Instrument & Control Specialist

DTE Energy; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

DTE Energy in Michigan seeks a self-directed plant controls expert responsible for instrument and control systems across major plant projects. You will maintain DCS/PLC/PC databases, configuring graphics and tuning controls while directing work for a diverse team of employees and contractors.

The role requires on-site presence, hands-on troubleshooting, and the ability to lead maintenance and start-up activities, with training provided to staff and a focus on reliability and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or two years of college in engineering tech with 3+ years in plants.
• Alternative: HS Diploma with 7 years in a power plant or related environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance, installation, and start-up on new systems as project manager.
• Analyze process control data to improve efficiency and predict failures.
• Communicate results and corrective actions to management; present findings.
• Provide work direction and problem solving for plant instrumentation and control systems.
• Train employees on instrumentation and control practices.

Skills

Control Systems

DCS/PLC/PC

Instrumentation

Troubleshooting

Technical Documentation

PLC Programming

Education

Associates degree in Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical Technology or Instrumentation Engineering

HS Diploma with seven years of experience in a power plant or related environment

Tools

OSI PI ProcessBook

Datalink

Fieldbus/Industrial Protocols (Foundation Fieldbus, DeviceNet, Profibus, Modbus)

Industrial Networking

Job description

DTE is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer’s homes and Michigan’s progress for more than a century.And as Michigan’s largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states.

But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job.At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities. When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing. Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE.Together, we can achieve great things.

Testing Required: Not Applicable

On-Site Role: Must be available to work on-site at this assigned work location.

Emergency Response: Yes – Must be available to perform a primary assignment in support of DTE’s emergency response to storms or other events that impact service to our customers.

Job Summary

• Functions as a self-directed, plant technical expert on: instrument and control systems relating to new and existing plant equipment, major plant improvement projects, complex integrated system projects and problems, outage management organization work. Locates cause of complex technical problems in new and existing computer and controls systems. Responsible for and maintains DCS/PLC/PC control system databases, configurations, and graphics. Plans and performs corrective measures, and directs the work of others in problem solving, routine maintenance and installation projects. Functions as plant control systems tuning expert.

Key Accountabilities

• Acts as project manager for maintenance, installation and start-up on new systems. Act as protection leader as needed.
• Analyzes process control data for use in recommendations to plant personnel to improve efficiency and reduce cost or predict failure.
• Communicates results, corrective action in a clear and concise manner verbally, in test and formal reports as well as electronically. Gives presentations to all levels of management.
• Leads, coordinates and implements problem solving and design change activities for the maintenance of plant equipment, control systems; DCS/PLC/PCs, processors and all plant instrumentation while providing work direction and problem solving on a day-to-day basis with represented and non-represented employees, both plant and external, and with contractors and vendors.
• Provides technical expertise in the maintenance, calibration and repair of instrumentation control equipment.
• Trains, both formally and informally, represented and non- represented employees and mentors employees at all levels.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Associates degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical Technology or Instrumentation Engineering; or satisfactory completion of two years of a four year recognized college Engineering Degree program, and a minimum (3) years' experience working a in a power plant, steel mill, refinery, or chemical plant site. This will include a minimum of 1 year working with the operation, repair, calibration, and troubleshooting of pneumatic, electronic, digital, PLC, PC, microprocessor and Distributed Control System
• OR HS Diploma and seven years of experience in a power plant or related industrial environment. This will include a minimum of 4 years working with the operation, repair, calibration, and troubleshooting of pneumatic, electronic, digital, PLC, PC, microprocessor and Distributed Control System

Other Qualifications

Preferred

Distributed Control System (DCS) & PLC experience

Instrumentation and Controls Experience

Multi-protocol integration experience, including working with industrial communication protocols such as Foundation Fieldbus, Device Net, Profibus, and Modbus and integrating them into a unified control system architecture.

Other Requirements

• Computer Skills: PC software, and have experience as a database power user, basic network troubleshooting, operating systems and system integration, DCS or PLC logic or graphic configuration, OSI PI ProcessBook and Datalink
• Ability to analyze complex control systems, to understand and explain 1, 2, 3 element control and complex cascade control and must be able to perform system-tuning and describe control loop dynamics.
• Work effectively with people at all levels within and outside the Company.

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities, and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. We seek individuals with a heart for service, a passion to help our communities prosper, and ideas to help shape the future of energy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity, employer that considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, citizenship, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal and/or state laws.