Power Generation - Controls SME

Power Generation – Controls SME

Job Description

Department: Manufacturing

Job Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Salary-Exempt

Reports To: SME Engineering Manager

Location: Houston, TX (Channelview Area)

Amount of Travel Required: Varies

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Positions Supervised: N/A

AIP Level: 6

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Controls SME serves as the technical authority for power generation control systems across gas turbine and reciprocating engine platforms, associated auxiliary systems, and balance of plant controls. This role provides advanced expertise in controls architecture, programming, sequencing, integration, troubleshooting, and lifecycle support; supports new product development, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), commissioning, root cause analysis, and sustaining engineering; and drives the standardization of controls philosophies, programming practices, system architectures, and technical standards across the power generation portfolio.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties and responsibilities are all essential job functions, as defined by the ADA, except for those that begin with the word "may.")

- Serve as the technical authority for power generation control systems, including gas turbines, reciprocating engines, generators, auxiliary systems, and balance of plant controls.

- Provide technical expertise for turbine control platforms, including Woodward GAP/Micronet, GE Mark VIe, Siemens, Allen Bradley, and other industrial control platforms used across the power generation portfolio.

- Develop, review, troubleshoot, and optimize control system software, including start/stop sequencing, permissives, interlocks, trips, alarms, fuel control, speed control, temperature control, and load control functions.

- Provide technical expertise for generator synchronization, load sharing, real and reactive power control, frequency and voltage control, load shedding, and integration with Power Management Systems (PMS) and microgrid controllers.

- Develop and review control system architectures, network architectures, I/O configurations, control narratives, Cause & Effect matrices, functional descriptions, and system interface requirements.

- Develop and standardize control philosophies, programming standards, software architectures, alarm philosophies, naming conventions, and engineering best practices.

- Provide technical oversight for integration among turbine controls, generator controls, excitation/AVR systems, protective relays, PMS, emissions systems, auxiliary equipment, and customer control systems.

- Develop and support industrial communication interfaces using Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, DNP3, and other applicable industrial communication standards.

- Lead complex controls troubleshooting and root cause analysis activities involving turbine trips, failed starts, control instability, communication failures, instrumentation issues, sequencing problems, and equipment performance concerns.

- Analyze control system and telemetry data to identify failure mechanisms, operational trends, control system anomalies, and reliability or performance improvement opportunities.

- Support the development of condition monitoring, predictive analytics, and AI based diagnostic capabilities using control system and telemetric data.

- Develop and execute control system testing and validation procedures for sequencing, protection, interlocks, communications, system interfaces, and functional performance before deployment.

- Support field commissioning and startup activities, including controls checkout, loop checks, first fire activities, synchronization, load testing, performance validation, and troubleshooting.

- Review and technically approve vendor control system designs, software, drawings, documentation, and integration requirements for compliance with company standards and product requirements.

- Collaborate with Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Product Engineering, Product Service Engineering, Remote Operations, and Field Operations on control system integration and technical issues.

- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Controls Engineers, Product Service Engineers, commissioning personnel, and field teams.

- Evaluate emerging control platforms, automation technologies, simulation tools, communication technologies, and OEM solutions for potential application across current and future power generation products.

- Incorporate lessons learned from commissioning, field operations, failures, and root cause analysis into control standards, software libraries, and future product designs.

- Develop and maintain technical documentation, training materials, troubleshooting guides, and knowledge repositories.

- Interface with turbine OEMs, controls vendors, customers, engineering partners, and other technical stakeholders to resolve complex controls and system integration issues.

- Promote technical excellence, functional safety, standardization, configuration control, engineering ownership, and continuous improvement across power generation control systems.

- Performs other related duties as assigned to assist with successful operations and business continuity.

Qualifications

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship.

- Must be at least 18 years of age or older.

- Overtime based on business needs.

- Successfully passes all applicable general pre employment testing including but not limited to: background check, pre employment drug screening, pre employment fit tests, pre employment aptitude and/or competency assessment(s).

- Daily in person, predictable attendance.

