Houston, United States
Published on: October 29, 2026
Controls Engineer (Electrical)
On site | Full-time | 1 Opening
💡 The Opportunity
The Controls Engineer (Electrical) is responsible for leading the electrical, instrumentation, and controls scope of engineered packages for topsides and subsea applications in the offshore oil and gas industry. This hands-on role combines electrical design, PLC programming, system integration, testing, and troubleshooting with project coordination and client management. The ideal candidate brings practical experience designing and commissioning industrial control systems and is ready to take ownership of projects from initial specifications through testing and final delivery.
🔧 What You'll Do
Design electrical enclosures, PLC control panels, motor starters, power distribution systems, and junction boxes, including schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, cable schedules, and bills of materials.
Ensure electrical designs comply with hazardous-area requirements, including NEC Articles 500 and 505, IEC 60079, and applicable Class I, Division, and Zone classifications.
Develop, modify, review, and troubleshoot PLC logic for pump control, interlocks, alarms, permissives, and shutdown systems, as well as associated HMI applications.
Integrate industrial instrumentation, including pressure, level, flow, and temperature devices, and configure communication protocols such as Modbus RTU/TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET.
Prepare and lead Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), troubleshoot control system hardware and software issues, and support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and commissioning activities as required.
Manage assigned projects from kickoff through shipment, coordinating schedules, budgets, procurement, change orders, and progress reporting.
Serve as a technical point of contact for clients, interpret engineering specifications, address technical questions, and communicate project progress, deviations, and requirements.
Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including test procedures, functional descriptions, operating and maintenance documentation, and as-built records.
Collaborate with mechanical engineering, fabrication, procurement, and technical teams to ensure seamless integration of electrical and controls systems into engineered packages.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by developing standardized designs, reusable PLC code templates, and engineering tools, including AI-assisted solutions.
✅ What You Bring
At least 5 years of hands-on electrical and controls engineering experience in industrial automation, preferably in oil and gas, petrochemical, or packaged equipment environments.
Experience designing, building, testing, and commissioning industrial control systems, ideally within a systems integrator or similar engineering environment.
Experience with Rockwell PLC platforms (Studio 5000, ControlLogix, or CompactLogix) and/or Siemens platforms (TIA Portal, S7-1200, or S7-1500), including hands-on troubleshooting.
Practical knowledge of electrical enclosure design, PLC control panels, motor control circuits, and motor starters, including direct-on-line (DOL), soft starters, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).
Working knowledge of NFPA 70 (NEC), UL 508A, and hazardous-area requirements under NEC Articles 500/505 and IEC 60079.
Proficiency with electrical design software such as AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.
Ability to interpret technical specifications, manage project scope, coordinate schedules and costs, and work directly with clients.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and professionally.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. Computer Science may also be considered. Approximately 15 years of strong relevant experience may substitute for a degree.
Willingness to work on site in Houston, Texas, with occasional travel for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and site activities.
⭐ Nice to Have
Experience with offshore, topsides, or subsea packaged equipment, such as hydraulic power units, chemical injection skids, or compression packages.
Familiarity with API RP 14C, API RP 500/505, and engineering specifications from major oil and gas operators.
Exposure to safety instrumented systems and IEC 61511 / ISA 84 practices.
Experience configuring and specifying variable frequency drives, soft starters, and HMI platforms such as FactoryTalk View or WinCC.
Familiarity with industrial control system communications, instrumentation integration, and cause-and-effect matrices.
Professional Engineer (PE) license, Engineer in Training (EIT) status, or PMP/CAPM certification.
Previous project management experience or the ability to develop into a broader project leadership role.
As part of our hiring process, this role may use artificial intelligence or automated tools to assist with reviewing and matching applications. These tools support, but do not replace, human judgment in making hiring decisions.
Please note that your application is only complete once you finish the registration process on the Keystone AI platform—including creating your profile, uploading your CV, and submitting your application. The AI interview is optional and encouraged, but it is not required for your application to be counted.
As part of our hiring process, this role may use Keystone AI’s artificial intelligence or automated tools to assist with reviewing and screening applications. These tools support, but do not replace, human judgment in making hiring decisions.
Your application will be considered complete only after you have completed the full registration process on the Keystone AI platform, including creating your profile, uploading your CV, and submitting your application. The AI interview is optional but encouraged and is not required for your application to be considered.
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CGP Group is an affirmative equal-opportunity employer and recruitment firm. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. Information provided in this advertisement is for recruitment purposes only.
