Senior Technical Specialist – Automation & Commissioning

Location: Eagle Mountain, UT (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Power Generation | Energy Infrastructure | Industrial Automation

Drive the Future of Power Infrastructure

We are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Specialist – Automation & Commissioning to support the successful commissioning, startup, and operational readiness of advanced power generation and energy infrastructure projects.

This role is ideal for an automation professional with extensive experience in PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems who thrives in field-based commissioning environments. You will provide technical leadership throughout system integration, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), energization, startup, and final system turnover while collaborating with engineering, construction, operations, and OEM partners.

If you are passionate about solving complex automation challenges and delivering reliable, high-performance control systems, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for automation systems throughout commissioning, startup, and operational transition of power generation, substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and industrial energy facilities.
• Develop, review, and execute commissioning procedures, automation test plans, startup sequences, and system validation protocols.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), pre-commissioning activities, system turnover, and commissioning readiness reviews.
• Configure, validate, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems during commissioning and startup.
• Verify startup and shutdown logic, interlocks, alarm management, and control system functionality.
• Support SCADA integration, communications testing, and control system performance validation.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, software, and network communication issues during energization and startup activities.
• Interpret electrical drawings, control narratives, P&IDs, I/O lists, loop diagrams, and system architecture documentation.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Construction, Operations, Project Management, and OEM vendors to resolve technical issues and ensure project readiness.
• Maintain commissioning documentation, including turnover packages, redline drawings, punch-list tracking, inspection records, and commissioning reports.
• Support cybersecurity initiatives, control system patching, version control, configuration management, and hardware lifecycle activities.
• Evaluate automation equipment performance and contribute to continuous improvement of commissioning standards and best practices.
• Conduct technical briefings, commissioning readiness reviews, operator training, and post-startup lessons learned sessions.
• Mentor junior engineers and commissioning personnel while promoting a strong safety culture.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with 8+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, commissioning, power generation, or energy infrastructure.

Preferred

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Automation, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Required Experience

• Minimum 8 years supporting industrial automation, power generation, utilities, substations, or energy infrastructure projects.
• Hands-on commissioning and startup experience with large industrial or utility control systems.
• Experience supporting complete commissioning lifecycles from system integration through final turnover.
• Proven experience coordinating FAT, SAT, pre-commissioning, energization, and startup activities.
• Experience working in field-based industrial construction and commissioning environments.

Technical Skills

Automation Platforms

• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
• Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
• Human Machine Interface (HMI)

Communication Protocols

• Modbus
• DNP3
• IEC 61850
• Industrial Ethernet

Commissioning Expertise

• Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
• Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
• System Turnover
• Punch List Management
• Commissioning Documentation
• Redline Drawing Validation
• Startup & Shutdown Logic
• Alarm Management
• System Integration
• Functional Testing

Industry Knowledge

• NFPA 70E
• IEEE Standards
• NERC Standards (where applicable)
• Electrical Safety Best Practices

Additional Technical Experience

• Control System Configuration
• Configuration Management
• Backup & Version Control
• AssetCentre (or equivalent enterprise automation platforms)
• Cybersecurity Patch Management
• Hardware Lifecycle Management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• Experience in power generation facilities, substations, utilities, or renewable energy projects
• Experience supporting grid integration and electrical infrastructure
• OEM commissioning experience
• Previous technical leadership or mentoring experience

Work Environment

• Full-time, on-site position supporting active construction, commissioning, and startup projects.
• Frequent work in industrial environments around energized electrical equipment.
• Ability to travel within project locations as required.
• Must be committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Why Join Us?

• Work on cutting-edge power generation and energy infrastructure projects.
• Collaborate with industry-leading engineering and commissioning professionals.
• Influence the successful delivery of complex automation and control systems.
• Opportunity to lead high-impact commissioning initiatives while advancing your technical career.
• Be part of a team focused on innovation, reliability, safety, and continuous improvement.

ATS Keywords

Senior Technical Specialist Automation Engineer Commissioning Engineer Industrial Automation PLC DCS SCADA HMI Factory Acceptance Test FAT Site Acceptance Test SAT Power Generation Energy Infrastructure BESS Battery Energy Storage Systems Substations Utilities Industrial Controls Commissioning Startup System Turnover Modbus DNP3 IEC 61850 Alarm Management Control Systems Configuration Management AssetCentre Industrial Ethernet NFPA 70E IEEE NERC OEM Power Systems Electrical Infrastructure