Automation Specialist

OXY, Inc.; Jayton (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxy is seeking an experienced Automation Specialist for its Permian EOR Plants group, located in Denver City, TX. The role focuses on maintaining and optimizing plant automation systems, including PLC and DCS, while coordinating with planners and vendors.

You will mentor technicians, manage costs, and support predictive maintenance efforts to ensure uptime. The ideal candidate has deep oil and gas automation expertise, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to work under pressure within

Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline preferred.
• Oil & gas automation experience strongly valued.

Responsibilities

• Perform local maintenance and manage maintenance vendors.
• Represent Automation team in plant maintenance communications.
• Understand plant processes and equipment to support the Plant team.
• Perform corrective and preventive maintenance on automation equipment.
• Track maintenance costs and provide project quotes.
• Ensure PM documentation is accurate and centralized.
• Support analyzers (GCs, CEMS, Dewpoint, O2) operations.
• Coordinate with Plant Planner and Scheduler teams.
• Mentor junior Automation Technicians on PLC/HMI troubleshooting.
• Provide automation support during outages.
• Maintain adherence to schedule and avoid out-of-compliance work.
• Troubleshoot DCS and PLC and assist with new technologies.

Skills

Automation principles

PSSRs & MOCs

Electrical codes

DCS/PLC

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Programming simulation

Regulatory guidance

HMI tagging

MS Office & Oxy software

Project management

Analytical thinking

I/O troubleshooting

Education

2-year technical degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree in Automation or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Rosemount equipment

Job description

Oxy produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas to maximize value and provide resources fundamental to life. The company leverages its global leadership in carbon management to advance lower-carbon technologies and products. Headquartered in Houston, Oxy primarily operates in the United States, Middle East and North Africa. To learn more, visit Oxy

Oxy strives to attract and retain talented employees by investing in their professional development and providing rewarding opportunities for personal growth. Our goal is to meet the highest employer standards by ensuring the health and safety of our employees, protecting the environment and positively impacting our communities where we do business.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to fill the position of Automation Specialist within our Permian EOR Plants group based in Denver City, TX.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Perform maintenance activities at a local level; directly manage maintenance vendors and support services.
• Represent the Automationteam in plant maintenance-related correspondence.
• Understand the plant process, equipment, and design that best support the Plant team.
• Perform both corrective and predictive maintenance on all automationequipment.
• Accountable formaintenancecost tracking and reporting.
• Provideaccuratequotes for automationand maintenance projects.
• Ensure all PM documentation isaccurateand complete for all automationequipment and stored in a central location.
• Perform operational and maintenance support of analyzers in the plant (GCs, CEMS, Dewpoint, O2).
• Communicate all maintenance activities with the Plant Planner and Scheduler Team.
• Mentor and train junior AutomationTechnicians on process flow and PLC, HMI, and end device troubleshooting.
• Respond and provide automationsupport during all outages.
• Workoff ofassigned schedule andmaintainno out-of-compliance work orders.
• Provide Plant DCS and PLC troubleshooting support.
• Provide analytical support on plant problems and input onnew technologies.
• Ensure plants aremaintainedin an orderly manner, including proper management of PLC programs, PLC panel wiring, and cleanliness of automationequipment.

Skills

• Expert level understanding of automationand electrical design principles.
• Understanding ofPSSRs and MOCs.
• Extensiveexpertisein EOR safe work systems.
• ExtensiveexpertiseofElectrical/Automationconstruction codes and practices.
• Extensive knowledge of materialspecifications andapplication.
• Understandingofregulatory guidelines.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure and work effectively within a team environment.
• Advanced computer skills (MS Office Suite, Oxy proprietary software, etc.).
• Knowledgeable with tagging conventions, programming simulation, and testing.
• Strong time management, written, oral, and project management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of DCS and PLC; understanding of digital and analog I/O, programming, and troubleshooting.

Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or equivalent working experiencerequired.
• Expert knowledge of oil and gasautomationsystems.
• Competent knowledge of oil and gas process facilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of Oil and Gas experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of Oil and GasAutomationexperience.
• Intermediate knowledge of well RTU designs, programming, and troubleshooting.
• Intermediate knowledge of analog and discrete instrumentation, and various serial and Ethernet communication protocols.
• Intermediate knowledge of technical standards and guidelines (API, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, ISA, etc.).
• Basic knowledgeofmaintainingPLC programs in function block, ladder logic, and structured text.
• Basic knowledgeofmaintaininglocal HMI operator interfaces.
• Ability and willingness to travel to unassigned job areas on an as-needed basis.
• Works safely around instrumentation and electrical systems with the ability to work with limited supervision.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline preferred.
• 5+ years of Oil and Gas experience with strong electrical background and state-accredited license.
• 1+ years of upstream oil and gasautomationexperience.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley & Rosemount equipment.
• Ability to read and understand Cause & Effects, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and control narratives.
• Basic ability to troubleshoot control networks for well sites, well pads, tank batteries, saltwater disposal, and compressor stations (ControlNet, Ethernet I/P, network switches, fiber optics, RF communications).
• Strong communicationand interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively work with management, technical, and field personnel.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.