Sr Automation Engineer

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. in Houston seeks a Senior Automation Engineer to lead and implement advanced industrial automation projects from concept to commissioning.

You will design, program, test, and start up automated systems, improve reliability, and mentor cross-functional teams including operations and maintenance. The role requires strong PLC/SCADA experience, instrumentation knowledge, and a track record of delivering projects with safety and quality as a priority.

Qualifications

• 10+ years designing and supporting industrial automation systems.
• Advanced PLC programming experience with platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or equivalent.
• Experience developing HMI and SCADA applications using platforms such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, Wonderware, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation, motor controls, VFDs, servos, robotics, and industrial control panels.
• Experience with industrial communication protocols and networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, PROFINET, OPC UA).
• Proven ability to lead automation projects from design through production handoff.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, test, and commission industrial automation and control systems.
• Develop and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, motion-control, and robotic applications.
• Lead automation projects with requirements gathering, CAPEX/ROI, project charter, architecture, vendor coordination, installation, validation, and handoff.
• Troubleshoot complex control-system, instrumentation, electrical, and network issues.
• Identify and implement safety, reliability, throughput, and quality improvements.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Instrumentation

Industrial networks

Process controls

Electrical safety standards

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

FactoryTalk

Ignition

WinCC

Wonderware

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Automation Engineer will oversee the automation projects, designing, planning and implementing advanced industrial automation and control systems. This role will lead automation projects from concept through commissioning, improve the reliability and efficiency of existing systems, and provide technical guidance to engineers, technicians, and cross-functional partners. Peer relationships include Production, Operations Project Management, Design Engineering, Planning, Maintenance, Quality Control and Facilitates departments. The ideal candidate has strong experience with PLCs, FSUs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, instrumentation, and process controls in a manufacturing or production environment.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, program, test, and commission industrial automation and control systems.
• Develop and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, motion-control, and robotic applications.
• Lead automation projects, including requirements gathering, CAPEX and ROI justification, project charter, system architecture, vendor coordination, installation, validation, startup and delivery to operations.
• Troubleshoot complex control-system, instrumentation, electrical, and network issues.
• Identify and implement improvements that increase safety, reliability, throughput, quality, and equipment availability, ensuring safety zones meet FSUs standards described in AINSI/RIA R15.06-201 and compatible with operations, quality, and HSE.
• Develop control narratives, functional specifications, electrical drawings, network diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Integrate automation systems with manufacturing, enterprise, historian, and data-collection platforms, establish programming, cybersecurity, documentation, backup, and change-control standards.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure systems comply with applicable safety, regulatory, and quality requirements.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and training to engineers, technicians, and operations personnel, supporting project creation, estimates, schedules, capital planning, and contractor management.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, IT, engineering, quality, and external system integrators.
• Participate in on-call or after-hours support when required for critical production systems.
• Any other responsibilities as assigned by TAS.

JOB SKILLS

Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures. Developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals. Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization. Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message. Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships. Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences. Appreciating and leveraging the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals. Working effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability, and motivation for a direct effect on business results. Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive; generating innovative solutions in work situations. Identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee safety, upholding safety standards. Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed. Must be versed in the use of basic Microsoft office tools Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Project. Welding and NDE experience and training.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• 10 or more years of experience designing and supporting industrial automation systems.
• Advanced PLC programming experience with platforms such as Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or equivalent.
• Experience developing HMI and SCADA applications using platforms such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, Wonderware, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation, motor controls, variable‑frequency drives, servos, robotics, and industrial control panels.
• Experience with industrial communication protocols and networks, including EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, PROFINET, OPC UA, or similar technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead automation projects through design, testing, commissioning, and production handoff.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, documentation, and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of applicable electrical and machine-safety standards.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Professional Engineer, Functional Safety Units, CAP, or relevant vendor certification.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, batch controls, process historians, or manufacturing execution systems.
• Familiarity with ISA-88, ISA-95, IEC 61131-3, NFPA 70/79, and industrial cybersecurity practices.
• AINSI/RIA R15.06-201
• Experience in a regulated or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of SQL, Python, C#, C + +, PowerShell, or other scripting and data-analysis tools.
• Experience with validation, change control, and regulated documentation requirements.
• Technical leadership
• Project ownership
• Systems thinking
• Structured problem-solving
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Clear technical communication
• Continuous improvement
• Safety and quality focus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

Position is at least 80% to 95% at a desk working with computer. Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Performs other physical activities including use of fingers, sitting, stooping, bending, crouching, talking, hearing, and performing repetitive motions. Visual acuity requirements include color, depth perception and field of vision necessary to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal, and conduct extensive reading. The incumbent will be subject to inside environmental conditions.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Join a team driven to excel in all that we do! When you join TAS, you join a Houston-headquartered company that is part of a large Houston-headquartered publicly traded company, Comfort Systems USA, with a solid reputation built on outstanding value, integrity, and customer focus. We offer our customers and employees the best of both worlds: a small company feel with the resources, talent, process, and international reach of a large company. TAS delivers innovative packaged modular systems that are engineered and manufactured in one of our Houston, TX facilities and utilized in data centers, power, and commercial/industrial utility system applications. TAS has successfully delivered and commissioned over 520 packages to over 33 countries. The company is headquartered in Houston, TX and has five ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facilities in Houston, encompassing 1.2m sq. feet with proximity to major shipping ports and interstate highways. TAS manages all logistics and transportation facilitating accelerated construction at customer’s facilities. TAS’ fastest growing business is the data center market. By applying deep expertise in cooling, thermodynamics, and power, TAS has developed an entire product line that revolutionizes data center delivery. With our tremendous market potential, advanced technological systems, entrepreneurial culture as well as a talented and productive workforce, we continue to set and exceed aggressive market penetration and financial goals. More information is available on the company website at: http://www.tas.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

TAS has a tobacco-free workplace policy, under which individuals are not allowed to smoke or use tobacco or nicotine products on the TAS premises, while conducting TAS business off premises or take "smoking" breaks during working hours. "smoking" and "tobacco or nicotine products" includes, but is not limited to, product such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaping, all forms of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, dip) and clove cigarettes The above declarations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job.

EEO & DIVERSITY

TAS Energy Inc. guarantees equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

Comfort Systems USA is composed of more than 45 operating companies in over 170 locations across the United States. We are a leading building and service provider for mechanical, electrical and plumbing building systems. We take great pride in knowing that the work we do can improve the lives of those around us. Our national footprint means that we have career opportunities across the USA, ranging from entry-level field and office positions to experienced professionals who support a wide range of projects.