Principal PLC Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Texas.

📋 Description

• Act as the top technical expert for PLC engineering standards, architecture, programming methodologies, and intricate technical decisions.

• Establish and uphold standards for PLC programming, expectations for code reviews, documentation requirements, reusable code libraries, templates, naming conventions, and best practices.

• Spearhead architectural decisions for new, complex, high-risk, or highly visible initiatives.

• Formulate scalable PLC control strategies, redundancy approaches, I/O structures, network design principles, alarm strategies, and system recovery techniques.

• Function as the ultimate technical escalation point for complicated PLC programming, troubleshooting, commissioning, integration, and field-related challenges.

• Remain informed about major PLC platforms, automation technologies, control system trends, and pertinent innovations that enhance Divcon’s engineering capabilities.

• Maintain ownership of the technical quality standards for PLC engineering deliverables across the team.

• Develop and enhance code review procedures, design review practices, technical validation methods, and project turnover standards.

• Conduct or supervise technical reviews at crucial project milestones.

• Ensure that PLC solutions are reliable, maintainable, scalable, supportable, and comply with Divcon standards and customer specifications.

• Promote continuous improvement in the programming, testing, documentation, commissioning, and delivery processes of PLC solutions within the Engineering team.

• Collaborate with SCADA, SCA, field, commissioning, project management, and other engineering teams to ensure technical consistency at integration points.

• Take charge of the most technically challenging, complex, ambiguous, or highest-risk PLC engineering issues.

• Provide assessments of technical complexity during project scoping, estimation, and planning phases.

• Assist project teams in defining control strategies for large-scale data centers, central plants, HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and critical infrastructure systems.

• Direct the resolution of critical or urgent technical issues during start-up, commissioning, customer acceptance, and post-deployment support.

• Counsel Lead PLC Engineers on technical approaches, architecture, project risks, and problem resolution.

• Offer advanced technical mentorship to Lead PLC Engineers, Senior PLC Engineers, PLC Engineers, and Associate PLC Engineers.

• Serve as a technical coach for the PLC Engineering team while remaining outside the formal management structure.

• Collaborate with the PLC Engineering Manager to identify skill deficiencies, outline development priorities, and create structured technical development plans.

• Lead or coordinate internal technical training sessions, code walkthroughs, architecture reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and discussions on best practices.

• Foster an environment where engineers feel comfortable presenting difficult technical challenges, design inquiries, and escalation needs.

• Assist in onboarding and technical ramp-up for new members of the PLC Engineering team.

• Represent Divcon’s highest level of PLC technical expertise in client-facing meetings, design reviews, technical escalations, and strategic discussions.

• Collaborate with project managers, engineering managers, SCADA engineers, SCA engineers, field technicians, commissioning teams, vendors, contractors, and system integrators to ensure smooth delivery.

• Convert complex technical challenges into clear recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Influence technical decisions without relying on formal management authority.

• Contribute to building Divcon’s reputation for technical excellence in PLC engineering, critical infrastructure controls, and data center automation.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of hands-on experience in PLC programming, controls engineering, or industrial automation; candidates with 8+ years may be considered if they exhibit exceptional technical depth.

• Extensive expertise with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 and associated automation tools.

• Proficiency in at least one additional major PLC platform, SCADA platform, or industrial automation ecosystem is highly preferred.

• Proven track record in designing, programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning complex PLC control systems in industrial, mission-critical, or large-scale facility environments.

• Demonstrated capability to resolve complex, time-sensitive technical issues in the field.

• Experience in developing or overseeing PLC programming standards, reusable code libraries, architectural patterns, documentation practices, and code review processes.

• Experience in mentoring, coaching, or providing technical leadership to engineers at various levels.

• Strong understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, BACnet/IP, OPC-UA, and related integration methods.

• Excellent documentation practices and commitment to repeatable, maintainable, and scalable engineering methodologies.

• Outstanding communication abilities with the capacity to influence engineers, managers, clients, vendors, contractors, and cross-functional partners.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health insurance

• Professional development opportunities