Instrumentation Engineer, Principal

Sterling Search Partners; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Search Partners is assisting a rapidly growing client in Birmingham, AL, by sourcing a Principal Instrumentation Engineer to serve as the technical authority for instrumentation, controls, automation, and process control across complex EPC projects.

The candidate will lead I&C system design reviews, establish design procedures, and provide expertise across PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI platforms while ensuring safety, quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering; Master's preferred.
• 15+ years of instrumentation and controls experience.
• Strong EPC experience in power generation, renewables, BESS, data centers, industrial facilities, or utility infrastructure.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary projects.
• PE license required or strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical expert for instrumentation, controls, and automation.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices, and design procedures.
• Lead and review I&C system designs, including P&IDs, I/O databases, control architectures, loop diagrams, control narratives, alarms, and SIS documentation.
• Provide expertise with PLC, DCS, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation, control valves, and industrial networks.
• Lead technical problem-solving and ensure projects meet safety, quality, reliability, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership from conceptual design through construction, startup, and commissioning.
• Support proposals, estimating, client presentations, technical risk assessments, and major project pursuits.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Mentor engineers and help develop technical standards and the engineering organization.

Skills

Instrumentation leadership

PLC & DCS expertise

Project leadership

I&C standards knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PLC

DCS

SCADA

HMI

ISA standards

Job description

Sterling Search Partners is helping a rapidly growing client with its search for a Principal Instrumentation Engineer to serve as the company's technical authority for instrumentation, controls, automation, and process control across complex EPC projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical expert for instrumentation, controls, and automation.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices, and design procedures.
• Lead and review I&C system designs, including P&IDs, I/O databases, control architectures, loop diagrams, control narratives, alarms, and SIS documentation.
• Provide expertise with PLC, DCS, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation, control valves, and industrial networks.
• Lead technical problem-solving and ensure projects meet safety, quality, reliability, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership from conceptual design through construction, startup, and commissioning.
• Support proposals, estimating, client presentations, technical risk assessments, and major project pursuits.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Mentor engineers and help develop technical standards and the engineering organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering; Master's preferred.
• 15+ years of instrumentation and controls experience.
• Strong EPC experience in power generation, renewables, BESS, data centers, industrial facilities, or utility infrastructure.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary projects.
• PE license required or strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of PLC, DCS, SCADA, SIS, industrial networks, automation, and applicable ISA/NEC/NFPA/IEC standards.
• Excellent technical leadership, communication, problem-solving, and client relationship skills.

Travel

Up to 30% travel for client meetings, project reviews, field support, commissioning, and business development.