Controls Engineer Principal

Naval Nuclear Laboratory; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 118,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Paid parental leave

Flexible schedule

Tuition assistance

EAP

Job summary

Naval Nuclear Laboratory in Charleston seeks an experienced Controls Engineer to maintain and improve PLC-based controls systems for mission‑critical facilities, and to develop automation for process systems in support of NPTU‑C.

You will monitor networked PLCs, HMIs, and remote I/O, troubleshoot issues, implement process improvements, and assist with field inspections of communications infrastructure for a multi-year military construction project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or science with 9+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s with 7+ years, or Doctorate with 3+ years.
• Experience managing PLC control systems in a production environment.
• Strong collaboration and continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve PLC-based code for process systems.
• Support continuous operation of the industrial control network including PLCs, HMIs, and remote I/O.
• Identify and implement process improvements to automate system operations.
• Provide engineering support for critical communications infrastructure and field inspections for a multi-year project.

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Schneider Electric PLCs

PLC programming (Structured Text)

HMI / SCADA configurations

EtherNet/IP / Modbus networking

Wonderware Unity

High-availability / 24/7 systems

Electrical safety NFPA/NEC/UL/IEC

Grounding and noise mitigation

Site operations familiarity

Job description

About Us

Working at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory we foster pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration. Our company promotes a positive culture while ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation's naval nuclear reactors, and training the Sailors who operate those reactors in the U.S. Navy's submarines and aircraft carrier Fleets.

Job Description

Are you a Controls Engineer who's looking to master your craft in support of the US Navy? Come join the Site Engineering team at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston (NPTU-C): maintain and improve PLC-based controls systems and industrial networks, develop automation for process systems, and provide engineering support of critical communications infrastructure all in support of NPTU-C mission‑critical facilities. Seeking an experienced and motivated Controls Engineer to join the team that keeps the facilities running and the mission on track. A successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in managing PLC control systems, collaboration skills in a production environment, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Support continuous operation of the industrial control network to include PLCs, HMIs, and remote I/O
• Monitor system performance to identify issues and propose solutions
• Identify and implement process improvements that optimize and automate system operations
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve PLC-based code for process systems

Additional responsibilities include providing engineering support for critical communications infrastructure at NPTU-C and supporting submittal reviews and field inspections of communications infrastructure for a multi-year Military Construction project.

Required Combination of Knowledge and Skill

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering, science field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Currently a Principal Reactor Training Engineer, Refueling Engineer, or Field (RPCO) Engineer at the Company.

Preferred Skills

• Experience managing PLC controls systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or similar)
• Writing, editing, and debugging PLC code (function block diagrams and structured text)
• Adjusting HMI / SCADA configurations to accommodate system updates or user needs
• Managing system level troubleshooting and networking errors (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, etc.)
• Experience with Wonderware and/or Unity software
• Experience supporting mission-critical and/or high-availability (24/7) systems
• Understanding of grounding, shielding, and noise mitigation in control circuits
• Understanding of electrical and machinery safety standards (NFPA/NEC, UL, IEC, etc.)
• Familiarity with prototype and/or site operations at NPTU Charleston

Compensation and Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Benefits
• Disability, Life & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Savings program & Capital Accumulation Plan
• Personal & Medical Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Tuition Assistance for Eligible Employees
• Student Debt Benefit Personal Time Off Sell Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness Program
• Visit us online to view all NNL benefits!

Pay Range

$117,900.00 - $184,300.00 annually

Salary information provided is a general guideline only. Annual salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC (FMP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fluor Corporation. Naval Nuclear Laboratory personnel are FMP employees who work at four DOE facilities: Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Kenneth A. Kesselring Site, and Naval Reactors Facility, and at the U.S. Department of Defense‑owned Nuclear Power Training Unit‑Charleston. FMP employees also have an established presence at numerous shipyards, satellite, and vendor locations.

For more than 75 years, the Naval Nuclear Laboratory has developed advanced nuclear propulsion technology, provided technical support, and trained world‑class nuclear operators to ensure the safe and reliable operation of our nation's submarine and aircraft carrier fleets. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is a national asset solely dedicated to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. We rely on the dedication and innovation of our nearly 8000 engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. FMP is a government contractor and maintains a drug free workplace and workforce. All candidates must be able to pass a drug test in compliance with FMP company policy and 10 CFR 707. Marijuana is a Federal Schedule I controlled substance and illegal under Federal Law. Therefore, FMP is required to test for marijuana.

Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by federal, state, or local law.