Senior Automation Engineer

Meriton Energy Partners; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Meriton Energy Partners seeks a Senior Automation Engineer to design, integrate and commission control and automation systems for distributed power generation, microgrids and battery storage projects.

You will work with engineering teams, EPCs and equipment manufacturers to ensure seamless automation across plant controls, RTUs and SCADA interfaces, while supporting commissioning, field troubleshooting and documentation updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering or a related discipline preferred.
• Approximately 5+ years of experience in controls, automation or SCADA engineering, ideally within power generation or energy infrastructure.
• Strong hands-on experience with industrial PLC platforms, such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley or similar.
• Experience developing and supporting SCADA/HMI systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure and support automation and control systems for distributed power generation and microgrid projects.
• Develop, modify and troubleshoot PLC control logic, sequencing, interlocks and equipment interfaces.
• Support SCADA and HMI development, configuration and system integration.
• Integrate natural gas generators, battery energy storage systems, switchgear, meters and other plant equipment into plant control systems.
• Support communication between PLCs, RTUs, SCADA systems, package controllers and other field devices.
• Participate in commissioning, start-up, Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing.
• Troubleshoot control system, instrumentation and communication issues both remotely and in the field.
• Review control narratives, functional descriptions, I/O lists, loop diagrams and automation architecture.
• Coordinate technical interfaces between OEM equipment, plant controls and third-party systems.
• Work with EPC contractors, OEMs and system integrators to review automation deliverables and resolve technical issues.
• Support operations teams with system troubleshooting, configuration changes and performance improvements.
• Maintain appropriate system documentation and configuration records.
• Contribute to the continued development and standardisation of automation systems across a growing generation fleet.

Skills

Power generation controls

PLCs

SCADA systems

HMI development

Field commissioning

Industrial protocols

Automation integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Ignition

WinCC

FactoryTalk

Job description

Power Generation | Microgrids | Controls & SCADA

We are partnering with a rapidly growing energy infrastructure business supporting the development and operation of distributed power generation systems across the United States.

As the company continues to expand its power generation platform, we are looking for an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to support the design, integration, commissioning and ongoing operation of control and automation systems across natural gas generation, microgrid and battery energy storage projects.

This is a hands-on engineering position suited to someone with a strong background in power generation controls, PLCs and SCADA systems, who is comfortable working across engineering, commissioning and operational environments.

You will work closely with internal engineering teams, EPC contractors, system integrators and equipment manufacturers to ensure automation and control systems are designed, integrated and commissioned effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure and support automation and control systems for distributed power generation and microgrid projects.
• Develop, modify and troubleshoot PLC control logic, sequencing, interlocks and equipment interfaces.
• Support SCADA and HMI development, configuration and system integration.
• Integrate natural gas generators, battery energy storage systems, switchgear, meters and other plant equipment into plant control systems.
• Support communication between PLCs, RTUs, SCADA systems, package controllers and other field devices.
• Participate in commissioning, start-up, Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing.
• Troubleshoot control system, instrumentation and communication issues both remotely and in the field.
• Review control narratives, functional descriptions, I/O lists, loop diagrams and automation architecture.
• Coordinate technical interfaces between OEM equipment, plant controls and third-party systems.
• Work with EPC contractors, OEMs and system integrators to review automation deliverables and resolve technical issues.
• Support operations teams with system troubleshooting, configuration changes and performance improvements.
• Maintain appropriate system documentation and configuration records.
• Contribute to the continued development and standardisation of automation systems across a growing generation fleet.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering or a related discipline preferred.
• Approximately 5+ years of experience in controls, automation or SCADA engineering, ideally within power generation or energy infrastructure.
• Strong hands-on experience with industrial PLC platforms, such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley or similar.
• Experience developing and supporting SCADA/HMI systems.
• Experience within distributed power generation, natural gas generation, microgrids, generator controls or BESS is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of control logic, sequencing, interlocks, instrumentation and industrial automation.
• Experience integrating equipment using industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, OPC-UA, DNP3, Ethernet/IP or similar.
• Experience commissioning and troubleshooting automation systems in operational environments.
• Familiarity with electrical drawings, P&IDs, loop diagrams, control narratives and I/O documentation.
• Experience with platforms such as Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk or similar SCADA systems is valuable.
• Familiarity with scripting, SQL databases or SCADA historian systems would be advantageous.
• Comfortable working directly with contractors, OEMs and system integrators.
• Able to work independently and take ownership of technical problems through resolution.
• Willingness to travel to project sites for commissioning and operational support.
• Must be legally authorised to work in the United States without requiring employment visa sponsorship.