Lead Control Engineer - Oahu

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO.; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaiian Electric Companies seeks a Lead Control Engineer (Professional) to direct the Control Engineering section across generation stations. The role emphasizes expert-level control, automation, and instrumentation services, with responsibility for safety, reliability, and uptime.

Strong leadership and experience with DCS/PLC systems are essential. The position requires coordinating security/integrity programs, commissioning during upgrades, and ensuring compliance with internal standards and

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge in Process Control Engineering.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Experience leading control engineering teams across generation stations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and mentor staff in control engineering and automation services.
• Evaluate control system performance and reliability; coordinate upgrades.
• Provide 24x7 support for generation control systems; ensure security and data integrity.

Skills

Process Control

DCS & PLC

Cybersecurity

Networking

OT Project Management

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Tools

DCS

PLC

Job description

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Company: hawaiianel

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged.

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P ER POWER SUPPLY CONTROLS Department of the P OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: Professional)

JOB FUNCTION:

Provides leadership in planning, organizing, and coordinating engineering and technical activities at the OEM level to assess, enhance, secure (cyber and physical), and expand the capabilities of real‑time operational technology systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS). Ensures these mission‑critical systems—central to electric utility power generation—consistently meet governance requirements and objectives for safety, reliability, availability, and operational efficiency, while sustaining high performance and uptime.

Provides hands‑on support and specialized expertise for the operation and on‑going assessment, improvement and extension of the capabilities of OT required to ensure adequate support in meeting Company goals. Manages control system improvement programs to ensure that control systems are reliable, secure, and maintain data integrity.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, mentors and trains Control Engineering section staff in delivering expert-level for control,automation and instrumentation services across all generation stations. Expert level services include, expert level tuning, programming, maintenance, troubleshooting, testing, and enhancing power plant DCS, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and instrumentation. Manage programs that support control system safety, reliability, security/integrity which may include and but not limited to hardware/software replacement and/or upgrades, network, calibration, instrumentation, and alarm management. Ensures that equipment hardware/software replacements or upgrades are designed, procured, and installed as necessary. Directs actions regarding commissioning services during upgrades and new installations.
• Evaluates progress and performance of the control systems and implement actions to maintain instrument and control system/process, network reliability and security. Ensures that system maintenance needs, upgrades, enhancements, tuning efforts are identified in a timely manner and incorporated into appropriate O&M or Capital Budgets. Monitors control system performance regarding system disturbances and new/changing unit operational characteristic and initiates actions for improvements/enhancements when needed.
• Maintains operating system, application software, modeling, graphic displays, application code and databases for the Distributed Control System (DCS). Provides 24x7 support to Electric System Operations personnel in the safe and timely operation of the Generation control systems. Maintains all process monitoring and control systems related to power generation. Provides technological expertise, support and maintenance of security functions and procedures regarding DCS applications. Implements measures to reduce system vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations related to control system security and reliability. Ensures compliance with corporate security policies and documentation of exceptions.
• Meets, discusses, coordinates and negotiates with parties inside and outside the Company to maintain/expedite progress on projects and programs. Serves as a technical consultant to the Division, Department, Process Area and other management in HECO, MECO, and HELCO.
• Manages and administers all personnel matters of an control engineering section, including performance appraisals and interviews; recognition of employee achievements; and disciplinary actions. Ensures the safety and coordinates the training of all personnel under supervision.
• Models’ behaviors consistent with Company values. Works with others to accomplish goals and objectives and maintain improvement in practices and procedures.
• Promotes teamwork, reinforces and mentors subordinates in the application of improvement tools, techniques, and behaviors to expose and eliminate waste from daily work assignments.
• Effectively applies the Daily Management Systemmethods to continuously improve the safety, quality, speed, timeliness, and cost of all work processes within assigned span of control.
• Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

