Senior Automation Controls Specialist | Industrial Energy & Process Automation
Phoenix VX
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Job summary
Phoenix VX is seeking an experienced Senior Automation Controls Specialist to support operations at an advanced industrial energy facility in Moses Lake, Washington. The role demands hands-on ownership of plant control systems and a track record of improving reliability and performance.
The ideal candidate has extensive Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC experience, PlantPAx DCS, FactoryTalk HMI/SCADA, and OT networking skills, with a strong background in heavy industrial environments.
Qualifications
- 8+ years in industrial process automation or controls engineering.
- Hands-on experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs, PlantPAx, FactoryTalk.
- Experience in active industrial facility environments with troubleshooting and optimization.
- Strong understanding of process control fundamentals and OT networking.
- Willingness to work onsite in Moses Lake, WA.
Responsibilities
- Lead hands-on configuration, programming, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of industrial automation and process control systems.
- Support Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs, PlantPAx DCS, FactoryTalk HMI/SCADA platforms, and associated control infrastructure.
- Diagnose complex process control issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve plant reliability, efficiency, and operational performance.
- Perform control logic modifications, system updates, testing, documentation, and ongoing automation system improvements.
- Support plant operations through equipment troubleshooting, system diagnostics, and after-hours technical assistance.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Automation Controls Specialist to support operations at an advanced industrial energy facility in Moses Lake, Washington. This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands‑on automation professional to take ownership of complex plant control systems, improve operational reliability, and contribute to the development of future industrial facilities.
Our client is an innovative industrial technology organization focused on advancing next-generation energy solutions through sophisticated process engineering, automation, and industrial manufacturing technologies.
The ideal candidate brings extensive experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs, PlantPAx Distributed Control Systems (DCS), FactoryTalk, industrial process automation, and Operational Technology (OT) networks, preferably within oil and gas, energy, chemical processing, or other heavy industrial environments.
This position is well suited for a senior technical specialist who enjoys solving complex operational challenges, working directly with plant equipment and control systems, and maintaining a strong hands‑on presence in an operating facility.
- Lead hands‑on configuration, programming, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of industrial automation and process control systems.
- Support Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs, PlantPAx DCS, FactoryTalk HMI/SCADA platforms, and associated control infrastructure.
- Diagnose complex process control issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve plant reliability, efficiency, and operational performance.
- Perform control logic modifications, system updates, testing, documentation, and ongoing automation system improvements.
- Support plant operations through equipment troubleshooting, system diagnostics, and as‑needed after‑hours technical assistance.
- Maintain and support Integrated Control and Safety Systems (ICSS), ensuring system modifications preserve established safety requirements and operating philosophies.
- Integrate third‑party equipment, vendor control packages, instrumentation, and industrial communication interfaces into the plant's automation architecture.
- Collaborate with equipment manufacturers, automation vendors, and engineering contractors to resolve technical challenges and evaluate system enhancements.
- Support the implementation of reliable automation solutions across existing operations and future facility development.
- Serve as the primary plant automation interface between Operations and Information Technology (IT).
- Support industrial Ethernet networks, VLANs, firewalls, network segmentation, and industrial demilitarized zone (IDMZ) concepts.
- Coordinate secure remote access, user permissions, role‑based access controls, multifactor authentication, cybersecurity practices, and OT asset management.
- Partner with IT and technical stakeholders on system patching, network troubleshooting, incident response, and infrastructure security while protecting plant availability and safety.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Construction, Project Management, and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) teams to support safe and efficient plant performance.
- Provide technical guidance on automation improvements, operational challenges, and process optimization opportunities.
- Translate lessons learned from operating facilities into recommendations for future industrial plant design, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness.
- Contribute technical expertise to long‑term automation strategies and facility expansion initiatives.
- 8+ years of professional experience in industrial process automation, controls engineering, or closely related technical disciplines.
- Related technical degree or equivalent combination of secondary education and extensive relevant field experience.
- Strong, recent, hands‑on experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC systems, PlantPAx DCS, and FactoryTalk HMI/SCADA applications.
- Demonstrated experience supporting automation systems within an active industrial processing or production facility, including troubleshooting, configuration changes, maintenance, and system optimization.
- Strong understanding of process control fundamentals, industrial automation architectures, control system integration, and operational reliability.
- Experience integrating third‑party equipment, vendor control packages, and industrial communication protocols.
- Working knowledge of OT networking, industrial Ethernet, VLANs, firewalls, network segmentation, secure remote access, and industrial cybersecurity practices.
- Experience supporting control and safety system requirements during equipment modifications, system changes, and operational improvements.
- Ability to work independently, diagnose complex technical issues, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
- Willingness to work onsite in Moses Lake, Washington, and provide after‑hours support when operational needs require.
- Experience in oil and gas, energy production, petrochemical processing, chemical manufacturing, or other heavy industrial process environments.
- Background supporting continuous‑process industrial operations.
- Experience with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects, plant commissioning, or facility startup activities.
- Familiarity with field instrumentation, process measurement devices, control valves, actuators, and final control elements.
- Experience supporting additional PLC, DCS, SCADA, or industrial automation platforms.
- Experience contributing to new plant development, process improvements, or industrial facility expansion projects.
This position requires onsite work in Moses Lake, Washington. Candidates who do not currently live within reasonable commuting distance must be willing to relocate. A relocation assistance package is available.
The current Moses Lake project is expected to continue for approximately two years. Following this assignment, the selected professional should be prepared for a potential relocation to another U.S. project site, most likely in North Dakota or Texas, depending on evolving operational requirements.
Occasional travel to California and potential future project‑related travel or temporary assignments in Calgary, Canada, may also be required.
Future project assignments, locations, and timelines remain subject to business and project needs.
- Annual Base Salary: $230,000–$255,000, depending on qualifications and relevant experience
- Equity compensation opportunity
- Relocation assistance package
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Opportunity to support innovative industrial energy technologies and future facility development
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