Position Summary This position supports the WFS Engineering Group at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) by designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting advanced control, data acquisition, and both standard- and extra-low-voltage electrical systems. In this multi-faceted role, you will guide technical projects from initial concept through laboratory- and pilot-scale commissioning. Beyond executing core technical and electrical design work, you will serve as a vital communication bridge-aligning discipline engineers with the Engineering Supervisor, while collaborating directly with Project Managers and Site Managers to seamlessly coordinate project scope, budgets, schedules, and overarching design requirements.
Responsibilities:- Project Leadership: Lead design-build projects of varying scales across all three NETL sites (Pittsburgh, PA; Morgantown, WV; and Albany, OR), ensuring completion on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with safety standards.
- Control & Electrical System Design: Select instrumentation and design control and data acquisition systems for continuous process systems ranging from laboratory to pilot scale. This includes specifying logic solvers, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), field instruments, and developing detailed logic diagrams alongside executing standard- and extra-low-voltage electrical designs.
- System Integration & Troubleshooting: Configure, test, and troubleshoot single- and multiple-loop controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCS), and HMI software.
- Software Development: Utilize National Instruments LabVIEW software to design, configure, test, and deploy measurement and control applications tailored for small, laboratory-scale R&D projects.
- Process Optimization: Oversee the optimization of active processes and control systems to ensure research systems are finely tuned, safe, and operating at maximum experimental efficiency.
- Commissioning & Testing: Lead commissioning, shakedown, and safety testing activities for new installations or modifications to existing electrical and control systems within laboratory environments.
- Engineering Documentation: Utilize Autodesk AutoCAD to draft and update comprehensive engineering drawings, including electrical power plans, Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), network architectures, control panel fabrication layouts, wiring schematics, and I/O drawings in compliance with the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC).
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Review multi-disciplinary engineering documentation and collaborate with mechanical, chemical, and safety engineering team members to resolve technical challenges.
- Relationship Management: Establish and maintain productive, collaborative relationships with internal research groups and external stakeholders across the Engineering Group.
Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Bachelor of Science degree (or equivalent education) in an appropriate engineering discipline or the sciences from a four-year accredited college or university or Bachelorof Science degree in Engineering Technology and a Professional Engineering License.
- More than 15 years of professional experience or 10 years of professional experience and a master's degree in an engineering discipline.
- Professional Engineering License required.
- Must have an advanced level of knowledge within a specific discipline and a strong understanding of the other disciplines.
- Good oral and written communication skills, working knowledge of word-processing and integrated software applications, organizational skills, and the ability to perform detail-oriented work are required.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen
- Ability to pass a background investigation, including but not limited to a nationwide criminal record search, and other relevant background information deemed necessary by the contract
- United States citizenship is required to work on a federal contract and will be electronically verified via E-Verify
Preferred Qualifications:- National Instruments LabVIEW certification such as;
- Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD)
- Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD)
- Certified LabVIEW Architect (CLA)
- Certified LabVIEW Embedded Systems Developer (CLED)
- Experience and proficiency with Allen Bradley ControlLogix & CompactLogix
Physical Requirements:- Ability to navigate laboratories, pilot plants, and industrial research environments, which may require standing, walking, bending, or climbing stairs.
- Ability to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, and steel-toed boots.
- Frequent use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse for design and programming tasks.
- Occasional lifting and positioning of light instrumentation or control panel components up to 30 lbs.
Travel Requirements:Travel to Morgantown, WV, or to local subcontractors may be required. (< 20%)
Disclaimer:This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of an incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of an incumbent. An incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.
