Senior Ovation DCS Programmer / Control Systems Engineer

Hazen and Sawyer; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Paid holidays and PTO

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

An engineering consulting firm in Richmond, VA seeks an experienced Senior Ovation DCS Programmer / Control Systems Engineer to lead DCS programming for water treatment facilities. The role requires 10+ years of automation experience, including hands-on work with Emerson Ovation systems. Candidates should demonstrate strong mentoring abilities and be familiar with water/wastewater processes. The position offers a hybrid work setting, with responsibilities including programming, troubleshooting, and supporting project delivery.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in control systems or automation.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Experience supporting water or wastewater treatment facilities strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Configure and program Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Implement and support control strategies for treatment processes.
• Lead and support FAT, SAT, and on-site commissioning activities.

Skills

Experience in control systems or automation

Hands-on experience with Emerson Ovation DCS systems

Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Ethernet, OPC, Modbus)

Understanding of process control and instrumentation

Mentoring junior engineers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or a related technical field

Tools

Emerson Ovation configuration tools

PLC/SCADA systems

Job description

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking an experienced Senior Ovation DCS Programmer / Control Systems Engineer to support the design, implementation, commissioning, and long-term support of Emerson Ovation Distributed Control Systems for water and wastewater treatment facilities. This role is a senior technical position responsible for hands-on system programming, configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization, with direct involvement in plant operations, startup, and lifecycle support. The successful candidate will serve as a technical lead, supporting project delivery while mentoring junior staff and collaborating closely with operations, engineering, and project management teams.

This position can be based at any Hazen location; however, our preference is for it to be based in Virginia or the Washington, D.C. area.

Why Hazen and Sawyer:

• Founded in 1951 by the son of Allen Hazen (developer of the Hazen-Williams equation), we are an employee-owned company with a singular focus on "all things water."
• Our work includes planning, design, and oversight of construction of environmental infrastructure – for water, wastewater, and stormwater management.
• We foster a work environment low on bureaucracy and high in creativity.
• We recruit talented professionals, provide them with challenging, interesting, and creative assignments, and furnish them with the tools they need to succeed.
• We currently have over 2,400 employees in 70+ offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK.
• A flexible hybrid work schedule supports today’s busy professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Ovation DCS Engineering & Programming

• Configure, program, test, and commission Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Develop and maintain control logic, operator graphics, alarm configurations, and system databases.
• Perform system upgrades, migrations, and expansions on legacy and current Ovation platforms.
• Support control optimization, tuning, and modernization initiatives.

Water & Wastewater Process Integration

• Implement and support control strategies for treatment and conveyance processes including pumping, filtration, chemical feed, disinfection, sludge handling, and distribution systems.
• Troubleshoot process and control system issues and implement corrective actions.

Testing, Commissioning & Support

• Lead and support FAT, SAT, and on-site commissioning activities.
• Provide operational troubleshooting and post-startup support.
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including control narratives, I/O lists, and architecture diagrams.
• Support changing management and configuration control procedures.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Implement OT cybersecurity best practices consistent with ISA/IEC 62443 and utility standards.
• Support redundancy, backup, disaster recovery, and system resiliency planning.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a technical lead on Ovation-related projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and programmers.
• Coordinate with operations staff, project managers, vendors, and system integrators.

Work Setting

• Hybrid Preferred (3 days in office; 2 days remote)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in control systems or automation.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Experience supporting water or wastewater treatment facilities strongly preferred.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, and field commissioning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical Skills

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Emerson Ovation configuration tools and system architecture.
• Strong understanding of process control, instrumentation, and control system networks.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Ethernet, OPC, Modbus).
• Working knowledge of alarm management best practices and OT cybersecurity principles.
• Experience with PLC/SCADA systems, networking, and industrial control protocols is often a plus.

Certifications (Preferred)

• Emerson Ovation training or certifications.
• ISA, cybersecurity, or related professional certifications a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel to project sites (often up to 25–75% depending on the role and level).
• As required to support commissioning and troubleshooting.
• Valid driver’s license and authorization to work in the U.S.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
• Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
• Short and long-term disability, and employer paid life insurance
• Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
• Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
• Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and professional organization memberships
• Starting pay range for this position depends on skills, experience, education and geographical location