor and service representative support when specialized assistance is required.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or graduation from a two- or three-year technical program.
• Six or more years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining and troubleshooting electrical, instrumentation, automation, and control systems.
• Working knowledge of PLC and HMI platforms.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, control narratives, logic diagrams, network architecture drawings, and technical manuals.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and root-cause troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to operations, engineering, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the natural gas pipeline or compressor-station industry.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems.
• Knowledge of industrial communications protocols, control networks, and remote communications systems.
• Experience with Cisco and Allen-Bradley networking equipment.
• Experience with instrumentation, compressor controls, shutdown systems, alarm management, and data-acquisition systems.
• Familiarity with control-system cybersecurity, software backup, version control, and management-of-change practices.

Candidates must:

• Have and maintain a valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Successfully complete a pre-employment medical screening, including drug and alcohol testing.
• Be available for extended work hours, callouts, and operational support as needed.
• Travel to other company locations for temporary assignments, meetings, training, commissioning, or troubleshooting activities, including occasional overnight stays.
• Driving a motor vehicle is an essential function of this position.
• To remain competitive, support our high-performance culture and allow for more flexibility in the way we work, we offer a hybrid work model and flexible dress code for our eligible office-based workforce in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

TC Energy is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the US government.

We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.

We are also committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

Applicants requiring accommodations or accessible formats are encouraged to contact us at [e-mail] for support.

All applicants must have legal authorization to work in the country where the position is based, without restrictions.

Background screening is required for all positions, which may include criminal and/or credit checks.

Offers may be extended at a different level or job title that best aligns with the successful candidate's qualifications.

Learn more Visit us at TCEnergy.com and connect with us on our social media channels for our latest news, employee stories, community activities, and other updates.

About our business

We are a leader in North American energy infrastructure, spanning Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. For over 75 years, we have proudly connected the world to the energy it needs. Every day, we move more than 30 per cent of the natural gas used across the continent and connect LNG exports to global markets, powering communities and industries. Complemented by strategic ownership and low-risk investments in power generation, our infrastructure delivers affordable, reliable and sustainable energy across North America. Our field operations span seven Canadian provinces, 34 U.S. states and seven Mexican states. Together, we strengthen the connections that deliver the energy the world relies on—every day.