Senior Controls Engineer

About NAES

At NAES, you’ll find engaging and challenging career opportunities in the power generation, renewable energy and industrial construction industry. At every level of the company, we share a common goal: To instill confidence in our clients through our steadfast commitment to safety, integrity and quality of work.

NAES is largest independent operator of power facilities in the industry, operating more than 190 power plants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the UK that span all technologies and provide over 49 GW of capacity. With the strength of 4000 people, our growing family of companies now addresses the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

Summary

The Senior Controls Engineer is a corporate-level technical leader within a centralized support organization, responsible for delivering billable controls engineering services across a fleet of power generation facilities. Operate as a highly experienced, deployable engineering resource supporting multiple sites based on operational needs, project demand, and outage schedules. Provide technical leadership, oversight of complex control system projects, and mentorship to other engineers. Operate independently in field environments, lead technically challenging work scopes, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality outcomes across the fleet.

Primary Duties

• Technical Leadership & Oversight: Lead complex control system efforts, including major upgrades, migrations, and troubleshooting of critical system issues. Provide technical direction across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Mentorship & Development: Mentor and support Controls Engineers, providing guidance on troubleshooting, design approaches, and project execution. Serve as the primary escalation point for complex or high-risk technical issues that exceed the capabilities of less experienced engineers.
• Technical Execution: Execute hands-on control system engineering work, including troubleshooting, system modifications, commissioning support, and lifecycle maintenance across multiple facilities.
• Operational Support: Operate independently in field environments to provide controls support to power plants, requiring minimal supervision and sound technical judgment in operationally critical situations.
• Project Execution: Develop and execute pre-activity and outage plans for control system upgrades and maintenance, including scope definition, risk identification, and commissioning activities.
• Deployment & Mobility: Support multiple facilities across the fleet based on operational demand, including mobilization to sites for outages, projects, and emergent support events.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinate with site personnel, corporate engineering, and third-party vendors to ensure safe and effective execution of control system work.
• Technical Leadership: Lead technical discussions and meetings, track action items, and drive timely resolution of control system issues.
• Vendor Coordination: Support vendor engagement as required, including scope development, proposal review, and coordination of work; however, this role is expected to perform core technical work directly.
• Quality & Delivery Oversight: Ensure control system work meets defined technical requirements and customer expectations, with accountability for successful execution.
• Change & Scope Management: Identify and manage scope changes based on evolving site and project conditions while maintaining alignment with contractual requirements.
• Risk Identification: Identify technical risks that may impact system performance or project delivery and escalate appropriately.
• Continuous Improvement: Capture lessons learned and contribute to standardization and improvement of control system engineering practices.
• Performance & Reporting: Track and report on project progress, including labor hours, schedule adherence, and technical deliverables.
• Financial Accountability: Support execution within established budgets and identify opportunities to optimize cost while maintaining system reliability and performance.

Working Relationships: The Controls Engineer 4 reports to the IT/OT Director and does not have any direct reports. Work closely with fellow IT/OT and corporate engineers to align on technical standards and project execution. Coordinate directly with external customers, third-party automation vendors, OEMs, and other external parties to support scope execution and troubleshooting.

Compensation

The initial salary range is $137,500 to $158,100 based on experience and qualifications.

Job Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university recognized by the United States Department of Education or equivalent. Relevant work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

• Years of Experience:
  • 10 years of controls engineering experience.
  • Experience performing control system troubleshooting, logic analysis, system modifications, and commissioning activities in live plant environments.
  • Experience with control system architecture, including HMIs, historians, field instrumentation integration, and industrial networking.

• Preferred Experience:
  • Demonstrated experience leading control system upgrades, migrations, or major maintenance efforts
  • Proven ability to independently execute and direct work in high-risk or high-consequence operational environments
  • Experience mentoring or providing technical leadership to other engineers
  • Strong experience coordinating multi-party efforts (site, vendor, corporate)

• Preferred Licenses/Certification:
  • ISA Certified Automation Professional
  • ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Certificates
  • SANS GICSP

• Software/Equipment Knowledge: Strong hands-on experience with one or more major control system platforms (Siemens TXP/T3000, GE Mark, Emerson Ovation, Rockwell, ABB), including system configuration, troubleshooting, and modification.

• Other Considerations:
  • Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex control system issues under time and operations constraints.
  • Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills, particularly in conveying technical information to plant personnel, engineers, and stakeholders.
  • Project Execution: Practical understanding of project execution, including planning, risk identification, and change management in operational environments.
  • Independent Operation: Ability to operate effectively in field environments without direct supervision, exercising sound technical judgment and decision-making.
  • Contract & Scope Interpretation: Ability to review technical scopes of work and translate requirements into executable engineering tasks.
  • Vendor Interaction: Ability to coordinate with vendors when required, including reviewing technical proposals, and supporting scope execution.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements needed to perform the positions, and possible working conditions that the employee could be working in. Below is an example of this

Normal working hours are 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended hours may be required based on specific requirements. Ground and air travel is required of this position. Ability to travel up to 50-70% is required. Work is performed at an established home office environment or headquarters office, and on industrial sites that require protective clothing and equipment. Work at facilities can occur around industrial hazards, in areas of high noise levels, and around new construction. Physical mobility to transverse stairways, ladders, grating, and uneven terrain are essential. Ability to see, hear, read, and react to warning signs, lights, and alarms are essential.

Fit for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening. There are extensive smoking restrictions in and around the facility.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property. Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.