DCS Commissioning Lead

Title: DCS Commissioning Lead

Position Type: Contract

Location: Texas

Key Project Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience supporting Distributed Control Systems (DCS), industrial automation, commissioning, and startup for utility-scale power generation or large industrial facilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading DCS commissioning activities including system integration, FAT/SAT, startup, troubleshooting, and plant turnover. Experience with Honeywell Experion PKS, Honeywell Safety Manager (SIS), or comparable DCS platforms is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of process automation, control strategies, HMI development, alarm management, historian configuration, and industrial networking.
• Proven leadership experience coordinating automation engineers, OEM representatives, contractors, and multidisciplinary commissioning teams throughout the project lifecycle.

Job Summary:

NAES is seeking an experienced DCS Lead to provide technical leadership for Distributed Control System (DCS) commissioning activities on a large-scale power generation project in Texas. This position is responsible for leading DCS integration, configuration, testing, commissioning, startup, and plant turnover while working closely with engineering, construction, OEM representatives, and commissioning leadership. The successful candidate will ensure the plant control system is commissioned safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project objectives while supporting reliable commercial operation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead DCS commissioning activities throughout detailed engineering, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, startup, and plant turnover.
• Coordinate DCS engineers, automation specialists, OEM representatives, contractors, and project stakeholders to support successful project execution.
• Oversee DCS configuration, system integration, HMI graphics, alarm management, historian configuration, operator interfaces, and industrial network communications.
• Support commissioning and startup of plant automation systems associated with gas turbines, reciprocating engines, BESS, and balance of plant equipment.
• Troubleshoot DCS hardware, software, communications, and process control issues while supporting startup and commissioning activities.
• Maintain DCS documentation, system backups, configuration management, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Participate in HAZOP, SIL, and process safety reviews while ensuring compliance with project standards and engineering best practices.

Job Requirements:

• Strong understanding of industrial Distributed Control Systems (DCS), process automation, and control system architecture.
• Experience with DCS platforms such as Honeywell Experion PKS, Honeywell Safety Manager (SIS), or similar industrial control systems.
• Experience supporting commissioning and startup of utility-scale power generation, industrial process, or energy facilities.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, control narratives, logic diagrams, cause & effect matrices, vendor documentation, and technical specifications.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, leadership, and organizational skills with experience coordinating EPC contractors, OEM representatives, and plant personnel.
• Ability to work extended schedules during critical commissioning and startup activities.

Education / Experience:

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience supporting industrial automation, DCS engineering, commissioning, startup, or operations.
• Experience with Honeywell Experion PKS, Honeywell Safety Manager (SIS), Uniformance PHD Historian, or comparable industrial DCS platforms is strongly preferred.
• Previous experience supporting gas turbine, combined-cycle, simple-cycle, reciprocating engine, BESS, or other utility-scale power generation projects is preferred.