- Valid U.S. Drivers License required. Most employment is contingent upon meeting company driving standards, including 3 year U.S. driving history and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in accordance with Company policy.

- Proficiency in spoken English language.

- Ability to travel based on business needs.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE LEVEL

- Ten or more years of controls and automation engineering experience within power generation, gas turbines, or related industrial environments.

- Expert level knowledge of power generation control systems, including gas turbine and reciprocating engine applications such as LM2500, LM6000, LM9000, or similar platforms.

- Strong experience with turbine control platforms, including Woodward GAP/Micronet, GE Mark VIe, Siemens S7, Allen Bradley ControlLogix/RSLogix, or equivalent systems.

- Experience with turbine sequencing, permissives, interlocks, trips, fuel, speed, and load control, and auxiliary system integration.

- Strong knowledge of generator controls, including synchronization, load sharing, excitation/AVR interfaces, Power Management Systems (PMS), and microgrid integration.

- Working knowledge of instrumentation, I/O architectures, industrial networks, and communication protocols, including Modbus, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, and similar technologies.

- Experience developing and reviewing control architectures, I/O lists, P&IDs, Cause & Effect matrices, control narratives, and electrical/controls drawings.

- Experience with FAT, commissioning, turbine startup, synchronization, load testing, advanced troubleshooting, and root cause analysis (RCA).

- Experience serving as a technical authority, mentoring engineering personnel, and driving controls standardization and best practices across multiple power generation product lines.

- Bachelors degree in Controls Engineering, or a related technical discipline Preferred.

- An equivalent combination of education, specialized training, and relevant professional experience will be considered in lieu of a formal degree.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, AND ABILITIES

- Set priorities and manage workload distribution to meet operational and project deadlines.

- Coach, mentor, and develop team members across varying experience levels.

- Manage cross functional communication among engineering, operations, and field service teams.

- Promote accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

- Demonstrate strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

- Efficiently use Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

- Knowledge of GE and other gas turbine related controls programs.

- Successfully complete New Hire Safety Orientation and annual recertification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees are frequently required to walk, sit, climb, bend, reach, and squat or kneel. The employee works primarily indoors and will be sitting for prolonged periods at a desk while typing on a computer, whether in a home office, corporate office, client office, or jobsite. The employee must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities. When required to visit a wellsite, the work environment may include exposure to hazardous materials, operating conditions, audio levels up to 85 dB, inclement weather, and extreme temperatures (both hot and cold). Given these conditions, employees visiting a pad site are required to wear company mandated and company issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including fire retardant coveralls, safety hat, steel toe boots, safety glasses, ear protection, and impact gloves, and must strictly adhere to all safety policies and procedures. Employees must be able to independently lift 25 lbs.

Work hours may include or includes early morning, late evenings, and weekends, depending on business necessity.

AAP /EEO STATEMENT

The Company is committed to the cause of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, thus abiding by all applicable state and federal laws. Our practices regarding employment, job promotion, compensation, training, and termination do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, sex, national origin, veteran's status, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. It is expected that all employees, both management and staff, will fully support these nondiscriminatory policies.

All field and shop employees and potential employees performing or assuming roles that require exposure to industrial activities, including, but not limited to, roles in shop or field operations environments, must be able to effectively communicate and comprehend the English language. This provision does not purport to require employees to always speak only English in the workplace or otherwise prevent employees from speaking non English languages, provided that such employees are able to effectively communicate and comprehend English to satisfy the companys expectations and business objectives.

English comprehension is necessary to ensure employees:

- Understand all health and safety communications.

- Possess a sufficient level of relevant equipment knowledge.

- Comprehend verbal and written communications from the company and other employees.

- Comprehend all operational and safety procedures.

- Understand alerts and emergency notifications, including Responses to Alerts, Warnings and Emergencies.

- Understand the contents of announcements and/or radio communications.

- Are able to effectively and independently communicate with customers, supervisors, and colleagues.

- Are able to prevent workplace accidents and/or injuries through effective communication.

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure essential functions and duties have been included. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities.

Last Revised: 08.2026