Senior Engineer Automation & Controls (SCADA)
American Water - Short Hills, NJ
posted 5 months ago
About the position
The Senior Engineer Automation & Controls (SCADA) position at American Water is a critical role responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and support of the automation and process control infrastructure, specifically focusing on SCADA systems. This position requires a deep understanding of various technological systems and vendor products to develop innovative solutions that align with operational and business requirements. The engineer will collaborate with design engineers, operations personnel, and other internal staff to design, review, gather information, inspect, and commission/start-up projects that involve process control equipment or SCADA systems. The role also involves managing automation and process control system projects, performing quality assurance checks, and providing second-level support for maintaining the automation infrastructure, which may include on-call and on-site responsibilities as needed. In addition to technical expertise, the Senior Engineer will be responsible for developing, deploying, and maintaining both standard and custom programming and configuration code for automation and process control systems. The position requires strong project management skills to execute projects from conception to start-up within budget and schedule. The engineer will also review control logic strategies, implement programming changes to optimize control strategies for treatment and pumping processes, and ensure that all systems are functioning optimally. This role is essential in ensuring that American Water continues to provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to its customers. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in industrial control systems, including PLC/DCS/HMI programming and design, as well as experience with data communications systems and protocols. The position demands excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and a strong customer service orientation. The engineer will also be expected to demonstrate leadership qualities, particularly in managing direct reports and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Responsibilities
- Implement, maintain, and support the automation & process control infrastructure (SCADA).
- 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 control logic strategies and implement programming changes to optimize control strategies.
- Provide second-level support for maintaining the automation & process control infrastructure.
- Manage automation & process control system projects as required.
- Perform quality assurance checks of automation & process control systems.
Requirements
- Minimum five (5) 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, including Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Bristol Babcock, Modicon, Siemens, Emerson.
- Experience with HMIs, including Ignition, Iconics, GE/Intellution, Wonderware.
- Strong knowledge of P&IDs, control elementary drawings, ISA instrument specifications, and loop diagrams.
- Working knowledge of industrial control system platforms and data collection methods.
- Strong project management skills and knowledge of application development methodologies.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation expertise.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with OPC, Visual Basic, and SQL applications.
- Significant additional experience and/or certifications in relevant fields.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and health benefits package.
- Opportunities for career development and growth.
- Focus on health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for future goals.