• Expert knowledge in Process Control Engineering. Working knowledge of the remaining Control Engineering knowledge domains listed below.
  • Process Control Engineering
    • Control algorithm development and testing
    • Loop tuning, single, cascade
    • DCS & PLC hardware, software, firmware maintenance
    • Hands on control algorithm development, implementation and troubleshooting
    • Process analysis and troubleshooting
    • System advocacy
    • Consulting engineering
  • Networking
    • Security architecture and standards
    • Firewall configuration and documentation
    • Switch Configuration
    • Packet Analysis
    • Network troubleshooting
    • Event forensics
    • Consulting Engineering
  • Computers
    • OS build, security baselines for OT
    • Domain configuration and reporting
    • Computer configuration and reporting
    • Application installation and documentation
    • OS, hardware and application troubleshooting
    • Consulting Engineering
  • OT Project Management
    • Project scoping, specification development
    • Advocacy, team selection, resource identification
    • Timeline and deliverable development
    • Risk analysis and alternatives development
    • Execution

Skills Requirements

• Demonstrated supervision and leadership skills, including effective written, oral, listening, presentation and interpersonal skills, to work effectively with all levels of the company and with outside contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, community groups and customers.
• Strong analytical, organizational and conceptual skills to manage simultaneously a variety of projects, programs and assignments.
• Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment, and to adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to handle confrontational, difficult and/or sensitive issues. Ability to handle such issues with professionalism while using tact, courtesy and discretion.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of (15) years working as a Control Engineer or equivalent or combination of experience and advanced degrees and credentials.

Role: Professional

Number of Vacancies: 1

Hiring Range: The hiring range for the Lead Control Engineer [Req ID 10310] position is $109,900.00 to $142,600.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us athttp://hawaiianelectric.com.

EEO Statement

EEO StatementHawaiian Electric Companies is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with all applicable laws, including Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at [phone].

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people.

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged.

SELECT HOW OFTEN (IN DAYS) TO RECEIVE AN ALERT:

EARLY APPLICATIONS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE -- OUR PEOPLE. WE BELIEVE IN OUR PEOPLE, WHO SHARE OUR VISION OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, AND COMMUNITIES AND WHO CARRY OUT THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY.

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE COMMITTED TO THE COMPANY'S FOUNDATIONAL VALUES: INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE, TEAMWORK, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENT. IN TURN, WE INVEST IN OUR EMPLOYEES, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHALLENGE AND ADVANCEMENT AND OFFERING A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged.

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

THE P ER POWER SUPPLY CONTROLS DEPARTMENT OF THE P OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION AT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY HAS 1 MANAGEMENT VACANCY AVAILABLE. (ROLE: PROFESSIONAL)

JOB FUNCTION:

PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND COORDINATING ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES AT THE OEM LEVEL TO ASSESS, ENHANCE, SECURE (CYBER AND PHYSICAL), AND EXPAND THE CAPABILITIES OF REAL‑TIME OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEMS (DCS). ENSURES THESE MISSION‑CRITICAL SYSTEMS—CENTRAL TO ELECTRIC UTILITY POWER GENERATION—CONSISTENTLY MEET GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS AND OBJECTIVES FOR SAFETY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, WHILE SUSTAINING HIGH PERFORMANCE AND UPTIME.

