Controls & Instrumentation Engineer at Energy Impact Center – Austin, Texas

Controls & Instrumentation Engineer

Last Energy is seeking a hands-on Controls & Instrumentation Engineer to support the integration, deployment, and lifecycle management of industrial instrumentation, electrical, and control systems. In this role, you will serve as a technical integrator and field-oriented engineer, ensuring automation and control systems are correctly specified, installed, commissioned, and operated within a safety-critical nuclear environment.
This position is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the boundary between design intent and real-world execution working closely with vendors, fabricators, technicians, and operations to translate requirements into reliable, field-ready systems.Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Control System Specification: Define functional requirements and performance expectations for PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O, motor controllers, VFDs, and safety devices. Support vendor selection and review vendor deliverables for technical adequacy
• PLC & HMI Oversight: Review, validate, and support PLC logic and HMI designs developed by vendors or integrators. Ensure systems are modular, testable, and aligned with operational and safety requirements
• System Architecture & Integration: Integrate electrical, instrumentation, and automation components into cohesive control system architectures, ensuring interoperability across hardware, networks, and field devices
• Automation Improvements: Identify opportunities to automate manual or error-prone processes to improve reliability, consistency, and operational margins
• Instrumentation Specification: Select and specify field instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow, level, etc.), including accuracy, environmental suitability, and interface requirements
• Electrical & Controls Coordination: Provide technical direction for control panels, power distribution (24 VDC / 120 VAC), grounding, and signal interfaces. Review drawings and wiring packages produced by vendors or fabricators
• Lifecycle & Obsolescence Management: Manage component lifecycles, including qualification of substitutes, vendor coordination, and long-term maintainability planning
• Field Deployment: Support and oversee fabrication, installation, and wiring of control cabinets and field devices, working directly with electricians, technicians, and vendors
• Commissioning & Startup: Lead or support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), loop checks, and startup activities. Troubleshoot integration issues involving wiring, instrumentation, communications, and control logic
• Operational Support: Provide expert troubleshooting for installed systems, resolving complex electrical, instrumentation, and controls issues during operations
• Safety Integration: Ensure control and instrumentation systems meet safety basis requirements applicable to DOE Hazard Category 1, 2, or 3 nuclear facilities
• Configuration Management: Maintain disciplined configuration control of hardware and software changes. Ensure as-built documentation reflects the installed configuration and approved modifications
• Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a technical interface between internal teams, vendors, and contractors to ensure safety, quality, and schedule expectations are met

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of experience supporting industrial electrical, instrumentation, and control systems in a hands-on or field-facing role
• Practical experience working with PLC-based control systems (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley), including reviewing logic, supporting testing, and troubleshooting deployed systems
• Strong understanding of industrial electronics, instrumentation, and low-voltage power distribution
• Demonstrated experience working directly with vendors, integrators, technicians, and installers in commissioning or operational environments
• Familiarity with industrial control system cybersecurity concepts and best practices (IEC 62443 knowledge is a plus)
• Experience in nuclear, oil & gas, chemical processing, or other highly regulated, safety-critical industries
• Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, TCP/IP, Profinet, or Ethernet/IP