Principal Process Automation Engineer

Location: Artesia, NM
Job Type: Contract-to-Hire
Schedule: Full-Time | Onsite

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Process Automation Engineer to join a leading industrial engineering team supporting a refinery operation in Artesia, New Mexico. This is an exciting contract-to-hire opportunity for an automation professional who thrives in a hands-on leadership role, driving complex automation projects from concept through commissioning.

This position will focus on delivering innovative automation and digital solutions that improve operational efficiency, safety, reliability, and sustainability across industrial facilities. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership while managing multidisciplinary project execution and mentoring engineering teams.

This is a full-time onsite position. Preference will be given to candidates local to the Artesia area; however, qualified candidates willing to travel and work an onsite rotation schedule will also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of complex process automation and control systems projects from conceptual design through startup and commissioning.
• Serve as the technical lead for multidisciplinary automation engineering teams.
• Coordinate project activities with engineering disciplines, construction contractors, equipment vendors, system integrators, and project management teams.
• Develop project execution strategies, engineering plans, schedules, budgets, and technical proposals.
• Program, configure, test, and commission Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).
• Produce and review automation engineering deliverables including:
  • Control narratives
  • Cause and effect diagrams
  • Boolean logic diagrams
  • PLC, DCS, and SIS functional specifications
  • System architecture drawings
  • Cabinet layouts
  • Wiring diagrams
  • I/O layouts
  • Instrument datasheets
  • Instrument indexes
• Lead automation system design throughout all phases of engineering, construction support, commissioning, validation, and project handover.
• Participate in process safety studies, control system philosophy development, SIL assessments, and P&ID reviews.
• Develop Total Installed Cost (TIC) estimates, perform material takeoffs, and support capital project planning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and implement engineering best practices.
• Build strong relationships with clients, project stakeholders, and internal engineering teams.
• Travel as needed to support project execution and field activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license is a plus.
• 10+ years of experience leading industrial automation and control systems projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing engineering teams and large capital projects.
• Strong background in front-end engineering, including:
  • Project scope development
  • Control system philosophy
  • Process safety studies
  • SIL determination
  • P&ID development
  • Capital cost estimating
• Extensive experience programming and configuring Client Experion DCS.
• Experience with Client TDC and Triconex safety systems is highly desirable.
• Strong PLC programming experience, preferably with Rockwell Automation platforms.
• Experience developing Total Installed Cost (TIC) estimates, performing material takeoffs, and utilizing estimating software (Cleopatra experience preferred).
• Experience developing automation documentation including:
  • Control narratives
  • Functional specifications
  • Cause and effect diagrams
  • System architecture
  • Instrument indexes
  • Wiring diagrams
  • Cabinet layouts
• Experience with detailed instrumentation and controls design including:
  • Field instrumentation selection and specification
  • BPCS and SIS system selection
  • Procurement support
  • Instrument datasheets
  • FAT and SAT protocols
  • Proof testing procedures
  • Construction work packages
  • Project execution plans
• Strong field experience supporting installation, commissioning, startup, qualification, and handover.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to lead projects independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Industry Experience

Experience supporting projects within one or more of the following industries is highly preferred:

• Refining
• Oil & Gas
• Petrochemical
• Client
• Mining
• Nuclear
• Heavy Industrial Manufacturing