Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer

JOB TITLE: Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer
LOCATION: Corpus or Houston, TX
DURATION: 3-6+ Months Contract to Hire
RATE RANGE: $50-85/hour
TOP 3 SKILLS:

1. 5+ years of I&C design in chemical, petrochemical, refining, oil & gas, power or industrial facilities
2. Instrument and control valve selection and sizing, plus I&C deliverables: P&IDs, datasheets, loop diagrams, I/O lists and control narratives
3. DCS/PLC and SIS (safety instrumented systems) design, with working knowledge of ISA-84 / IEC 61511 functional safety

POSITION SUMMARY:
Our client is looking for an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to lead I&C design for process, utility and industrial facilities, from concept through detailed design, commissioning and startup. This engineer develops and reviews core I&C documents, selects and sizes field instruments and control valves, and leads the control system architecture across DCS (distributed control system), PLC and safety systems. They support safety studies, coordinate with electrical, piping and vendor teams, and help with loop checks and troubleshooting in the field. The role suits an independent engineer who can lead small teams, manage multiple projects on schedule, and explain design decisions clearly to leadership and clients.
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead I&C design for process, utility and industrial facilities, from concept through detailed design.
• Develop and review P&IDs, control narratives, cause-and-effect diagrams, instrument indexes, I/O lists, datasheets, loop diagrams and hook-up drawings.
• Select and size field instruments and control valves, including transmitters, flow meters, level devices, analyzers and relief devices.
• Lead control system architecture for DCS, PLC and SIS, and review vendor designs and FAT/SAT (factory and site acceptance test) results.
• Review SIF (safety instrumented function) designs and support HAZOP/LOPA safety studies and SIL (safety integrity level) verification.
• Review hazardous-area, power, grounding, cabling and instrument installation requirements with electrical and piping teams.
• Coordinate with process, electrical, piping, mechanical and vendor teams, and review vendor drawings and submittals.
• Lead or support loop checks, commissioning, startup and troubleshooting, and respond to construction RFIs and field walkdowns.
• Work independently, manage multiple projects on schedule, and explain design decisions clearly to leadership and clients.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years of I&C design in chemical, petrochemical, refining, oil & gas, power or industrial facilities.
• Working knowledge of ISA-5.1, ISA-84 / IEC 61511, ISA-75 and NEC / NFPA 70 hazardous-area requirements.
• Experience with at least 80% of the following:
  • P&IDs and instrument datasheets
  • Control valve sizing
  • Pressure, temperature, flow and level instruments; analyzers
  • Loop diagrams, I/O lists and control narratives
  • DCS/PLC configuration
  • SIS/SIL
  • HART and fieldbus protocols
  • Junction boxes and marshalling
  • Alarm management (ISA-18.2)
  • FAT/SAT and loop checks
• Hands-on experience with at least one major DCS or PLC platform.
• Able to lead small teams and review the work of junior engineers and designers.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) / INtools or similar
• AutoCAD, Bluebeam and Microsoft Excel
• At least one major DCS or PLC platform
• ISA-5.1, ISA-84 / IEC 61511, ISA-75, ISA-18.2, NEC / NFPA 70

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• SIL verification, HAZOP/LOPA studies and functional safety training (e.g., CFSE or similar)
• Brownfield upgrades, control system migrations and plant commissioning
• Familiarity with industrial cybersecurity (ISA / IEC 62443)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, EIT (Engineer in Training) or CCST (Certified Control Systems Technician) certification

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor s degree in Electrical, Instrumentation, Controls, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience

BENEFITS SUMMARY:
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate or annual salary only, unless otherwise stated. In addition to base compensation, full-time roles are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Commuter and 401K benefits with company matching.

FAIR CHANCE POLICY:
Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.