Control Systems SME

Lone Horse Ventures; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) and Roth 401(k)

Paid time off

Performance Bonus

Career Growth Opportunities and培训

Job summary

Lone Horse Ventures in Denver, Colorado seeks a Senior Control Systems SME to lead industrial automation architecture, safety, and lifecycle reliability across projects and client operations.

You will guide engineers, review critical designs, and mentor teams while ensuring safe, secure, maintainable systems aligned with client objectives. Travel to sites as needed and collaborate with vendors and construction teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, or related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in industrial automation, instrumentation, or control system integration.
• Experience as lead engineer or SME on complex industrial projects.
• Deep knowledge of PLC/HMI/SCADA architecture, programming, integration, testing, commissioning, and lifecycle support.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation and Siemens platforms, including modernization of legacy systems.
• Knowledge of industrial networks such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, and TCP/IP.
• Ability to travel to client/vendor sites as required.
• Strong communication of complex topics to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for control systems and automation solutions.
• Define and approve control system architectures, design philosophies, and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Lead technical reviews of narratives, I/O lists, network diagrams, and FAT/SAT docs.
• Provide guidance across FEL/FEED, detailed design, procurement, configuration, and commissioning.
• Review critical deliverables ensuring quality and compliance with project requirements.
• Diagnose and resolve complex control/instrumentation issues and modernize legacy systems.
• Establish standards, templates, and cybersecurity practices to improve quality.
• Advise clients on technology selection, redundancy, safety, and lifecycle considerations.
• Lead workshops, design reviews, hazard discussions, and root-cause investigations.
• Mentor engineers and field personnel through coaching and problem solving.
• Support project managers with scope, estimates, staffing, schedules, and risk.
• Coordinate with manufacturers and contractors to define interfaces and acceptance criteria.
• Promote safety, quality, and continuous improvement culture.

Skills

Technical leadership

Client communication

Mentoring engineers

Willing to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

PE license

Tools

ControlLogix

CompactLogix

SLC 500

PLC-5

FactoryTalk View

Ignition

Wonderware

WinCC

OMNI

Job description

Denver, Colorado, United States |Engineering and Automation

Role purpose: Serve as the senior technical authority for complex industrial control systems, guiding architecture, engineering quality, implementation, commissioning, and lifecycle reliability across automation projects and client operations.

The Senior Control Systems Subject Matter Expert (SME) provides enterprise-level technical leadership for industrial automation, controls, SCADA, safety systems, OT networking, and systems integration. This role establishes technical direction, reviews and approves critical designs, resolves complex system issues, and mentors engineering teams throughout the project lifecycle. Working closely with clients, project managers, engineering disciplines, vendors, construction, and commissioning teams, the SME ensures solutions are safe, secure, maintainable, standards-compliant, and aligned with operational and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for control systems, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA platforms, safety systems, flow computers, industrial networks, and integrated automation solutions.
• Define and approve control system architectures, design philosophies, engineering standards, implementation strategies, migration plans, and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Lead technical reviews of control narratives, cause-and-effect matrices, I/O lists, network diagrams, panel designs, wiring schematics, bills of material, software designs, and testing documentation.
• Provide expert guidance across FEL/FEED, detailed design, procurement, configuration, programming, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, startup, and operational support.
• Review and approve critical technical deliverables, calculations, estimates, and engineering decisions while ensuring quality, consistency, constructability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Diagnose and resolve complex control, instrumentation, communications, server, network, and process‑logic issues, including modernization of legacy systems and high‑risk cutovers.
• Establish reusable standards, templates, libraries, testing methods, cybersecurity practices, and technical work processes that improve engineering quality and execution efficiency.
• Advise clients and project teams on technology selection, platform suitability, obsolescence, redundancy, availability, maintainability, safety, and total lifecycle considerations.
• Lead technical workshops, design reviews, hazard and operability discussions, root‑cause investigations, and resolution of cross‑discipline technical issues.
• Mentor and develop engineers, programmers, designers, and field personnel through coaching, technical training, peer review, and hands‑on problem solving.
• Support project managers with scope definition, technical estimating, staffing plans, schedules, risk identification, change evaluation, and technical communication with stakeholders.
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, integrators, contractors, and client operations teams to ensure interfaces, responsibilities, and acceptance criteria are clearly defined.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, ethical engineering practice, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, Electronics, Computer Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in industrial automation, instrumentation, electrical controls, SCADA, or control system integration.
• Demonstrated experience as a lead engineer, technical authority, engineering manager, principal engineer, or SME on complex industrial projects.
• Deep knowledge of PLC and HMI/SCADA system architecture, programming, integration, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and lifecycle support.
• Experience with major control platforms such as Rockwell Automation and Siemens, including modernization or migration of legacy PLC and HMI systems.
• Experience with industrial communications and networks such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, and TCP/IP infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of instrumentation, control valves, motor controls, variable frequency drives, process control, PID tuning, and electrical control schematics.
• Experience developing and reviewing engineering documents, including control narratives, cause‑and‑effect matrices, I/O lists, instrument indexes, network drawings, panel designs, and FAT/SAT procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable industry standards and recommended practices, including ISA, IEC, IEEE, NFPA, NEC, and NEMA.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly to clients, management, engineers, technicians, vendors, and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to client, vendor, fabrication, and project sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with safety instrumented systems, fire and gas systems, critical control systems, and applicable functional safety lifecycle practices.
• Experience with flow computers and remote terminal units used in oil and gas measurement and pipeline applications.
• Experience with platforms such as ControlLogix, CompactLogix, SLC 500, PLC-5, S7-300/400/1200/1500, FactoryTalk View, Ignition, Wonderware, WinCC, ROC800, or OMNI.
• Experience in oil and gas, petrochemical, power, renewables, utilities, manufacturing, or other process industries.
• Technical Authority and Sound Engineering Judgment
• Control System Architecture and Integration
• Automation Standards and Governance
• Complex Troubleshooting and Root‑Cause Analysis
• Functional Safety and Critical Systems
• OT Networking and Industrial Communications
• Engineering Quality and Technical Assurance
• Client Advisory and Stakeholder Communication
• Mentoring and Technical Team Development
• Risk Identification and Decision Support
• Lifecycle Planning and Modernization

Success Measures

• Technically sound, safe, reliable, and maintainable control system solutions.
• Consistent application of engineering standards, quality processes, and approved architectures.
• Early identification and effective resolution of high‑impact technical risks and system issues.
• Successful completion of design reviews, FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system handover activities.
• Reduced rework and improved quality through effective technical assurance, reusable standards, and mentoring.
• Positive client feedback and confidence in technical recommendations and engineering decisions.
• Demonstrated growth in team capability, knowledge transfer, and succession of technical expertise.

Salary Range

$160,000 - $200,000

Actual compensation will be based on experience, skills, geographic location, and internal equity. This role is also eligible for bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

• 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Performance Bonus
• Career Growth Opportunities and Training