Central Utility Controls Engineer

TRC is partnering with a leading Power & Energy organization focused on advanced central utility and balance-of-plant automation systems. This role supports complex industrial infrastructure projects involving boiler, chiller, water treatment, and distributed energy control systems using modern PLC/DCS/SCADA platforms.

Summary

The Central Utility Controls Engineer will design, develop, test, and commission control systems for central utility applications including boilers, chillers, water polishing systems, and balance-of-plant (BOP) infrastructure. This role is responsible for translating process requirements into functional control strategies, developing PLC/DCS/HMI solutions, and supporting system deployment through FAT/SAT, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities. The position requires strong controls engineering expertise within industrial utility or energy systems environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop functional specifications including Sequence of Operations (SOO) and Bills of Materials (BOMs)

• Support electrical engineering teams in the development of project drawing packages

• Design, program, test, and deploy PLC, DCS, and HMI control systems for central utility applications

• Implement automation solutions for boilers, chillers, burner management systems, and balance-of-plant processes

• Develop and execute Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) plans

• Support commissioning activities including loop checks, startup, and system validation

• Troubleshoot control system issues in both development and live operational environments

• Provide customer training (formal and informal) on system operation and functionality

• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams across electrical, mechanical, and process disciplines

• Ensure control system designs meet performance, safety, and operational requirements

• Support integration of industrial communication protocols and multi-system interfaces

• Participate in field deployments and ensure successful system handover to operations teams

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution

• 3–6 years of experience in controls engineering or industrial automation

• Working knowledge of central utility systems (e.g., boilers, chillers, BMS, 3-element control, CHP, district energy systems, water treatment)

• Experience with PLC/DCS/SCADA platforms such as Rockwell Automation, AVEVA, Ignition, or Emerson DeltaV

• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Ethernet/IP, DNP3, OPC, BACnet, Profinet, etc.)

• Experience supporting FAT/SAT testing, commissioning, and field startup activities

• Strong troubleshooting and systems integration skills

• Willingness to travel approximately 25%