Control System Specialist

Element Staffing is recruiting for a Control Systems Specialist for a specialty carbon materials manufacturing company in the Port Lavaca, TX area. This position will support plant process control and automation systems used in industrial manufacturing operations. The Control Systems Specialist will be responsible for maintaining and improving control systems, supporting process reliability, troubleshooting automation issues, and assisting with capital projects and process improvements.

The Control Systems Specialist will develop and modify control system programming, maintain distributed control systems (DCS), support programmable logic controllers (PLCs), manage system backups, and collaborate with operations and engineering teams to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This role requires strong hands-on Emerson DeltaV experience, independent troubleshooting abilities, and the ability to support an operating industrial facility.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Maintain, support, and improve onsite distributed control systems (DCS) and process automation systems
• Develop, modify, troubleshoot, and maintain Emerson DeltaV control system programming, configurations, and software
• Support plant operations by troubleshooting process control issues, system faults, and communication problems
• Collaborate with operations personnel, control room operators, and process engineers to maintain reliable and efficient plant operations
• Troubleshoot and support programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial networks, and process control communications
• Maintain accurate and reliable backups of control system software, configurations, and programming
• Support capital projects involving process control systems, automation equipment, and system integration
• Collaborate with project engineers to develop process control strategies and implement system modifications
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC) activities and associated documentation for process and control system modifications
• Coordinate and oversee third-party contractors and technical support providers involved in control system programming and project execution
• Establish and maintain offsite technical support resources to ensure continued system reliability
• Identify opportunities to improve process performance, equipment reliability, production throughput, and automation capabilities
• Recommend and implement control system upgrades, modifications, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support process instrumentation and automation systems, including related hardware and software configurations
• Prepare technical reports and communicate process control issues, system changes, and improvement recommendations
• Follow plant safety, health, environmental, and process safety management (PSM) requirements
• Provide after-hours technical support and participate in on-call support as required
• Collaborate with the existing onsite Control Systems Specialist to learn facility-specific systems, share responsibilities, and support ongoing plant operations

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on process controls experience with Emerson DeltaV required
• Advanced DeltaV training through an Emerson-recognized training facility required
• Experience developing, programming, configuring, and troubleshooting Emerson DeltaV systems required
• Knowledge of process instrumentation, industrial automation, and distributed control systems required
• Ability to troubleshoot DCS, PLC, and industrial network communication issues required
• Experience in a petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, refinery, or similar industrial process environment strongly preferred
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs preferred
• Experience with Emerson AMS Device Manager preferred
• Experience with HART and Foundation Fieldbus protocols preferred
• Experience with OSIsoft PI System preferred
• Experience supporting capital projects, process control modifications, and Management of Change (MOC) activities preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Control Systems Engineering or a related engineering discipline preferred
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills required
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to time-sensitive plant issues required
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with operations, engineering, and external technical support teams required
• Must be comfortable working in a fully onsite industrial manufacturing environment
• Must be available for after-hours support and on-call responsibilities as required

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Years of Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on process controls experience with Emerson DeltaV required; experience in a petrochemical or similar industrial process environment strongly preferred
• Education: Associate's degree in a field related to technology, process controls, or automation required; Bachelor's degree in Control Systems Engineering or a related engineering discipline preferred
• Shift/Travel: Monday–Friday schedule with after-hours support and on-call responsibilities as required; exact schedule will depend on facility needs
• Compensation: $90,000–$120,000 annually, DOE
• Assignment Type: Direct Hire
• Location: Port Lavaca, TX Area