Automation and Controls Engineer I
Spring, Texas, United States
Competitive
Sector:
Posted: 10/5/2026
Ref: BH-548780
Description:POSITION SUMMARY: Experienced Automation and Controls Engineer supporting industrial control systems and OT networks. Provides troubleshooting, and lifecycle support for PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, networks, virtualized servers, and Windows systems. Uses engineering documents to validate control logic, loops, devices, and alarms. Works closely with operations, engineering, IT/OT, vendors, and field personnel to resolve complex issues. PRIMARY PURPOSE: Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot automation, control, and OT network systems supporting offshore oil and gas operations. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: - Working knowledge with AVEVA System Platform and WW InTouch applications, communications, historian interfaces, and operator graphics. - Monitor control-system and OT network health and recommend reliability improvements. - Support alarm rationalization, prioritization, testing, documentation, and nuisance-alarm reduction. - Troubleshoot control systems and field instrumentation, including level, pressure, flow, vibration, and fire and gas devices. - Follow programming, cybersecurity, Process Control, and Management of Change (MOC) requirements. - Plan and document maintenance activities in SAP or other CMMS tools. - Work with operations, engineering, IT/OT, vendors, and field teams to safely resolve issues and complete projects. REQUIRED
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES: - 2-year degree in Instrumentation, Automation, Electronics, or a related discipline with a GPA of 2.5 or higher (or foreign equivalent), or equivalent technical experience with a strong safety record. - 7+ years of automation, controls, instrumentation, or related industrial experience, including 5+ years in oil and gas. - Advanced PLC programming and troubleshooting using ladder logic, function block, and structured text. - Advanced knowledge of HMI systems, industrial communications, and process instrumentation. - Working knowledge of OT networks, including Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP, VLANs, managed switches, fiber optics, serial communications, and troubleshooting tools. - Working knowledge of Windows-based OT systems and virtualization, including hosts, networking, storage, backups, and high availability. - Ability to troubleshoot issues across PLC, HMI, server, network, communications, and field-device layers. - Knowledge of alarm management and applicable API, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, and ISA standards. - Ability to read P&IDs, Cause and Effects, control narratives, network drawings, wiring diagrams, and loop drawings. - Strong communication, documentation, teamwork, and independent work skills. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management systems. - Ability to work extended shifts and on-call rotations and travel offshore by helicopter or marine vessel. - Ability to meet offshore medical, safety-training, fit-testing, and physical requirements, including work at heights and from aerial lifts.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: - Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (or foreign equivalent). - 9+ years of oil and gas experience, including 5+ years supporting upstream or offshore automation systems. - Hands-on support of offshore PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, control panels, OT networks, and servers. - Allen-Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix and Rockwell Ethernet/IP and DLR networks. - AVEVA System Platform architecture, deployment, communications, historian integration, and troubleshooting. - VMware or Hyper-V virtualization and Windows administration in OT environments. - Managed switches, VLANs, fiber links, redundant networks, firewalls, and remote access solutions. - OT cybersecurity practices, including segmentation, access control, patching, backups, hardening, and recovery. - Alarm management experience, including ISA-18.2 principles. - Experience with Rosemount or similar process instrumentation. - Ability to red-line control, instrumentation, and network drawings. - Strong teamwork, communication, and knowledge-sharing skills.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES: - 2-year degree in Instrumentation, Automation, Electronics, or a related discipline with a GPA of 2.5 or higher (or foreign equivalent), or equivalent technical experience with a strong safety record. - 7+ years of automation, controls, instrumentation, or related industrial experience, including 5+ years in oil and gas. - Advanced PLC programming and troubleshooting using ladder logic, function block, and structured text. - Advanced knowledge of HMI systems, industrial communications, and process instrumentation. - Working knowledge of OT networks, including Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP, VLANs, managed switches, fiber optics, serial communications, and troubleshooting tools. - Working knowledge of Windows-based OT systems and virtualization, including hosts, networking, storage, backups, and high availability. - Ability to troubleshoot issues across PLC, HMI, server, network, communications, and field-device layers. - Knowledge of alarm management and applicable API, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, and ISA standards. - Ability to read P&IDs, Cause and Effects, control narratives, network drawings, wiring diagrams, and loop drawings. - Strong communication, documentation, teamwork, and independent work skills. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management systems. - Ability to work extended shifts and on-call rotations and travel offshore by helicopter or marine vessel. - Ability to meet offshore medical, safety-training, fit-testing, and physical requirements, including work at heights and from aerial lifts.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: - Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (or foreign equivalent). - 9+ years of oil and gas experience, including 5+ years supporting upstream or offshore automation systems. - Hands-on support of offshore PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, control panels, OT networks, and servers. - Allen-Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix and Rockwell Ethernet/IP and DLR networks. - AVEVA System Platform architecture, deployment, communications, historian integration, and troubleshooting. - VMware or Hyper-V virtualization and Windows administration in OT environments. - Managed switches, VLANs, fiber links, redundant networks, firewalls, and remote access solutions. - OT cybersecurity practices, including segmentation, access control, patching, backups, hardening, and recovery. - Alarm management experience, including ISA-18.2 principles. - Experience with Rosemount or similar process instrumentation. - Ability to red-line control, instrumentation, and network drawings. - Strong teamwork, communication, and knowledge-sharing skills.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.
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