Senior Hydro Controls Engineer - Hydro

Emerson; Latham (NY); On-site; USD 129,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Emerson is seeking an Advanced Senior Controls Engineer – Hydro to join the Power and Water Solutions team in the United States. You will lead retrofit projects for hydro plants, design turbine governor and plant control systems, and ensure successful testing and on-site commissioning across North America.

You should have 7+ years in controls and automation, with hands-on experience in hydro power plant control systems, PLC/HMI programming (Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider), and familiarity with

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead retrofit and modernization projects for North American hydro plants.
• Design turbine governor systems and plant control solutions.
• Configure PLC and HMI software to meet project requirements.
• Support FAT and field commissioning at customer sites.
• Develop control narratives, functional descriptions, and test procedures.

Skills

Control systems engineering

Ladder Logic

HMI programming

PLC programming

DCS systems

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Schneider Electric

Job description

Job Description

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.

Preferred Locations

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

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.

About Us

At Emerson, we are motivated by a spirit of collaboration that helps our diverse, multicultural teams across the world drive innovation that makes the world healthier, safer, smarter, and more sustainable. And we want you to join us in our bold aspiration.

WHY EMERSON

We have built an engaged community of inquisitive, dedicated people who thrive knowing they are welcomed, trusted, celebrated, and empowered to solve the world’s most complex problems — for our customers, our communities, and the planet. You’ll contribute to this vital work while further developing your skills through our award‑winning employee development programs. We are a proud corporate citizen in every city where we operate and are committed to our people, our communities, and the world at large. We take this responsibility seriously and strive to make a positive impact through every endeavor.

Our Commitment to Our People

At Emerson, you’ll see firsthand that our people are at the center of everything we do. So, let’s go. Let’s think differently. Learn, collaborate, and grow. Seek opportunity. Push boundaries. Be empowered to make things better. Speed up to break through. Let’s go, together.

Work Authorization

Emerson will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.

Accessibility Assistance or Accommodation

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About Emerson

Emerson is a global leader in automation technology and software. Through our deep domain expertise and legacy of flawless execution, Emerson helps customers in critical industries like life sciences, energy, power and renewables, chemical and advanced factory automation operate more sustainably while improving productivity, energy security and reliability.

With global operations and a comprehensive portfolio of software and technology, we are helping companies implement digital transformation to measurably improve their operations, conserve valuable resources and enhance their safety.

We offer equitable opportunities, celebrate diversity, and embrace challenges with confidence that, together, we can make an impact across a broad spectrum of countries and industries. Whether you’re an established professional looking for a career change, an undergraduate student exploring possibilities, or a recent graduate with an advanced degree, you’ll find your chance to make a difference with Emerson. Join our team – let’s go!