Principal Controls and Automation Engineer - Control Engineer

We are seeking a visionary Principal Controls and Automation Engineer to participate as a major contributor in the development and deployment of advanced drilling rig control systems across our Nabors and 3rd party onshore drilling operations. This role is pivotal in influencing our controls and automation strategy, driving automation, safety, and efficiency in drilling processes, while aligning with our broader strategic goals for digital transformation and operational excellence.

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.

- Minimum 15 years of experience in industrial automation, with at least 10 years in oil & gas drilling (onshore preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

- Expertise in control systems for drilling rigs, including PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff), IPC and SBC based control systems, SCADA platforms, and industrial networking.

- Familiarity with industry autonomous drilling platforms (e.g., SmartROS, DrillOps™, Precise™, NOVOS™) and remote operations.

- Working knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity protocols for industrial control systems.

- Professional certifications (ISA CAP, PMP, API RP) are a plus.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

- Office environment, able to travel and work off site as needed.

- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties of the position. The requirements above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, occasionally required to stand, walk and use hands.

- Employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

- Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision and distance vision.

- Major Contributor to Automation Strategy for onshore drilling rig controls and automation solutions, including control systems for drill floor equipment such as top drives, draw works, automated wrenches, catwalk, and automated pipe handling.

- Lead and Influence the Design and Integration of PLC, IPC, SCADA, DCS, and HMI systems tailored to land-based drilling environments.

- Oversee the Deployment of Autonomous Drilling Technologies such as robotic drilling and pipe handling, AI-driven smart drilling applications, and automated rig controls autonomous and personnel free drill floors.

- Ensure System Reliability and Safety and compliance with industry standards (API, IEC, ISA).

- Mentor and Develop Engineers and Engineering Teams within the controls and automation group, fostering a culture of innovation, safety, right-first-time, and continuous improvement.

- Collaborate Cross-Functionally with drilling operations, IT/OT, and field and remote support operations teams to ensure high levels of uptime and optimal systems performance related to control and automation.

#LI-TL1

Nabors is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With operations in about 20 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible hydrocarbon production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower carbon world.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Nabors is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, religion, age, color, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.  To learn more about our Fair Employment practices, please refer to the Nabors Code of Conduct .