Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Position Overview

Talascend is currently seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Engineer in Atlanta, Georgia for a direct hire opportunity. In this role, you will lead and execute Automation and Controls Engineering design activities for projects ranging from minor to major scale within Engineering, Procurement, and Construction. You will drive front end, detailed design, construction, and start-up phases ensuring compliance, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Travel: Approximately 30%.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with company and project site safety policies.
• Own the design responsibility for all Automation and Controls scope on projects.
• Lead a team of Automation and Controls Engineers, Specialists, and Designers in executing design deliverables including PLC, HMI, Batch, MES, servers and virtualization.
• Interface with multidisciplinary teams including project management, electrical, controls, estimating, procurement, and construction.
• Prepare comprehensive design deliverables such as instrument/device lists, I/O lists, control narratives, control panel designs, and installation detail drawings.
• Oversee specification, design, procurement, vendor management, and Factory Acceptance Tests for control panels and equipment.
• Develop electrical design deliverables including motor power design, installation plans, and conductor schedules.
• Define process instrument measurement protocols (temperature, pressure, flow, level, etc.) and review P&IDs with process engineers.
• Manage verification of design, calculations, project studies and prepare associated reports.
• Coordinate with offsite design offices and construction personnel to ensure seamless execution and quality assurance.
• Develop project estimates, support budget tracking, and assist in resource allocation.
• Engage with clients and vendors to develop designs and foster new business opportunities.
• Lead technical execution during onsite start-up and commissioning activities and manage discipline change notices.
• Support interviewing and hiring processes and coordinate with the Automation and Controls Department Manager.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering or a related field from an ABET accredited program; successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and 7 years of electrical engineering experience.
• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with 6 years of electrical engineering experience.
• Expert knowledge in standard engineering techniques, ANSI and IEEE standards, and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proven experience in leading large project designs and delegating tasks within a team environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with excellent critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to perform quality reviews of detailed engineering documents and specifications.
• Must have or be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card; Professional Engineer License is preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge in Automation & Controls Design/Engineering with experience in various control and safety systems.
• Familiarity with Rockwell, Siemens, GE, Modicon, Opto22, Mitsubishi, and Triconex PLC platforms.
• Experience with SCADA systems (Factory Talk, Wonderware), MES Design and Implementation, and tools such as SISTEMA, CCW, IAB, BatchSIM, and PlantSIM.
• Knowledge of machine safety risk assessments (PL design compliance to ISO13849) and process safety SIF/SIS design (ISA/IEC 61511) is a plus.
• Experience with PlantPAX and PackML is preferred.