WGL - Lead Automation and Control Engineer

Job Description

Position Summary
Acts as a technical expert and leader for the Industrial Control System (ICS)/Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) team who performs the engineering, implementation, programming, configuration, commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting of the organization's ICS and SCADA systems. Responsible for the reliability and performance of the ICS and SCADA systems to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas. This position will utilize multidiscipline knowledge of and experience in automation and control engineering, electrical engineering, control panel design, PLCs, RTUs, SCADA applications, sensors, and actuators, industrial ethernet switches, and wireless communications (private radio, spread spectrum, LTE). Responsible for up to two direct reports. The ideal candidate would have leadership experience along with extensive experience as an automation and control engineer and SCADA developer for the oil and gas industry. Must be available to serve on-call on a rotating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week schedule.

Tasks and Responsibilities
• Manages and leads a team to engineer, deploy and maintain automation and control systems and SCADA applications for remote control and monitoring of natural gas pipeline facilities.
• Leads start-up operations on instrumentation and control projects to determine that engineered requirements have been met and to ensure equipment will perform within design parameters.
• Leads project management functions on instrumentation and control projects, including coordinating resources from different departments.
• Provides leadership in meeting compliance with DOT, PHMSA and public service commission (PSC) regulatory requirements.
• Responsible for up to two direct reports.
• Utilizes knowledge of process control theory, instrumentation and electrical systems, control panel design, communications infrastructure, SCADA applications, to engineer a design, develop wiring schematics and panel layouts, and collaborate with internal and external teams to implement a solution for control of the natural gas pipeline that meets operational requirements.
• Utilizes knowledge of NEC/NFPA-70 and Intrinsic Safety and Explosion Proof protection mechanisms to engineer and implement instrumentation and control systems per national safety codes in areas with explosive atmospheres.
��� Collaborates with engineering and operations teams to identify requirements and specifications for external projects that require additions or changes to the industrial control system and SCADA.
• Collaborates with engineering and operations teams to ensure internal projects do not interrupt critical pipeline operations.
• Uses detailed understanding of natural gas pipeline control theory and instrumentation, industrial control systems, SCADA systems and TCP/IP communications to troubleshoot and resolve abnormal operating conditions, programming issues, equipment failures, and communications outages within specified time limits.
• Develops control sequences/narratives based upon P&IDs and operational requirements.
• Engineers and develops code for Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) using vendor specific industrial programming languages to automate Gate Station control and monitoring of flow, pressure, temperature, and odorization of natural gas, as well as Plant control and monitoring of compressors, boilers, pumps, valves, for peak shaving operations.
• Develops code for SCADA and Human Machine Interface (HMI) using vendor specific programming languages.
• Collaborates with vendors to identify and procure equipment, systems and services and to troubleshoot and resolve problems.
• Specifies, procures, and manages installation of ICS components including PLCs, power supplies, relays, sensors, and turnkey control panels.
• Specifies, procures, and manages installation of instrumentation wire for inside plant and outside plant applications through conduit or raceways.
• Administers and develops code for MS SQL/ANSI SQL and vendor specific data archiving applications for reporting, analysis, historical reference, and compliance.
• Provides engineering support and training to operations personnel for all industrial control systems of the natural gas pipeline.
• Develops operation and maintenance procedures, programs and standards.
• Collaborates with operations teams to develop and maintain control room management and alarm management programs to meet compliance with PHMSA CRM requirements.
• Serves as an ICS/SCADA subject matter expert for communications with internal and external stakeholders including TSA and PSC regulatory inspectors.
• Evaluates equipment lifecycles and develops replacement schedules and cost estimates.
• Researches new products and performs product evaluation, testing and recommendations to improve reliability of the industrial contro