Senior Controls & Automation Engineer | SCADA/PLC Expert

Actalent; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Holiday pay

Bonuses

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Sr. Controls/Automation Engineer for a permanent, on-site role in Springfield, VA, with responsibilities spanning PLC/SCADA development, HMI creation, and robust communication infrastructure support for natural gas gate stations and plant operations.

The role focuses on safe, reliable control, data management, and cross-team collaboration, with a strong emphasis on compliance and operational integrity.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with SCADA systems and PLC-based automation.
• Proficient in PLC programming with vendor-specific languages.
• Experience with UDP, TCP/IP, Modbus, BSAP communications.
• Knowledge of MS SQL/ANSI SQL for data storage and reporting.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex control and data issues in industrial environments.

Responsibilities

• Gather and define system requirements for process control and information systems.
• Design, develop, and test PLC code to automate gate station control and monitoring.
• Develop PLC control and monitoring logic for plant equipment.
• Implement and maintain communication infrastructure across media (cellular, radio, etc.).
• Configure and support protocols UDP, TCP/IP, Modbus, BSAP for data transfer.
• Interface with vendors to troubleshoot communication issues.
• Develop HMI code for gas delivery and plant control systems.
• Administer MS SQL/ANSI SQL databases and data archiving applications.
• Perform system start-up operations to verify requirements and parameters.
• Collaborate with IT and Gas Control to maintain integrity and security.
• Support project management tasks and cross-department coordination.
• Develop operation and maintenance procedures and wiring schematics.
• Research new products and technologies and provide recommendations.

Skills

SCADA systems

PLC programming

Process control

Industrial automation

Communication protocols

HMI development

SQL databases

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field

Tools

Vendor-specific PLC/HMI tools

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Sr. Controls/Automation Engineer for a permanent, on-site role in Springfield, VA, with responsibilities spanning PLC/SCADA development, HMI creation, and robust communication infrastructure support for natural gas gate stations and plant operations.

The role focuses on safe, reliable control, data management, and cross-team collaboration, with a strong emphasis on compliance and operational integrity.