Instrumentation & Automation Engineer (mfd)

Location: Houston / Dallas / Oklahoma City / Tulsa

Neilsoft GmbH is looking for a highly skilled Instrumentation & Automation (I&A) Project Engineer to join our engineering team at a Clients Office Location in USA.

Neilsoft GmbH is the European branch of Neilsoft a global engineering and digitalization partner with more than 1500 employees worldwide. We support leading companies in the construction process and manufacturing industries in making their projects more efficient smarter and more digital.

This role is a hybrid of technical expertise and strategic leadership focusing on the end-to-end delivery of automation solutions across our three main production sites.

The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between complex engineering design and disciplined project management to ensure our facilities remain at the forefront of technological efficiency.

Tasks

Your Responsibilities

1. Project Initiation & Strategic Planning

• Conceptualization: Develop comprehensive project plans including scope resource allocation and budget estimates.
• Feasibility & ROI: Conduct site assessments and gap analyses to replace legacy systems (e.g. Honeywell TDC Foxboro I/A) developing business cases with clear ROI and risk profiles.

Engineering & Technical Oversight

• System Design: Lead the development of system architectures integrating SCADA PLCs and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) while ensuring compliance with SIL and environmental standards.
• Platform Selection: Evaluate and select DCS platforms (e.g. Emerson DeltaV Siemens PCS 7 Yokogawa) based on scalability and cybersecurity requirements (IEC 62443).

Execution Installation & Testing

• Procurement: Manage vendor evaluations RFPs and contract negotiations to ensure cost control and supply chain resilience.
• On-Site Integration: Supervise hardware/software installation using phased cutovers or hot swaps to minimize disruption to ongoing plant operations.
• Validation: Oversee rigorous testing protocols including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).

Commissioning Hypercare & Closure

• Start-up: Manage loop tuning alarm management and operator training to ensure a safe transition to live operations.
• Optimization: Provide post-go-live Hypercare monitoring KPIs and fine-tuning system performance for long-term reliability.
• Decommissioning: Oversee the safe removal of legacy assets and data archiving in compliance with regulatory frameworks (API OSHA EPA).

Leadership & Governance

• Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary point of contact for senior management clients and regulatory bodies.
• Team Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams of engineers technicians and contractors fostering a culture of safety and collaboration.
• Compliance: Ensure all activities adhere to industry standards (ISA IEC API) and internal quality assurance protocols.

Requirements

Your Profile

• Education: Bachelors or masters degree in electrical engineering Automation Technology Mechatronics or a related field.
• Professional Experience: 5 - 10 years of hands-on experience in instrumentation and automation specifically within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Project Management: Proven track record of managing technical projects. You should be comfortable with Gantt charts resource allocation and risk mitigation.
• Soft Skills: Strong leadership abilities excellent communication skills in English (both written and verbal) and a proactive problem-solving mindset.
• Mobility: Willingness to travel occasionally between the three client plant locations to provide on-site supervision and support.

Preferred Attributes

• Certification: A recognized Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP PRINCE2 or IPMA) is highly desirable.
• Technical Stack: Experience with major platforms such as Siemens TIA Portal Emerson DeltaV or Rockwell Automation.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with ATEX/Ex-proof requirements and functional safety.

Benefits

We offer

• A modern collaborative work environment in an international company
• Exciting and diverse projects with long-term prospects
• Attractive work-life balance options & individual development opportunities

Interested
Then we look forward to receiving your application including your availability and salary expectations.

Share our passion for engineering!