Senior Hydro Controls Engineer - Hydro

City of Shakopee, MN; Cranberry Township (Butler County); On-site; USD 129,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Emerson is seeking an experienced Advanced Senior Controls Engineer - Hydro to join the Hydro Controls Engineering team, delivering fully engineered control system solutions for hydroelectric power plants across North America. The role focuses on modernization, turbine governor systems, and turnkey project delivery from design to on-site commissioning.

Travel up to 30% domestically is required. The candidate will act as a technical SME, coordinating with customers and internal teams to ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in controls and automation.
• Hands-on experience with design and commissioning of control systems for hydro power plants.
• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming/configuration.
• Knowledge of Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, and DNP3.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% domestically.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering efforts for retrofit and modernization projects within the North American hydroelectric power industry
• Design and develop turbine governor systems and plant control solutions for hydroelectric facilities
• Interpret customer and industry technical specifications to create mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical control system designs
• Develop and adapt control logic using Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and functional flow diagrams
• Apply electrical and hydraulic schematics to ensure accurate, safe, and effective system integration
• Configure and customize PLC and HMI software to meet project-specific operational requirements
• Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and commission control systems at customer sites
• Develop control narratives, functional descriptions, and hardware and software test procedures
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for hydro control systems, plant operations, and customer engagement

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

DCS systems

Customer liaison

Travel up to 30%

Sponsorship awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Rockwell Automation

Siemens

Schneider Electric

Job description

Preferred Locations: Blue Bell, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Warren, NJ; Latham, NY; Charlotte, NC; Houston, TX; Riverside, CA; Detroit, MI; Tinley Park, IL

Emerson is seeking an experienced Advanced Senior Controls Engineer - Hydro to join our Power and Water Solutions team. In this critical role, you will be part of the Hydro Controls Engineering team responsible for delivering fully engineered control system solutions for hydroelectric power plants across North America.

This team focuses on modernizing existing hydro facilities through the replacement of turbine governor systems and related control equipment. Solutions are delivered as comprehensive turnkey projects, encompassing project management, engineering design, system integration, testing, and on-site commissioning. Your work will directly support reliable, efficient, and sustainable power generation for customers across the region.

Learn more about Emerson's Hydro Power Solutions.

In This Role, Your Responsibilities Will Be:

• Lead engineering efforts for retrofit and modernization projects within the North American hydroelectric power industry


• Design and develop turbine governor systems and plant control solutions for hydroelectric facilities


• Interpret customer and industry technical specifications to create mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical control system designs


• Develop and adapt control logic using Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and functional flow diagrams


• Apply electrical and hydraulic schematics to ensure accurate, safe, and effective system integration


• Configure and customize PLC and HMI software to meet project-specific operational requirements


• Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and commission control systems at customer sites


• Develop control narratives, functional descriptions, and hardware and software test procedures


• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for hydro control systems, plant operations, and customer engagement

Who You Are:

You are a proactive problem solver who thrives in dynamic environments. You build strong relationships with customers and colleagues, fostering trust and collaboration. You stay focused on goals, adapt to challenges with a positive attitude, and consistently deliver high-quality results. You seek opportunities to innovate and improve processes, demonstrating resilience and accountability in achieving outcomes.

For This Role, You Will Need:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering or related technical field


• 7+ years of experience in controls and automation.


• Hands-on experience with design and commissioning of control systems for hydro power plants and turbine governor systems.


• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming/configuration (Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider) and/or DCS systems.


• Knowledge of communication networks such as Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, and DNP3.


• Ability to serve as the primary technical contact for customers.


• Willingness to travel up to 30% domestically to support projects.


• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1 (including those with OPT or CPT) , H-1, H-2, L-1, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Preferred Qualifications That Set You Apart:

• 10+ years of experience in controls and automation engineering


• Ability to analyze and implement engineering designs for logic or digital circuitry, motor controls, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems.


• Experience with pumped storage station controls.


• Prior experience with Emerson Ovation controls systems

Our Culture and Commitment To You:

At Emerson, we prioritize a workplace where every employee is valued, respected, and empowered to grow. We foster an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and diverse perspectives - because we know that great ideas come from great teams. Our commitment to ongoing career development and growing an inclusive culture ensures you have the support to thrive. Whether through mentorship, training, or leadership opportunities, we invest in your success so you can make a lasting impact. We believe diverse teams, working together are key to driving growth and delivering business results.

We recognize the importance of employee wellbeing. We prioritize providing flexible, competitive benefits plans to meet you and your family’s physical, mental, financial, and social needs. We provide a variety of medical insurance plans, with dental and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, employee resource groups, recognition, and much more. Our culture offers flexible time off plans, including paid parental leave (maternal and paternal), vacation and holiday leave.

Our compensation philosophy is simple: we pay a competitive base salary, within the local market in which we operate, and reward performance during our annual merit review process. The salary range for this role is $128,700 - 167,300 annually, plus benefits, commensurate with the skills, talent, capabilities, and experience each candidate brings to a role.