Lead Control Systems Engineer – Instrumentation

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the Americas. The company’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America’s largest refinery with a total throughput of 720,000 barrels per day, the largest base oil plant in the western hemisphere, and an integrated chemical plant. Under exclusive long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76® brand), Motiva’s commercial operations supply more than 12 billion gallons of fuel to customers annually. Motiva is wholly owned by Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies.

Position Overview:

Motiva is seeking an experienced Lead Control Systems Engineer – Instrumentation to support our Major Capital Projects (MCP) organization, including large-scale downstream, petrochemical, and utility projects. This role will serve as the subject matter expert for I&C engineering, providing advanced technical oversight and ensuring that project execution meets company specifications, industry standards, and project objectives related to safety, cost, quality, and schedule.

The Lead Control Systems Engineer – Instrumentation will play a key role in defining technical requirements, reviewing engineering deliverables, interfacing with EPC contractors, and supporting the full project lifecycle—from conceptual design through construction, commissioning, and handover. This is a senior-level individual contributor role, ideal for an engineer with extensive project experience who thrives on technical excellence and project execution.

Responsibilities:

Engineering & Design

- Develop and apply I&C design criteria, technical specifications, and standards to reflect project-specific requirements.

- Review and provide technical assurance for engineering deliverables, including P&IDs, control philosophies, instrument datasheets, cause & effect diagrams, and system architectures.

- Ensure compliance with codes, standards, and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) requirements (e.g., IEC 61511, ISA, API, NFPA).

- Support HAZOPs, SIL studies, alarm rationalization, and other safety-critical reviews.

Project Execution Support

- Monitor EPC contractor engineering and design activities to ensure conformance with project requirements, schedule, and budget.

- Participate in design reviews, constructability assessments, and value engineering workshops.

- Support development of instrumentation and control equipment specifications, requisitions, and bid evaluations.

- Provide technical input during procurement, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT).

Interface & Integration

- Collaborate with process, mechanical, electrical, civil/structural, and construction teams to ensure integrated project execution.

- Act as a key liaison with vendors, suppliers, and contractors for I&C scope.

- Support construction, commissioning, and start-up teams by resolving technical queries and ensuring seamless handover of I&C systems.

Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Sharing

- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes in I&C.

- Contribute to lessons-learned sessions and apply continuous improvement practices to future projects.

Experience and Qualifications:

Required Education and Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.

- Minimum 15 years of progressive I&C engineering experience, including work on mega projects ($1B+).

- Significant experience with hydrocarbon, petrochemical, and/or power industry projects.

- Demonstrated expertise with Ethane Cracker and Utilities projects strongly preferred.

- Strong background in Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), industrial control systems, and instrumentation design.

- Proven experience reviewing and assuring EPC contractor deliverables.

- Deep technical expertise with ability to resolve complex engineering challenges.

- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines and with external stakeholders.

- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities within tight deadlines.

- Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Education and Experience

- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Controls/Automation Engineering.

- Additional coursework or certifications in Process Safety, Control Systems, or Automation Technologies.

- Professional Engineer (PE) license (Electrical, Control Systems, or Chemical).

- Direct experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), and Emergency Shutdown Systems (ESD) in large-scale petrochemical or refining projects.

- Experience with Honeywell, Emerson DeltaV, Yokogawa, ABB, or Siemens PCS7 systems in mega projects.

- Background in Advanced Process Control (APC), Real-Time Optimization (RTO), or Digital Control Systems integration.

- Strong working knowledge of industry codes & standards: IEC 61511, ISA standards, API RP 556/557, NFPA, NEC/IEC, ASME, IEEE.

- Experience in Ethane Cracker, Olefins, or Utilities systems highly desirable.

- 10+ years in hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, chemicals, or power; at least one mega project ($1B+) full lifecycle strongly preferred.

- EPC interface experience: managing engineering deliverables, reviewing FEED packages, and ensuring contractor compliance.

- Experience in construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start-up support for I&C systems.

We reserve the right to amend or withdraw Motiva jobs at any time, including prior to the closing date. Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be offered a position at a more appropriate level and/or grade.

Applicants for regular U.S. positions must be authorized to work in the United States for Motiva Enterprises LLC without the need for sponsorship of an immigration authorization or visa (for example, TN, H-1B, or other employment-based immigration authorization or visa).

Motiva participates in E-Verify.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state, or local laws.