PROVIDES HANDS‑ON SUPPORT AND SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE FOR THE OPERATION AND ON‑GOING ASSESSMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION OF THE CAPABILITIES OF OT REQUIRED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SUPPORT IN METING COMPANY GOALS. MANAGES CONTROL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE RELIABLE, SECURE, AND MAINTAIN DATA INTEGRITY.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• PLANS, ORGANIZES, COORDINATES, MENTORS AND TRAIN CONTROL ENGINEERING SECTION STAFF IN DELIVERING EXPERT‑LEVEL FOR CONTROL, AUTOMATION AND INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES ACROSS ALL GENERATION STATIONS. EXPERT LEVEL SERVICES INCLUDE, EXPERT LEVEL TUNING, PROGRAMMING, MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING, TESTING, AND ENHANCING POWER PLANT DCS, PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS (PLC), AND INSTRUMENTATION. MANAGE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT CONTROL SYSTEM SAFETY, RELIABILITY, SECURITY/INTEGRITY WHICH MAY INCLUDE AND BUT NOT LIMITED TO HARDWARE/SOFTWARE REPLACEMENT AND/OR UPGRADES, NETWORK, CALIBRATION, INSTRUMENTATION, AND ALARM MANAGEMENT. ENSURES THAT EQUIPMENT HARDWARE/​SOFTWARE REPLACEMENTS OR UPGRADES ARE DESIGNED, PROCURED, AND INSTALLED AS NECESSARY. DIRECTS ACTIONS REGARDING COMMISSIONING SERVICES DURING UPGRADES AND NEW INSTALLATIONS.
• EVALUATES PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND IMPLEMENT ACTIONS TO MAINTAIN INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM/PROCESS, NETWORK RELIABILITY AND SECURITY. ENSURES THAT SYSTEM MAINTENANCE NEEDS, UPGRADES, ENHANCEMENTS, TUNING EFFORTS ARE IDENTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND INCORPORATED INTO APPROPRIATE O&M OR CAPITAL BUDGETS. MONITORS CONTROL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE REGARDING SYSTEM DISTURBANCES AND NEW/CHANGING UNIT OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTIC AND INITIATES ACTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS/ENHANCEMENTS WHEN NEEDED.
• MAINTAINS OPERATING SYSTEM, APPLICATION SOFTWARE, MODELING, GRAPHIC DISPLAYS, APPLICATION CODE AND DATABASES FOR THE DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEM (DCS). PROVIDES 24X7 SUPPORT TO ELECTRIC SYSTEM OPERATIONS PERSONNEL IN THE SAFE AND TIMELY OPERATION OF THE GENERATION CONTROL SYSTEMS. MAINTAINS ALL PROCESS MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS RELATED TO POWER GENERATION. PROVIDES TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE, SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES REGARDING DCS APPLICATIONS. IMPLEMENTS MEASURES TO REDUCE SYSTEM VULNERABILITIES AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL STANDARDS AND EXTERNAL REGULATIONS RELATED TO CONTROL SYSTEM SECURITY AND RELIABILITY. ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH CORPORATE SECURITY POLICIES AND DOCUMENTATION OF EXCEPTIONS.
• MEETS, DISCUSSES, COORDINATES AND NEGOTIATES WITH PARTIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COMPANY TO MAINTAIN/EXPEDITE PROGRESS ON PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. SERVES AS A TECHNICAL CONSULTANT TO THE DIVISION, DEPARTMENT, PROCESS AREA AND OTHER MANAGEMENT IN HECO, MECO, AND HELCO.
• MANAGES AND ADMINISTERS ALL PERSONNEL MATTERS OF AN CONTROL ENGINEERING SECTION, INCLUDING PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS AND INTERVIEWS; RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENTS; AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. ENSURES THE SAFETY AND COORDINATES THE TRAINING OF ALL PERSONNEL UNDER SUPERVISION.
• MODELS’ BEHAVIORS CONSISTENT WITH COMPANY VALUES. WORKS WITH OTHERS TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND MAINTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES.
• PROMOTES TEAMWORK, REINFORCES AND MENTORS SUBORDINATES IN THE APPLICATION OF IMPROVEMENT TOOLS, TECHNIQUES, AND BEHAVIORS TO EXPOSE AND ELIMINATE WASTE FROM DAILY WORK ASSIGNMENTS.
• EFFECTIVELY APPLIES THE DAILY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM METHODS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE SAFETY, QUALITY, SPEED, TIMELINESS, AND COST OF ALL WORK PROCESSES WITHIN ASSIGNED SPAN OF CONTROL.
• PARTICIPATES IN COMPANY EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIVITIES AS ASSIGNED, INCLUDING ANY ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO PREPARE FOR SUCH EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• EXPERT KNOWLEDGE IN PROCESS CONTROL ENGINEERING. WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE REMAINING CONTROL ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS LISTED BELOW.
  • PROCESS CONTROL ENGINEERING
    • CONTROL ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
    • LOOP TUNING, SINGLE, CASCADE
    • DCS & PLC HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE MAINTENANCE
    • HANDS ON CONTROL ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING
    • PROCESS ANALYSIS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
    • SYSTEM ADVOCACY
    • CONSULTING ENGINEERING
  • NETWORKING
    • SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS
    • FIREWALL CONFIGURATION AND DOCUMENTATION
    • SWITCH CONFIGURATION
    • PACKET ANALYSIS
    • NETWORK TROUBLESHOOTING
    • EVENT FORENSICS
    • CONSULTING ENGINEERING
  • COMPUTERS
    • OS BUILD, SECURITY BASELINES FOR OT
    • DOMAIN CONFIGURATION AND REPORTING
    • COMPUTER CONFIGURATION AND REPORTING
    • APPLICATION INSTALLATION AND DOCUMENTATION
    • OS, HARDWARE AND APPLICATION TROUBLESHOOTING
    • CONSULTING ENGINEERING
  • OT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
    • PROJECT SCOPING, SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT
    • ADVOCACY, TEAM SELECTION, RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION
    • TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLE DEVELOPMENT
    • RISK ANALYSIS AND ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT
    • EXECUTION

