Senior Automation Specialist: PLC & Field Systems

The Bergaila Companies; Carlsbad (NM); On-site; USD 83,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bergaila Companies seeks an Automation Specialist III for our upstream oil and gas operations in Carlsbad, NM. You will be the technical SME responsible for installation, programming, calibration, and preventive maintenance of automation and electrical systems on site.

This mid-senior role requires hands-on expertise with PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, and field instrumentation, with a focus on reliability, safety, and uptime. Travel and shift rotation are part of the job.

Qualifications

• 5+ years Oil & Gas experience.
• 7+ years as Automation Specialist.
• 2-year instrumentation/automation degree or equivalent tech experience with safety record.
• Mastery of well RTU designs, programming and troubleshooting.
• Strong analog and discrete instrumentation knowledge.
• Proficient with serial and Ethernet communications protocols.
• Advanced PLC programming: Function Block, Ladder Logic, Structured Text.
• Knowledge of local HMI operator interfaces.
• Willing to work 12-hour shifts and travel as needed.
• Familiar with CMMS (SAP) to support maintenance workflows.
• MS Office and Windows OS proficiency.
• Adherence to API, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, ISA standards.

Responsibilities

• Own installation, programming, calibration, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of automation and electrical equipment.
• Validate control logic to commission control systems and support field instrumentation.
• Support uptime, safety, and operational performance in the field.
• Collaborate with operations and maintenance teams during design reviews.

Skills

Oil & Gas experience

Automation expert

PLC programming

HMI programming

Serial protocols

Ethernet protocols

CMMS SAP

Safety compliance

P&IDs reading

Travel readiness

Education

Instrumentation/Automation degree

2-year degree GPA 2.5+

Equivalent technical experience

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Rosemount

SAP CMMS

Job description

The Bergaila Companies seeks an Automation Specialist III for our upstream oil and gas operations in Carlsbad, NM. You will be the technical SME responsible for installation, programming, calibration, and preventive maintenance of automation and electrical systems on site.

This mid-senior role requires hands-on expertise with PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, and field instrumentation, with a focus on reliability, safety, and uptime. Travel and shift rotation are part of the job.