Process Controls Engineer

Love's Travel Stops; Hastings (NE); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for career growth

Job summary

Heartwell Renewables in Hastings, Nebraska is seeking a Process Controls Engineer to design and optimize process controls. Your role will ensure safe and efficient plant operations while supporting continuous improvement initiatives. Strong DCS experience is essential.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience in process controls and a solid understanding of automation systems. Join a company that values innovation and provides opportunities for career growth.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in process controls or automation engineering.
• Strong understanding of process control theory and instrumentation.
• Hands-on experience with DCS and PLC systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, maintain, and optimize control strategies.
• Support startup, shutdown, and operational troubleshooting.
• Develop and maintain control narratives and logic diagrams.

Skills

Process control theory

Instrumentation

Industrial automation systems

DCS platforms

PLC systems

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in relevant fields (Chemical, Electrical, Controls Engineering)

Tools

Honeywell DCS

Emerson DCS

Yokogawa DCS

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Job description

Be a part of an industry and company that is growing! Heartwell Renewables manufactures and distributes renewable diesel fuel - from the hole in the ground to the hole in your fuel tank, we have you covered.

With the need to find new green ways to power the future, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the benefits of renewable solutions. Renewable fuels help clean up the environment by reducing toxic emissions and strengthen our number one industry—agriculture—by creating demand for the crops and livestock our farm families grow. Renewable diesel represents an additional opportunity to use locally sourced corn oils, soybean oils, and animal fats to produce clean fuels for our nation’s energy supply.

Welcome to Heartwell! We are looking for a Process Controls Engineer to design, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize process controls and automate systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This role supports continuous improvement initiatives by enhancing process stability, control strategies, and system performance while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

Job Functions

• Design, implement, maintain, and optimize control strategies for continuous and batch processes.
• Develop and modify control logic, graphics, and alarms within DCS, PLC, SIS, and SCADA systems.
• Tune regulatory and advanced control loops to improve process stability, throughput, and product quality.
• Support startup, shutdown, commissioning, and operational troubleshooting of process units.
• Maintain and support plant control systems including Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), SCADA and historian systems.
• Manage control system configuration, backups, version control, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Coordinate with vendors and system integrators for upgrades, patches, and lifecycle management.
• Develop and maintain alarm management strategies in accordance with industry standards.
• Support process safety initiatives including HAZOP, LOPA, and Management of Change (MOC).
• Ensure control system modifications comply with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Support SIS testing, validation, and documentation in accordance with applicable standards.
• Analyze process data and trends to identify control improvement opportunities.
• Utilize process historians and analytics tools to monitor performance and identify abnormal conditions.
• Support advanced process control (APC), optimization, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and reliability teams to improve overall plant performance.
• Develop and maintain control narratives, logic diagrams, cause-and-effect charts, and system documentation.
• Update P&IDs, control philosophies, and operating procedures as required.
• Participate in continuous improvement, reliability, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance and training to operations and maintenance personnel.
• Perform all duties in compliance with site safety policies, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), cyber security requirements, and control system access protocols.
• Participate in safety meetings, hazard assessments, incident investigations, and MOC processes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must have high school diploma or GED.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Must be able to work in United States without sponsorship.
• 3+ years of experience in process controls or automation engineering within refining, petrochemical, chemical, power generation, or renewable fuels industries.
• Strong understanding of process control theory, instrumentation, and industrial automation systems.
• Hands‑on experience with DCS platforms (e.g., Honeywell, Emerson, Yokogawa) and PLC systems (e.g., Allen‑Bradley, Siemens).
• Experience supporting SIS, alarm management, and control system lifecycle activities.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, control narratives, loop diagrams, and cause-and-effect charts.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Be fit to perform the essential functions of the job including working in an industrial work environment that may include loud areas, work around rotating equipment/operating equipment/heavy equipment, extreme temperatures, dust, work at heights, entry into confined spaces, and other potential chemical/atmospheric hazards that require use of appropriate PPE.
• Requires ability to perform physical tasks including frequent walking, standing for extended periods of time, climbing ladders or stairs, and lifting or carrying items weighing up to 40 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with advanced process control (APC) and optimization technologies.
• Familiarity with refinery and renewable fuels processes (hydrotreating, distillation, hydrogen management, utilities).
• Knowledge of alarm management standards (ISA-18.2), process safety (IEC 61511), and cybersecurity (IEC 62443).
• Experience with process historians, analytics platforms, and digital transformation tools.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or pursuit of licensure.
• ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or similar certification.

Heartwell Renewables is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We welcome all qualified candidates to apply. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for career growth and development.

Our Culture

Fueling customers’ journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.