Senior Instrumentation & Controls Specialist

Overview

The Senior Instrumentation & Controls Specialist is responsible for the design, procurement, planning, and support of the instrumentation & controls systems and equipment. In addition, this role assists in planning technical studies, evaluations, and plant project designs, including modifications to improve efficiency and equipment reliability. The Senior Instrument Control Specialist has one direct report and reports directly to the Technical Engineering Manager.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Collaborate with Maintenance, Technical, and Operations teams to establish and achieve equipment reliability goals.
• Provide daily technical support to resolve design, maintenance, and operational issues for both immediate and long-term solutions.
• Manage and support all instrumentation, CEMS, and automation systems (PLC/DCS), including troubleshooting, programming changes, documentation, and training.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of schematics, loop drawings, and interlocks.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, update PM and calibration procedures, and retrieve and analyze process/environmental data.
• Prepare and submit records to meet operational and regulatory requirements.
• Lead engineering teams on front-end engineering design (FEED) and EPC projects.
• Develop work scopes, direct contractors, and oversee project execution. Review and compile control narratives, logic diagrams, cause-and-effect matrices, and ensure compliance with plant and industry standards.
• Facilitate HAZOP studies, SIL reviews, and maintain functional safety plans.
• Participate in safety and environmental initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance and overall employee safety.
• Drive process improvements, support capital projects, and assist in planning and execution of turnaround activities.
• Lead root cause failure investigations for instrument/control-related incidents.
• Provide field supervision on critical equipment, troubleshoot recurring instrumentation issues, and assume on-call manager responsibilities as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or other related field.
• 5+ years of instrumentation and controls experience preferably in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Experience inspecting, maintaining, and specifying control, SIS, and instrumentation systems and equipment.
• Certified Functional Safety Professional (CFSP) certification is preferred.
• Completion of Safety Instrumented Systems Certificate Program(s)
• Project & budget management experience preferred.
• This is a safety sensitive position which requires employees to disclose the use of any prescription medication that may affect his or her ability to safely perform the essential functions of this position.

Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of compressor control systems.
• Emerson DeltaV and Rockwell Software products a plus.
• Foundation Fieldbus experience a plus
• DCS, PLC, HMI, Historian, database programming and management
• Knowledgeable in the theory and workings of instrumentation – control valve assembly, level, flow, pressure, temperature, pH, conductivity and gas analyzers.
• Ability to read and understand P&IDs, schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams and technical manuals.
• Exceptional instrumentation and control logic troubleshooting skills.
• Familiar with smart instrumentation, pneumatics and hydraulics.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) and a good understanding of general process control.
• Reliability and defect elimination skills.
• Possesses strong organizational and communication skills.
• Possesses complex problem solving, critical thinking, strong mathematics skills, systems evaluation, and operation analysis.
• Experienced in RCFA, RCM, or equivalent methodology.
• Competent computer knowledge – CMMS, Excel, Word, analysis software, etc.
• Knowledge of leadership techniques, principles and procedures to assign work, schedule, supervise, train and evaluate the work of assigned staff.

Work Environment

US Nitrogen, LLC operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This position will be exposed to all elements of the weather on the plant site.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.