Chief Commissioning Engineer, Plant Automation

Wärtsilä Corporation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Wärtsilä North America seeks an experienced Chief Commissioning Engineer – Plant Automation to support automation testing and commissioning of power plant installations across the United States. You will travel extensively to customer sites and lead system integration and testing activities.

The role requires strong PLC programming and industrial control expertise, with a focus on safety, documentation, and cross‑functional collaboration across global teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering.
• Strong practical experience in power plant automation systems, industrial control systems, HMI platforms, and industrial communication networks.
• Experience with Wärtsilä products is highly valued; however, relevant expertise in related industries is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute automation testing and commissioning activities for Wärtsilä power plant installations.
• Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and corrective actions on Wärtsilä products and systems.
• Supervise installation and commissioning of plant automation and control systems.
• Support warranty activities and contribute to continuous improvement of new and existing products.
• Diagnose system issues, perform adjustments, and support testing activities in line with engineering instructions and standards.
• Verify, adjust, and validate system performance to meet operational and safety requirements.
• Prepare and submit internal and customer-facing technical reports in line with Wärtsilä standards.

Skills

PLC programming

Automation software

Industrial control systems

Field troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Microsoft Hyper‑V

Job description

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Houston, TX, US Herndon, VA, US Harvey, LA, US Fort Lauderdale, FL, US

Function: Project Management

Job Category: Project Management

Chief Commissioning Engineer, Plant Automation

Chief Commissioning Engineer – Plant Automation

Position Overview

Wärtsilä Energy’s Construction and Commissioning Services team is seeking an experienced Chief Commissioning Engineer – Plant Automation to support the commissioning and startup of Wärtsilä power plant installations.

This is a travel‑intensive, field‑based role focused on automation testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting across customer sites, primarily in the United States with occasional international travel.

The position is home‑office based within the United States.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Automation & Commissioning

Lead and execute automation testing and commissioning activities for Wärtsilä power plant installations

Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and corrective actions on Wärtsilä products and systems

Supervise installation and commissioning of plant automation and control systems

Support warranty activities and contribute to continuous improvement of new and existing products

Diagnose system issues, perform adjustments, and support testing activities in accordance with engineering instructions and standards

Verify, adjust, and validate system performance to meet operational and safety requirements

Prepare and submit internal and customer-facing technical reports in line with Wärtsilä standards

Control Systems Engineering (Electrical & Automation)

Work with PLC and automation platforms including:

Siemens TIA Portal (V13 or higher)

Configure and troubleshoot HMI systems and industrial networks

Work with industrial networking technologies including IP networks, ring topologies, switches, and routers

Support server and virtualization environments, including Microsoft Hyper‑V

Apply knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as CAN Bus, Modbus, and Profibus

Collaborate with cross‑functional teams during commissioning and handover phases

Experience with Wärtsilä UNIC / sWOIS systems is considered a strong advantage.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering

Strong practical experience in power plant automation systems, industrial control systems, HMI platforms, and industrial communication networks.

Experience with Wärtsilä products is highly valued; however, we also welcome professionals with relevant expertise gained from comparable power generation, process automation, marine, energy, or industrial automation environments.

Demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge in commissioning, troubleshooting, system integration, and operational support within complex industrial facilities.

Strong expertise in PLC programming, automation software, and industrial control systems

Proven ability to work independently in dynamic and demanding field environments

Proactive, analytical, and solution‑oriented mindset with a strong focus on results

Excellent communication and technical reporting skills

Strong team orientation with the flexibility to collaborate across global and multicultural teams

Candidates for regular U.S and Puerto Rico positions must be a U.S. citizen, national, or an alien admitted as permanent resident, refugee, asylee with valid work permit or temporary resident under 8 U.S.C. 1160(a) or 1255a(1). Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H1B, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Individuals hired for positions that require on-site customer interactions and/or in-person travel may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or other country-specific vaccinations, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

Wärtsilä North America values our employees. We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Wärtsilä North America is an EOE/AA employer.

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.

Effective January 2025, Wartsila companies in the USA have implemented a new hybrid work model. Most employees who live within 40 miles of an office will work 2 days per week in office. This model will provide our employees the flexibility of working from home, while also providing the benefits of in-person collaboration twice a week. We will be happy to provide more information during your interview process.

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more onwww.wartsila.com .