Energization Engineer - Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Subject Matter Expert

FusionIRX is seeking an exceptional, highly experienced Energization Engineer - Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide technical leadership, engineering oversight, and coordination of instrumentation, automation, and control system energization activities for a large-scale, state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication manufacturing construction project.

The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in instrumentation and controls engineering, industrial automation, control systems, electrical and mechanical systems integration, or commissioning, including substantial experience with complex industrial and mission-critical facilities.

The I&C Energization Engineer SME will serve as a senior technical authority responsible for the planning, technical verification, coordination, and oversight of control system energization, activation, startup, integration, and operational readiness activities.

This position is critical to ensuring that newly constructed instrumentation and control systems are properly installed, configured, tested, integrated, and prepared for safe and reliable operation before being placed into service.

The successful candidate will have extensive expertise in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Building Management Systems (BMS), Facility Monitoring and Control Systems (FMCS), field instrumentation, industrial automation, and safety-critical control systems.

The position requires a comprehensive understanding of electrical and mechanical system interfaces, control logic, equipment interlocks, process safety, system protection, and the technical requirements associated with safely activating automated industrial systems.

The candidate must demonstrate exceptional technical judgment, strong troubleshooting capabilities, extensive field experience, and the ability to coordinate multiple contractors, engineers, commissioning specialists, and operational personnel within a fast-paced, schedule-driven construction environment.

Key Responsibilities
1. I&C Energization Engineering & Technical Leadership

Serve as the senior technical resource responsible for planning, engineering review, coordination, and oversight of instrumentation and control system energization activities throughout construction, commissioning, and operational startup.

• Develop, review, and coordinate comprehensive I&C energization plans, system activation procedures, and startup strategies.
• Provide technical oversight for the controlled introduction of power, signals, communications, and operational control functionality into newly installed I&C systems.
• Establish technical prerequisites and readiness criteria for control system energization and activation.
• Review control system architectures, configurations, and operating requirements to identify potential energization concerns.
• Evaluate instrumentation and automation system readiness before control systems are placed into service.
• Coordinate staged energization and activation of field instrumentation, control panels, PLCs, DCS, BMS, FMCS, SCADA, and associated equipment.
• Review control system interfaces, communications, equipment dependencies, and protective functions.
• Coordinate I&C energization planning with electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management, commissioning, QA/QC, Energy Marshals, EHS, and owner representatives.
• Review construction completion status, inspection records, testing documentation, and outstanding technical deficiencies.
• Identify potential control system hazards, equipment protection concerns, automation failures, and operational risks.
• Provide technical recommendations regarding system readiness and unresolved engineering issues.
• Support the controlled transition of I&C systems from construction through activation, integrated testing, commissioning, and operational turnover.
• Lead technical troubleshooting and coordinate resolution of complex instrumentation and automation startup issues.

2. Instrumentation & Control Systems Energization

Provide engineering oversight for the energization, activation, and startup of industrial instrumentation and automation systems supporting semiconductor manufacturing.

Systems and equipment may include:

• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs).
• Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.
• Building Management Systems (BMS).
• Facility Monitoring and Control Systems (FMCS).
• Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs).
• Remote Terminal Units (RTUs).
• Remote I/O panels and distributed control cabinets.
• Industrial automation control panels.
• Field instrumentation and associated power supplies.
• Pressure, temperature, flow, and level transmitters.
• Control valves, actuators, and positioning systems.
• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) control interfaces.
• Motor Control Center (MCC) monitoring and control interfaces.
• Electrical switchgear monitoring and control systems.
• Industrial communications networks and automation infrastructure.
• Equipment alarms, permissives, and protective interlocks.
• Emergency shutdown and equipment protection interfaces.
• Safety instrumented systems, where applicable.
• Process and facility utility automation systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Review instrumentation and control system architectures, engineering specifications, and equipment configurations.
• Verify control system installation and technical readiness against approved design documents.
• Evaluate control panel power requirements, circuit protection, grounding, shielding, and communications interfaces.
• Review equipment configuration and system operating requirements.
• Coordinate readiness of upstream and downstream control system components.
• Identify potential conflicts involving power supplies, signal interfaces, communications, or control logic.
• Verify that systems are prepared for controlled activation and functional testing.

3. Pre-Energization Readiness Assessments

Lead and participate in comprehensive I&C readiness assessments to verify that control systems are technically prepared for energization, activation, and startup.

• Develop and review pre-energization inspection checklists and readiness requirements.
• Conduct I&C system walkdowns with construction, electrical, mechanical, QA/QC, commissioning, and facility operations personnel.
• Verify construction completion against approved engineering drawings, specifications, and design requirements.
• Review instrumentation installation records, calibration documentation, and inspection reports.
• Verify completion of required cable testing, termination inspections, and point-to-point verification.
• Review control panel installation, equipment labeling, grounding, and electrical power supply arrangements.
• Evaluate controller configuration, firmware compatibility, software revisions, and approved control logic.
• Verify availability of required power supplies, communications infrastructure, and equipment interfaces.
• Review applicable instrument calibration and loop-check records.
• Evaluate system readiness for control power application, network activation, and subsequent equipment operation.
• Review outstanding punch-list items, nonconformances, incomplete testing, and unresolved deficiencies.
• Identify conditions that could result in unintended equipment startup, incorrect valve operation, unsafe system responses, or damage to connected equipment.
• Coordinate corrective actions and verify closure of energization readiness deficiencies.
• Document readiness findings and participate in formal system release meetings.