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• DEMONSTRATED SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, INCLUDING EFFECTIVE WRITTEN, ORAL, LISTENING, PRESENTATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH ALL LEVELS OF THE COMPANY AND WITH OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CUSTOMERS.
• STRONG ANALYTICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND CONCEPTUAL SKILLS TO MANAGE SIMULTANEOUSLY A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND ASSIGNMENTS.
• ABILITY TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE IN A DEMANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND TO ADAPT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING PRIORITIES.
• DEMONSTRATED INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TO HANDLE CONFRONTATIONAL, DIFFICULT AND/OR SENSITIVE ISSUES. ABILITY TO HANDLE SUCH ISSUES WITH PROFESSIONALISM WHILE USING TACT, COURTESY AND DISCRETION.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• A MINIMUM OF (15) YEARS WORKING AS A CONTROL ENGINEER OR EQUIVALENT OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND ADVANCED DEGREES AND CREDENTIALS.

ROLE: PROFESSIONAL

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

LOCATION: HONOLULU – OAHU

HIRING RANGE: THE HIRING RANGE FOR THE LEAD CONTROL ENGINEER [REQ ID 10310] POSITION IS $109,900.00 TO $142,600.00. THE PERSON SELECTED WILL BE PLACED ACCORDING TO HIS/ HER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS.

ABOUT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES PROVIDE ELECTRICITY AND SERVICES TO 95 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S 1.4 MILLION RESIDENTS. THE COMPANY IS ALSO ONE OF THE STATE'S LEADING EMPLOYERS AND A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR AND SUPPORTER OF COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THE DEMAND FOR POWER THAT HAS FUELED THE GROWTH OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HAS BEEN MET BY HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY. AND AS THE NEXT MILLENNIUM UNFOLDS, THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE AND SEEKING CLEAN LOCAL ENERGY SOURCES TO POWER GENERATIONS OF HAWAII FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO COME. VISIT US ATHHTTP://HAWAIIANELECTRIC.COM.

EEO STATEMENT

EEO STATEMENTHAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, INCLUDING DISABILITY AND PROTECTED VETERAN STATUS. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, INCLUDING TITLE I OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. ANY REQUEST FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION NEEDED DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED BY THE CANDIDATE TO THE HR SERVICE CENTER AT [phone].

Affiliate Disclaimer

The relationship between Hawaiian Electric and unregulated, energy-related affiliate companies is governed by the Affiliate Transaction Requirements (ATRs) established by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The ATRs were established with the PUC's Decision and Order No. 35962 issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019, in Docket No. 2018-0065. With Decision and Order No. 42409, issued on March 23, 2026, in Docket No. 2025-0391, the PUC indefinitely suspended certain sections of the ATRs.

The ATRs address many issues related to Hawaiian Electric's interactions and transactions with Affiliates and Affiliate-Related Entities. If you'd like more information about these rules/regulations, you can email [e-mail] .