Controls & Startup Engineer

AUC Group is a portfolio company of EQT, focusing on decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions. The Controls & Startup Engineer will lead the automation efforts in the commissioning and ongoing support of water treatment and desalination plants, requiring hands-on skills in PLC programming and field engineering.

Responsibilities:

• Program, modify, commission, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley Logix PLC systems using Studio 5000, including authoring new routines, Add-On Instructions, and device logic — not limited to online monitoring or forcing
• Develop, modify, and commission FactoryTalk View SE/ME applications, including displays, alarms, and tag structures; support Wonderware/AVEVA and other legacy HMI platforms encountered in the installed fleet
• Lead the electrical and controls portions of plant startups: point-to-point I/O checkout, loop checks, instrument calibration verification, motor bumps, VFD configuration and tuning (Allen-Bradley PowerFlex, Square D Altivar), interlock and permissive verification, and functional testing through wet commissioning and performance testing
• Configure and troubleshoot plant control networks — EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, managed switches, VLANs, firewalls, and remote-access/VPN connections supporting Seven Seas remote monitoring of plants
• Perform and supervise field modifications to industrial control panels: adding I/O, rewiring circuits, replacing components, and redlining schematics, maintaining compliance with UL 508A practices and NFPA 70 (NEC)
• Safely maintain, troubleshoot, and repair plant electrical equipment (480 V and below) including MCCs, VFDs, motor circuits, distribution panels, and control power systems, in accordance with NFPA 70E electrically safe work practices, arc flash requirements, and lockout/tagout procedures
• Diagnose electrical, controls, instrumentation, and communication failures on operating plants — on-site and remotely — and implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence
• Redline drawings in the field and return accurate as-built markups (schematics, loop diagrams, panel layouts, network diagrams) to the engineering office; document work performed in service reports
• Provide remote troubleshooting support to plant operations teams and participate in an informal on-call rotation for critical plant issues
• Train plant operators and technicians on control system operation, alarm response, and safe equipment usage
• Work directly with electrical contractors, OEM service technicians, and customer personnel during installation and startup; coordinate and supervise contractor work scopes in the field
• Feed field lessons learned back to the engineering team, including suggested design and standards improvements

Requirements:

• Hands-on PLC programming: Demonstrated ability to write PLC programs from scratch — candidates should be prepared to walk through programs they have personally authored, including program structure, I/O handling, and sequence logic
• 5+ years of industrial controls experience in field service, commissioning, startup, or plant support roles
• Experience with Allen-Bradley Logix platforms (Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000) and FactoryTalk View, or equivalent depth on Siemens/Schneider platforms with willingness to become the in-house Allen-Bradley expert
• Working knowledge of industrial networking: EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, IP addressing, managed switches, and secure remote access
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, loop diagrams, and panel layouts — and to redline them accurately
• Experience safely working on energized and de-energized industrial electrical equipment (480 V and below) under NFPA 70E and lockout/tagout programs
• Strong instrumentation fundamentals: 4–20 mA loops, transmitters, control valves, and analytical instruments
• Willing and able to travel up to 75%, including international travel to the Caribbean and Latin America for consecutive weeks; valid U.S. passport (or ability to obtain one) and ability to qualify for corporate travel
• Must reside in the U.S. Eastern or Central time zone, within reasonable proximity to a major airport
• Self-directed and resourceful — able to represent the company alone on a remote site, make sound field decisions, and know when to phone home
• Strong communication skills with operators, contractors, customers, and engineers at all levels
• Water or wastewater treatment experience; SWRO/BWRO desalination experience a strong plus
• Startup or field service background with an OEM, systems integrator, or startup-stage company — comfort wearing multiple hats in lean, fast-moving project environments
• VFD configuration and drive tuning experience (Allen-Bradley PowerFlex, Square D Altivar)
• UL 508A panel design or modification experience
• Supervisory experience coordinating electricians or electrical contractors in the field
• OSHA 30, NFPA 70E training, or equivalent electrical safety certifications
• Spanish as a second language