I&C systems shall not be recommended for activation until applicable engineering, construction, testing, safety, and operational readiness requirements have been satisfied. Safety-critical deficiencies must be corrected before affected systems are released for operation.
4. Instrumentation Calibration, Loop Testing & Signal Verification

Provide technical oversight and evaluation of instrumentation and control system testing required to establish energization readiness.

Activities may include:

• Instrument calibration verification.
• Point-to-point wiring verification.
• Input/output (I/O) verification.
• Analog and digital signal testing.
• Loop checks and instrument functional testing.
• Control panel power supply verification.
• Sensor and transmitter configuration verification.
• Control valve and actuator testing.
• Equipment feedback and status indication verification.
• Alarm and annunciation verification.
• Control logic and sequence testing.
• Communication link verification.
• HMI and SCADA display verification.
• Instrument grounding and shielding verification.
• Control system interface testing.

Responsibilities include:

• Review testing procedures, acceptance criteria, and applicable manufacturer requirements.
• Coordinate testing activities with qualified I&C technicians, automation engineers, equipment vendors, and commissioning personnel.
• Witness designated tests and evaluate completed testing documentation.
• Review calibration records and verify instrument performance against approved specifications.
• Evaluate analog and digital signal accuracy and functionality.
• Verify correct I/O mapping between field devices and control systems.
• Review instrument loop diagrams and identify discrepancies between design documentation and installed conditions.
• Coordinate troubleshooting of wiring errors, communication faults, calibration discrepancies, and incorrect control responses.
• Verify that testing deficiencies are resolved before systems are released for subsequent energization or commissioning activities.

5. PLC, DCS, SCADA, BMS & FMCS Activation

Provide specialized engineering oversight for the startup and activation of industrial automation and facility control systems.

• Review control system activation plans and startup procedures.
• Coordinate readiness of controllers, power supplies, network equipment, and connected field devices.
• Verify approved software configurations, control logic versions, and system parameters.
• Review PLC and DCS program configuration and operational readiness.
• Evaluate HMI, SCADA, BMS, and FMCS interfaces before system activation.
• Verify controller communication with remote I/O, field instrumentation, and associated equipment.
• Coordinate verification of control logic, operating sequences, alarms, and system permissives.
• Review backup and restoration arrangements for critical automation configurations.
• Evaluate redundancy and failover requirements for applicable control systems.
• Verify the availability and integrity of required industrial communications networks.
• Coordinate troubleshooting of communication failures, I/O discrepancies, and controller configuration issues.
• Support controlled activation of automation systems in accordance with approved procedures.
• Evaluate initial system performance and coordinate resolution of abnormal operating conditions.
• Support integration of control systems with mechanical, electrical, and process utility infrastructure.

6. Safety Interlocks, Protective Controls & System Safeguards

Provide technical oversight of safety-critical control functions and protective automation associated with system energization and startup.

• Review control system interlocks, permissives, alarms, and equipment protection requirements.
• Evaluate the readiness of protective control functions before equipment activation.
• Coordinate verification of emergency shutdown interfaces and protective control sequences.
• Review control logic associated with automatic equipment shutdown and fault conditions.
• Verify testing documentation for applicable alarms, interlocks, and safety-related functions.
• Coordinate testing of equipment permissives and startup prevention logic.
• Evaluate potential hazards associated with incorrect instrument signals, failed sensors, or controller malfunctions.
• Review fail-safe arrangements and equipment response to communication or power failures.
• Coordinate with electrical and mechanical engineering teams regarding protective functions affecting interconnected equipment.
• Review safety instrumented systems and associated verification requirements where applicable.
• Identify incomplete protective control testing and unresolved safety-related deficiencies.
• Support formal readiness reviews for systems containing safety-critical automation.

Safety-critical interlocks, protective functions, and emergency shutdown systems shall not be bypassed, overridden, or placed out of service except through expressly approved procedures with documented risk controls and authorization. Temporary overrides and test forces must be tracked and removed or formally dispositioned before system acceptance.
7. Electrical Energization & Power Distribution Interfaces

Coordinate with the Electrical Energization Engineer SME and electrical commissioning personnel to verify proper integration between electrical power distribution and associated control systems.

• Review electrical power requirements for instrumentation, control panels, and automation systems.
• Verify readiness of control power supplies, UPS systems, and associated electrical protection.
• Coordinate electrical energization activities affecting PLCs, DCS, SCADA, BMS, FMCS, and instrumentation equipment.
• Review electrical equipment monitoring and control interfaces.