SCADA Controls Engineer

Published: 6/14/2022

Manufacturing

Job Description

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.

SUMMARY: Under limited supervision, serves as the Authority's lead automation and control systems engineer responsible for the design, development, implementation, commissioning, and optimization of industrial control systems supporting water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution, and wastewater collection operations. This position provides engineering leadership for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), instrumentation, industrial communications, radio telemetry systems, and control strategies.

The SCADA Controls Engineer serves as the highest-level technical escalation point for complex automation and control system issues that cannot be resolved by SCADA operational personnel. The position is responsible for developing and maintaining control system standards, supporting capital improvement projects, performing advanced system integration, and assisting with long-term operational technology lifecycle planning. Routine maintenance, preventive maintenance, and first-line troubleshooting activities remain the responsibility of the SCADA operations team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties include but are not limited to:

Serves as the Authority's technical lead for PLC programming, industrial automation, process control strategies, instrumentation integration, and control system design.
Designs, develops, tests, implements, and maintains PLC, RTU, and control system programming for Authority facilities.
Develops and maintains standardized PLC programming practices, control narratives, naming conventions, documentation standards, and testing procedures.
Serves as the final technical escalation point for complex SCADA, PLC, instrumentation, industrial communications, and automation related issues that cannot be resolved by SCADA Specialists or the SCADA Supervisor.
Performs advanced root cause analysis of recurring process control, instrumentation, communication, and automation failures and develops long-term corrective actions.
Leads factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), startup activities, commissioning, and turnover of new facilities, equipment upgrades, and automation projects.
Reviews engineering plans, specifications, control narratives, panel designs, instrumentation selections, and automation architectures for compliance with Authority standards.
Coordinates with Engineering, Operations, Information Technology, contractors, consultants, and system integrators to develop and implement automation solutions and process improvements.
Supports industrial communication systems including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, Modbus RTU, fiber optic communications, cellular communications, and radio telemetry systems.
Provides technical support for licensed and unlicensed radio systems, 4RF communications systems, antenna installations, telemetry networks, and associated communication infrastructure.
Assists the HMI/OT Network Administrator with the design and troubleshooting of OT network architectures where control system performance, reliability, or communications are impacted.
Evaluates system performance and identifies opportunities for automation enhancements, energy efficiency improvements, operational optimization, and reliability improvements.
Leads efforts to standardize PLC platforms, control strategies, and automation architectures across Authority facilities.
Participates in lifecycle planning, replacement strategies, modernization projects, and technology evaluations for operational technology systems.
Supports migration and modernization efforts including PLC upgrades, control system replacements, and implementation of new automation technologies.
Reviews alarm configurations with Operations and Engineering personnel to improve alarm effectiveness, reduce nuisance alarms, and ensure alarms support safe and efficient operations.
Develops and maintains comprehensive control system documentation including PLC source code, communication diagrams, I/O lists, control narratives, commissioning records, and system modification logs.
Provides technical training, mentoring, and guidance to SCADA personnel and operational staff regarding automation systems and control strategies.
Assists in the development of budgets, scopes of work, technical specifications, and procurement documents related to automation and control systems.
Maintains current knowledge of automation technologies, industrial control system cybersecurity practices, instrumentation technology, communications systems, and industry best practices.
Provides after-hours support for critical control system issues, major outages, startup activities, and emergency response operations as required.
Performs other duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

- Associate degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Instrumentation Technology, Industrial Automation, or a related field required. Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline preferred.
- Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience involving industrial automation, PLC programming, SCADA systems, instrumentation, control systems, industrial communications, or related operational technology environments.
- Experience in water and wastewater operations, process control systems, field commissioning, instrumentation calibration, radio telemetry, fiber optic communications, and industrial networking preferred.
- Must possess strong troubleshooting, analytical, project management, documentation, and communication skills.
- Must be fluent with Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other business productivity applications.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST), ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or other automation, controls, instrumentation, or industrial networking certifications preferred.

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.