Senior Controls Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Services (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

We have a Senior Controls Engineer opportunity in our Lakewood, Colorado office. This person will lead the design, implementation, and project management of large-scale capital automation projects within the Oil and Gas Industry along with other projects in Life Sciences and Building Automation industries. This role requires proficiency with Rockwell PlantPAx and a strong technical background in designing and delivering Safety Instrumented Systems. The ideal candidate will have a proven history of managing complete project life cycles, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

All areas of responsibility listed below are essential to the satisfactory performance of this position, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary.

• Design and implement Rockwell control systems for complex oil and gas capital projects.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and resources, ensuring on-time and within-budget project execution.
• Lead system architecture development and control strategies to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
• Utilize a class-based approach in overall design to maximize scalability and standardization across projects.
• Develop electrical designs, including power distribution, panel layouts, and grounding strategies for automation systems.
• Specify and procure instrumentation and hardware components.
• Design and implement industrial networking solutions, including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, Profibus, and others.
• Integrate 3^rd party equipment and systems using protocols such as OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, and Modbus
• Define computing infrastructure requirements, including server architecture, virtualization, cybersecurity, and redundancy planning.
• Design, plan, and specify system licensing based on user requirements and project scope to ensure cost-effective and scalable solutions.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle, from requirements gathering to commissioning and validation.
• Develop acceptance protocols and manage the execution of Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) to validate system performance.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers and cross-disciplinary teams.
• Coordinate with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure project success.
• Implement advanced automation and safety strategies, PHA, C+Es, historian integration, and alarm management.
• Troubleshoot complex automation challenges and drive continuous improvements in system performance.
• Travel up to 25% for on-site support, commissioning, and client engagement.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 8-15 years of hands-on experience with Rockwell Automation, Honeywell, Emerson DeltaV, and similar systems, focusing on system design and project execution.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects in the Oil and Gas market.
• Strong experience in class-based configuration and design
• Proven experience managing large-scale capital projects.
• Strong knowledge of automation protocols (HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, IO-Link)
• Deep understanding of industrial networking for communication between controllers, servers, and HMIs
• Experience in integrating electrical and process control systems.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
• Experience specifying and designing electrical components, including MCCs, VFDs, control panels, and power distribution systems.
• Knowledge of server infrastructure and virtualization technologies for robust system deployment
• Experience in OEM system integration using OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, and other industrial communication protocols.
• Ability to plan, specify, and manage system licensing to optimize project implementation.
• Knowledge of Rockwell Automation, Inductive Automation Ignition, Siemens PCS7, or other DCS/SCADA systems is a plus.

Education/Experience:

• Professional degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 8-15 years in automation and control system engineering, with a strong focus in the oil and gas industry.
• Registered PE in Colorado Preferred

Work Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Office Work:




• Office desk/cubicle environment
• Frequent use of computers, engineering tools, and industrial control systems




• Field Work - Physical Demands:




• Field work at gas processing plants. Assignments require use of FRC clothing, Safety Shoes and other PPE.
• Occasional lifting, climbing, and working in production facilities during commissioning activities.

Work may include working weekends, holidays, night shift, and extended hours to meet deadlines and client requirements.

Our People

• Empowered Individuals - Employee-owned, we can hire the best and empower them to develop and deliver solutions.
• Rewarded & Motivated - Investing in continuing education and world-class benefits keeps our staff motivated.
• Positive Attitudes - Dedicated experts are committed in the long run and bring a positive, can-do attitude to your project.
• Knowledgeable - Recognized industry experts reinforced with ongoing training remain knowledgeable on the latest industry trends and directions.

*Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full-time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: Medical * Dental * Vision * Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D * Long Term Disability * Voluntary Short Term Disability * Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts * Health Savings Account * Paid Time Off (PTO) * Paid Holidays * Tuition Reimbursement * Referral Bonus Program * 401(k)/Profit Sharing * 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) * Employee Assistance Program * Will Preparation Resources * Worldwide Travel Assistance

The expected salary range is $105,000 - $120,000 depending on qualifications plus a discretionary bonus.

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