Instrumentation & Controls SME

Blackfield Associates; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackfield Associates is seeking an Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Subject Matter Expert for a major greenfield biologics investment project in Richmond, Virginia. Initially remote, the role will transition to site-based execution, with end-to-end responsibility from Basic Design through commissioning and handover.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, establish control philosophies, and ensure I&C packages align with design standards, QA requirements and

Qualifications

• Experience end-to-end I&C from FEED to start-up and handover.
• Ability to lead technical governance and design assurance reviews.
• Strong communication with non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide I&C leadership from Basic Design through execution and handover.
• Own technical delivery from Detailed Design through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Review FAT/SAT, DQ, IQ and OQ documentation as required.
• Attend pre-FATs, FATs, site inspections and ensure I&C systems are complete and ready.

Skills

I&C engineering

FEED/Basic Design

DCS/PLC/SCADA

Technical leadership

Risk & change control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Instrumentation

Tools

URS development

P&ID tools

Job description

Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Subject Matter Expert

Location: Richmond, Virginia — initially remote, transitioning to site-based execution

Contract: Initial 12-months inimum contract, with expectation of a multi-year engagement

Project: Major greenfield biologics investment for peptides — circa $1 billion

Role Overview:

We're seeking an experienced I&C SME to provide end-to-end technical support and leadership within the client side project execution team for a major greenfield biologics investment project in Richmond, Virginia.

The I&C SME will join during Basic Design and remain through detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, start-up and handover. Initially remote, the role will transition to site-based presence for execution.

The successful candidate will combine strong I&C technical expertise with the ability to communicate complex matters clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

During execution, the SME will assume owner responsibilities for the I&C package, maintaining technical scope through commissioning, qualification and operational readiness.

Example Responsibilities:

Design & Technical Governance

• Provide I&C leadership from Basic Design through execution and handover.
• Establish I&C technical basis, design philosophy, standards and specifications.
• Lead design assurance reviews, identify risks/opportunities and advise project leadership.
• Ensure solutions are robust, compliant, maintainable and aligned with cost and schedule.
• Ensure stakeholder and operational requirements are reflected in the design.
• Lead I&C URS's and ensure they are technically correct and suitable for C&Q.
• Develop/review control philosophies, functional specifications, instrumentation requirements and automation architecture.
• Ensure appropriate consideration of DCS/PLC/SCADA, alarms, interlocks, networks, data integrity and interfaces.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering and Work Package teams.
• Support procurement strategy, tendering and technical scope development.
• Lead/support technical evaluation and selection of I&C suppliers, system integrators and contractors.
• Review supplier engineering, documentation, deviations and technical proposals.
• Ensure supplier packages integrate with the overall automation architecture.

Execution

• Own technical delivery from Detailed Design through construction, commissioning, qualification and handover.
• Direct contractors, suppliers, system integrators and site teams.
• Manage interfaces with other engineering disciplines and IT/OT.
• Act as senior escalation point for I&C technical issues.
• Support change control, risk management and technical issue resolution.
• Provide technical support through commissioning and qualification.
• Review/approve FAT, SAT, DQ, IQ and OQ documentation as required.
• Attend pre-FATs, FATs, SATs and relevant site inspections.
• Provide technical assurance of instrumentation, control systems, alarms, interlocks and interfaces.
• Approve critical package progression through project stage gates.
• Resolve technical issues during commissioning and qualification.
• Support Take-Over, Process Qualification, establishment batches and Hyper Care.
• Ensure I&C systems are complete, compliant and operationally ready.

Candidate Profile/Experience:

• Strong I&C engineering expertise end-to-end from FEED/Basic Design through commissioning and start-up.
• Experience as an I&C SME, Technical Authority, Discipline Lead or equivalent.
• Life science GMP industry background (pharmacetuical, biologics, API).
• Experience owning major technical work packages through execution.
• Strong DCS, PLC, SCADA, instrumentation and process control knowledge.
• Supplier, contractor and technical package management experience.
• FAT/SAT, commissioning and qualification experience.
• Willingness to transition from remote to site-based execution.