Instrument/Controls/Automation Engineer II

Brunel; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunel is seeking an experienced engineer to design, develop, and test PLC-based control systems for industrial processes. You will coordinate HMI, electrical design, and instrumentation, while producing schematics and AutoCAD documentation.

The role is an individual contributor focused on design, troubleshooting, and system integration with responsibilities spanning commissioning, data analysis, and maintenance planning. Travel to sites may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 2-3 years of PLC/control system design and programming experience.
• Knowledge of instrumentation and control-system design standards, specifications, codes, and safety requirements.
• Experience selecting/specifying pressure, temperature, and level instruments; control/shutdown valves; and fire/gas detection equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret programming documentation, electrical schematics, and P&IDs.
• Experience with process/control data analysis tools and databases such as SAP, Analytics for Excel, or Tableau.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC-based industrial control systems; coordinate HMI, control system architecture, instrumentation, and electrical design.
• Design custom PLC panels/control enclosures, develop Bills of Materials, and produce/review schematics, panel layouts, cable schedules, and AutoCAD documentation.
• Operate as an individual contributor with minimal hands-on work, focusing on design, troubleshooting, and system integration activities.
• Develop and implement control, shutdown, and safety logic using Cause & Effect matrices.
• Perform system integration, commissioning, startup, loop checks, I/O verification, and functional testing for new and existing systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot control and electrical systems to improve reliability, safety, and performance.
• Develop instrumentation/control-system equipment strategies and maintenance plans considering SIL, standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturer recommendations.
• Review engineering work for compliance with project specs, company standards, codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate adaptability and manage an unpredictable workload while supporting multiple sites globally.

Skills

PLC/control design

Electrical design

Troubleshooting

System integration

Process automation

Instrumentation & controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SAP

Analytics for Excel

Tableau

Job description

• Design, develop, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC-based industrial control systems, coordinating HMI, control system architecture, instrumentation, and electrical design.
• Design custom PLC panels/control enclosures, develop Bills of Materials, and produce/review schematics, panel layouts, cable schedules, and related AutoCAD documentation.
• The role is classified as an individual contributor position with minimal hands-on work, focusing on design, troubleshooting, and system integration activities.
• Develop and implement control, shutdown, and safety logic using Cause & Effect matrices.
• Perform system integration, commissioning, startup, loop checks, I/O verification, and functional testing for new and existing systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot control and electrical systems to improve reliability, safety, and performance.
• Specify and evaluate instrumentation, control hardware, motors, VFDs, unit control systems, and electrical equipment up to 480V.
• Analyze instrument maintenance and process data to identify failure rates, reliability issues, bad actors, failure modes, and maintenance effectiveness.
• Develop process-control surveillance programs; perform control philosophy/stability reviews, logic updates, and loop tuning.
• Develop instrumentation/control-system equipment strategies and maintenance plans considering SIL assessments, industry standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturer recommendations.
• Review engineering work for compliance with project specifications, company standards, codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Manager identified adaptability to different systems, flexibility, and managing an unpredictable workload as the main challenges of the role, as the team supports various research sites globally under different processes and technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, related engineering discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2-3 years of relevant PLC/control system design and programming experience with both electrical and controls exposure.
• Knowledge of instrumentation and control-system design standards, specifications, codes, and safety requirements.
• Experience selecting/specifying pressure, temperature, and level instruments; control/shutdown valves; and fire/gas detection equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret programming documentation, electrical schematics, and P&IDs.
• Experience with process/control data analysis tools and databases such as SAP, Analytics for Excel, or Tableau.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

• PLC programming using ladder logic, function block, and structured text.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley (ControlLogix, MicroLogix, SLC), National Instruments cRIO/cDAQ, Siemens (S7, Simatic 545/555), GE Rx3i/RSTi/VersaMax/Proficy, or Automation Direct.
• Industrial networking knowledge: Ethernet/IP, Modbus/RTU, RS-485/422/232.
• Experience with safety PLCs/SIL-rated systems and instrumentation/control devices such as sensors, actuators, heaters, and VFDs.
• Oil & gas, chemical, manufacturing, pilot plant, or research-facility controls experience.
• Ability to travel between sites for commissioning and onsite support.