Senior Controls Engineer

HoSt Bio-energy Systems; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision and Dental insurance

401k with 4% match

Unlimited vacation & sick leave

Flexible Spending Accounts

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

HoSt Bio-Energy Systems is seeking an experienced Senior Controls Engineer to lead design, programming, and delivery of control systems for biogas and RNG projects. You will own the controls scope from concept through startup, mentor engineers, and collaborate with customers and vendors on automation matters.

You will guide PLC, HMI, and SCADA development, strengthen standards, and travel internationally up to 30% as required, while maintaining strong relationships with clients and internal

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls/Automation or related field.
• 7+ years in controls/automation with ownership from concept to commissioning.
• Experience in PLC/HMI programming, SCADA, networking, and safety systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, programming, and testing of PLC, HMI, and SCADA for biogas/RNG projects.
• Develop functional descriptions and control narratives with process engineering.
• Own controls scope from concept through commissioning and mentor junior engineers.
• Provide technical direction to commissioning teams and coordinate with vendors.

Skills

Controls engineering

Project leadership

PLC programming

HMI programming

SCADA design

Industrial networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

PE license or relevant certification

Tools

NetSuite

ClickUp

Microsoft Project

Job description

Key Details:

Salary: $120,000 - $140,000

Location: Our office is located in downtown Vancouver, WA, with flexibility to work in-office, hybrid, or remotely depending on location and business needs.

Travel: Up to 30% per year to project sites across the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe, along with regular morning overlap with our team in the Netherlands.

Benefits:

• Employer-paid Medical, Vision and Dental
• 401k Program with 4% Match
• Unlimited Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

Why HoSt?

Join a company where sustainability is not just a goal, but a fundamental guiding principle embedded in our mission and operations.

Play a role in closing the loop on waste, minimizing emissions, and transforming waste products into valuable resources, which is good for business and the planet.

Enjoy ample personal and professional development opportunities in a dynamic and expanding global market.

Work with experienced professionals dedicated to making a difference in sustainable energy.

Who We Are:

At HoSt Bio-Energy Systems, our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are a global leader in providing cutting-edge, environmentally friendly energy solutions that empower businesses and communities to embrace a cleaner, greener future. Our mission is to drive the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy by harnessing the power of renewable resources. We specialize in developing, designing, and constructing state-of-the-art Bio-Energy systems that convert organic waste and biomass into valuable resources, including biogas, green heat, and sustainable electricity.

Want to learn more? Check out our website:

Who You Are:

You're an experienced controls engineer who moves fluidly between deep technical work and people leadership — equally comfortable debugging a PLC program and walking a client through automation strategy. You bring structure to complex, multi-system projects: managing scope, risk, and schedule without losing sight of the programming details underneath them. You communicate clearly and confidently with clients, vendors, and internal teams, and you don't wait to be asked before improving a standard or mentoring a colleague. Grounded in a strong understanding of industrial control systems and project execution, you bring sound judgment and follow-through to everything you own.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Controls/Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent project-focused work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in controls, automation, or systems integration, with a strong foundation in designing, programming, and implementing industrial control systems, and demonstrated ownership of projects from concept through commissioning.
• In-depth knowledge of PLC and HMI programming (Siemens preferred), SCADA system design and configuration, industrial networking architecture and protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profinet, or similar), and machine safety standards and safety system programming.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with confidence working directly with customers to explain technical concepts and build lasting relationships.
• Valid passport, with ability to travel internationally on occasion.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license in the state of residence; position is subject to annual DMV record screening in accordance with insurance and client requirements.
• Ability to pass a background check.

Preferred:

• 10+ years of controls/automation experience, including significant experience within biogas/RNG or another process industry.
• Experience mentoring early-career engineers.
• Experience with advanced process troubleshooting/root-cause analysis, SCADA historian and reporting tool design, and control panel design review.
• Familiarity with anaerobic digestion, biogas conditioning/upgrading, and gas handling systems, and proficiency with tools such as NetSuite, ClickUp, and Microsoft Project.
• Professional Engineering License (PE) or relevant industry certification.

What You’ll Do:

As Senior Controls Engineer, you'll take a leading technical role in the design, programming, and delivery of control and automation systems for HoSt/Bright's biogas and RNG projects, from concept through startup and commissioning. This role combines deep hands-on programming expertise with project-level ownership: you'll guide controls scope across multiple projects, mentor other engineers, and serve as the key technical point of contact for customers and vendors on automation matters, while helping shape the standards the whole controls team builds on.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead controls design and programming: Lead the design, programming, and testing of PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for biogas/RNG projects, including control logic, alarming strategy, operator interfaces, and industrial networking architecture, along with data historian and reporting systems.
• Lead functional design documentation: Lead development of functional descriptions, control narratives, and cause-and-effect matrices with process engineering, and oversee I/O, alarm, and interlock lists across assigned projects.
• Own technical execution: Take technical ownership of the controls scope from concept through commissioning, serve as the escalation point for complex programming and integration issues, and lead collaboration with our 3rd-party controls architect on architecture updates.
• Lead commissioning and customer engagement: Provide advanced technical direction to commissioning teams, serve as a key technical resource during customer meetings and proposal efforts, and coordinate with automation equipment vendors and subcontractors.
• Advance standards and mentor the team: Develop and maintain standard controls programming practices, lead efficiency and knowledge-capture initiatives, and mentor and onboard junior and mid-level controls engineers.

HoSt is an Equal Opportunity Employer; we celebrate diversity in the workplace and strive to maintain an inclusive work environment for all employees.