Hazen and Sawyer is seeking an experienced Senior Ovation DCS Programmer / Control Systems Engineer to support the design, implementation, commissioning, and long-term support of Emerson Ovation Distributed Control Systems for water and wastewater treatment facilities. This role is a senior technical position responsible for hands-on system programming, configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization, with direct involvement in plant operations, startup, and lifecycle support. The successful candidate will serve as a technical lead, supporting project delivery while mentoring junior staff and collaborating closely with operations, engineering, and project management teams.
This position can be based at any Hazen location; however, our preference is for it to be based in Virginia or the Washington, D.C. area.
Why Hazen and Sawyer:
- Founded in 1951 by the son of Allen Hazen (developer of the Hazen-Williams equation), we are an employee-owned company with a singular focus on "all things water."
- Our work includes planning, design, and oversight of construction of environmental infrastructure – for water, wastewater, and stormwater management.
- We foster a work environment low on bureaucracy and high in creativity.
- We recruit talented professionals, provide them with challenging, interesting, and creative assignments, and furnish them with the tools they need to succeed.
- We currently have over 2,400 employees in 70+ offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK.
- A flexible hybrid work schedule supports today's busy professionals.
Key Responsibilities:
Ovation DCS Engineering & Programming
- Configure, program, test, and commission Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
- Develop and maintain control logic, operator graphics, alarm configurations, and system databases.
- Perform system upgrades, migrations, and expansions on legacy and current Ovation platforms.
- Support control optimization, tuning, and modernization initiatives.
Water & Wastewater Process Integration
- Implement and support control strategies for treatment and conveyance processes including pumping, filtration, chemical feed, disinfection, sludge handling, and distribution systems.
- Troubleshoot process and control system issues and implement corrective actions.
Testing, Commissioning & Support
- Lead and support FAT, SAT, and on-site commissioning activities.
- Provide operational troubleshooting and post-startup support.
- Develop and maintain system documentation, including control narratives, I/O lists, and architecture diagrams.
- Support changing management and configuration control procedures.
Cybersecurity & Compliance
- Implement OT cybersecurity best practices consistent with ISA/IEC 62443 and utility standards.
- Support redundancy, backup, disaster recovery, and system resiliency planning.
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Serve as a technical lead on Ovation-related projects.
- Mentor junior engineers and programmers.
- Coordinate with operations staff, project managers, vendors, and system integrators.
Work Setting:
- Hybrid Preferred (3 days in office; 2 days remote)
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years of experience in control systems or automation.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
- Experience supporting water or wastewater treatment facilities strongly preferred.
- Experience with FAT, SAT, and field commissioning.
Preferred Qualifications: Technical Skills
- Advanced knowledge of Emerson Ovation configuration tools and system architecture.
- Strong understanding of process control, instrumentation, and control system networks.
- Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Ethernet, OPC, Modbus).
- Working knowledge of alarm management best practices and OT cybersecurity principles.
- Experience with PLC/SCADA systems, networking, and industrial control protocols is often a plus.
Certifications (Preferred)
- Emerson Ovation training or certifications.
- ISA, cybersecurity, or related professional certifications a plus.
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel to project sites (often up to 25–75% depending on the role and level).
- As required to support commissioning and troubleshooting.
- Valid driver’s license and authorization to work in the U.S.
What We Offer:- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
- Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
- Short and long-term disability, and employer paid life insurance
- Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
- Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
- Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and professional organization memberships
- Starting pay range for this position depends on skills, experience, education and geographical location
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