Engineer Automation & Controls (SCADA)
American Water - Pittsburgh, PA
posted 5 months ago
About the position
As a key member of the American Water team, you will be responsible for implementing, maintaining, and supporting the automation and process control infrastructure. This role requires expert assistance and collaboration in creating engineering plans, designs, monitoring, building, and commissioning automation and process control systems. You will need to understand and apply new technological systems and multiple vendor products to develop and support innovative system solutions that align with operational and business requirements. Additionally, you will assist in the development of standards, practices, and policies related to the installation, maintenance, and operations of automation and process control systems. Your responsibilities will include developing, deploying, and maintaining standard and custom programming and configuration code for the automation and process control systems. You will provide second-level support for maintaining the automation and process control infrastructure, which includes being on call as well as on-site when required. Managing automation and process control system projects will also be part of your duties, along with performing quality assurance checks of these systems as needed. In this role, you will work collaboratively with design engineers, operations personnel, and other internal staff on the design, review, information gathering, inspection, and commissioning/start-up of projects that include process control equipment or systems. You will execute projects from conception to start-up within budget and project schedules, develop programming and configuration code for process control systems, and review work performed by outside contractors. Your ability to troubleshoot and resolve control system issues will be crucial, as will your capacity to investigate new technological developments and processes. You will also be responsible for advising and assisting operating company personnel on the proper operation and maintenance of process control equipment or systems, ensuring compliance with mandatory process control policies and procedures, and making recommendations to improve processes and results. This position may require you to supervise or support Controls Engineer or Controls Specialist staff members as needed.
Responsibilities
- Implement, maintain, and support the automation and process control infrastructure.
- Collaborate with design engineers, operations personnel, and other internal staff on project design and commissioning.
- Execute projects from conception to start-up within budget and schedule.
- Develop programming and configuration code for process control systems.
- Review work performed by outside contractors and coordinate control system issues.
- Perform maintenance activities on process control equipment or systems.
- Troubleshoot and resolve control system issues.
- Investigate new technological developments and processes.
- Advise and assist operating company personnel on proper operation and maintenance of process control equipment.
- Ensure compliance with the Change Management process.
- Develop and maintain relationships with Process Control vendors.
Requirements
- Four year degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
- Minimum 2-3 years of experience in maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, repair, and installation of Process Control Systems (SCADA and DCS).
- Experience with configuration and programming of PLCs / RTUs (Allen - Bradley, Modicon, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Emerson) and HMIs (Iconics, Intellution, Wonderware).
- Strong knowledge of P&IDs, control elementary drawings, ISA instrument specifications, and loop diagrams.
- Working knowledge of industrial control system platforms including PLC / DCS / HMI programming / design / configuration.
- Demonstrated ability to configure programmable process controllers and HMI systems.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal and people management skills.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with OPC, Visual Basic, and SQL applications preferred.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and health benefits package.
- Opportunities for career development and growth.
- Focus on health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.
