Lead Field Control Specialist

WSP in the U.S.; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Lead Field Control Specialist for our Overland Park, KS operation with permitted travel to nearby cities. You will lead commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting of PLC- and DCS-based systems across utilities, hospitals, and industrial facilities.

The role requires deep field experience, strong safety leadership, and collaboration with operations, vendors, and internal teams to deliver high-quality field solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in field controls, commissioning, or industrial power plant operations.
• Experience with PLC- or DCS-based control systems.
• Experience with instrumentation installation, loop checks, and calibration.
• Knowledge of water-tube and package boiler control systems, including combustion testing and tuning.
• Strong understanding of field safety procedures and incident prevention.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites.
• Ability to support short- and long-term field assignments with travel variability.
• Completed safety/compliance training including OSHA 30-hour.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute field control system commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and outage support activities.
• Serve as a field technical authority for PLC- and DCS-based control systems (Rockwell, AVEVA, DeltaV, ABB).
• Lead instrumentation installation verification, loop checks, calibration, and functional testing.
• Perform boiler combustion testing, tuning, and verification in coordination with plant operations.
• Independently plan and execute assigned field work with project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Produce commissioning reports, calibration records, and as-built deliverables.
• Interface with plant operations staff, vendors, contractors, and internal teams.
• Support business development with proposals, field cost estimates, and follow-on opportunities.
• Promote a proactive safety culture by identifying hazards and documenting safety observations.

Skills

Field controls

Commissioning

Instrumentation

Safety procedures

Education

High school diploma

OSHA 30-hour training

Associate degree or higher

Tools

Rockwell Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

AVEVA System Platform / Wonderware InTouch

Emerson DeltaV

ABB DCS

Job description

Job Description

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Field Control Specialist for our Overland Park, KS office. The following locations will also be considered: Topeka, KS, Kansas City, MO and St. Louis, MO. Be involved in projects with our Field Control Services (FCS) Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients’ objectives and solves their challenges.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, WSP now brings world-class expertise in power delivery, power generation, and project management with the recent acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. Our vision is to be the preeminent pure-play global consulting firm for the world’s energy transition. And we need your help.

With over 73,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide, we collaborate daily to create positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion. In the U.S, WSP was recognized onTIME’s list of the world’s best companies and Fortune’s Change the World list.

As part of our team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

Your Impact

• Lead and execute field control system commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and outage support activities for utility, hospital, university, manufacturing, and central plant facilities.
• Serve as a field technical authority for PLC- and DCS-based control systems, including Rockwell Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platforms, AVEVA System Platform / Wonderware InTouch HMIs, and DCS platforms such as Emerson DeltaV and ABB.
• Lead instrumentation installation verification, loop checks, calibration, and functional testing in support of control system commissioning and startup.
• Perform water-tube and package boiler combustion testing, tuning, and verification in coordination with plant operations and in accordance with applicable safety practices.
• Independently plan and execute assigned field work by understanding project scope, schedule, and budget prior to mobilization.
• Produce commissioning reports, calibration records, test documentation, software backups, and as-built deliverables that meet FCS, project, and client standards.
• Interface directly with plant operations staff, vendors, contractors, and internal WSP teams to support safe and successful execution of field activities.
• Support business development activities including technical input to proposals, development of field cost estimates, and identification of follow‑on work opportunities.
• Promote a proactive safety culture by identifying hazards, enforcing safe work practices, and documenting near misses, incidents, and safety observations.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in field controls, commissioning, startup, or industrial power plant operations involving PLC- or DCS-based control systems.
• Demonstrated experience with instrumentation installation, loop checking, and calibration in active plant environments.
• Demonstrated experience with water-tube and package boiler control systems, including combustion testing and tuning.
• Strong understanding of field safety procedures, hazard identification, and mitigation in industrial and power generation environments.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites.
• Ability to support short- and long-term field assignments, with travel requirements varying by project and outage schedule.
• Successful completion of required safety and compliance training, including OSHA 30-hour training.
• Proven record of adherence to company health, safety, drug/alcohol, and conduct policies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or higher in a technical discipline.
• Experience leading or supporting boiler or power plant commissioning and startup activities.
• Familiarity with Boiler Management Systems (BMS) and combustion safety systems.
• Experience acting independently as a field technical lead during outages or critical plant operations.
• Experience coordinating with operations personnel, contractors, and OEM vendors in live plant environments.

About WSP

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.