I&C Design Engineer (Principal Engineer Level)

I&C Design Engineer (Principal Engineer Level)

COMPA Industries is searching for qualified candidates for an I&C Design Engineer position supporting DOE/NNSA operations in Aiken, SC.

Pay: $80–$90/hr
Location: Aiken, SC (100% Onsite)
Citizenship: US Citizenship Required

🚫 Mandatory Experience Requirement – Read Before Applying

• Candidates must have 10+ years of direct Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) design experience within the nuclear or process chemical industry within the last 15 years.
• Applicants without hands-on design experience in process control instrumentation, PLCs, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and MicroStation 2D CADD will not be considered competitive. Candidates must also be able to perform weekly field walkdowns in active industrial or construction environments.
• This role is 100% onsite in Aiken, SC. Local candidates are preferred, or candidates must be willing to relocate at their own expense.

Impact

• As an I&C Design Engineer, you will play a critical role in the design, development, and execution of complex control systems supporting DOE/NNSA operations. Your work will directly impact safety, compliance, operational performance, and mission-critical facility reliability.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Technical Leadership & Engineering Execution
• Define the scope of technical programs and develop effective, high-quality engineering solutions to complex and sometimes controversial challenges.
• Apply advanced engineering expertise to resolve complex, multi-disciplinary technical problems.
• Incorporate advanced technical practices, complex requirements, new materials, special processes, and innovative approaches into engineering solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to less experienced engineers and technical professionals.
• Support programs seeking new approaches to technical problems and new applications of existing engineering principles.
• Program & Project Support
• Develop and manage technical plans, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Monitor project progress, cost, expenditures, and quality of deliverables.
• Evaluate program results and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Identify gaps in existing technologies, components, or methodologies and recommend enhancements or new approaches.
• Communicate technical results, objectives, and recommendations to customers, colleagues, stakeholders, and management.
• Design Engineering (I&C Focus)
• Perform engineering analysis, system design, and field walkdowns.
• Provide design engineering staff augmentation support using SRNS processes and procedures.
• Develop detailed design deliverables including:
• P&IDs
• Control logic diagrams
• Loop diagrams
• Instrument indices
• Setpoint lists
• Instrument specifications
• Control valve specifications
• DCS design documents
• PLC design documents
• Instrument location and installation designs
• Panel layouts
• Vendor document reviews
• Support PLC and Distributed Control System (DCS) design and integration.
• Support design development for process control instrumentation and control systems.
• Utilize MicroStation 2D CADD for design development.
• Review and incorporate vendor documentation into design packages.
• Ensure design output documents comply with applicable codes, standards, SRNS procedures, project requirements, and site expectations.
• Communication & Continuous Improvement
• Communicate technical results and objectives to customers, stakeholders, colleagues, and management.
• Prepare engineering reports, technical recommendations, and design documentation.
• Occasionally prepare technical reports for external publication.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry advancements related to I&C engineering and process control systems.
• Contribute to technical growth through engineering reports, problem solving, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD degree in an applicable science or engineering discipline and 5+ years of experience
• OR MS degree in an applicable science or engineering discipline and 8+ years of experience
• OR BS degree in an applicable science or engineering discipline and 10+ years of experience or more

Degree must be in:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• I&C Engineering
• OR current Professional Engineer (PE) registration in one of the above disciplines

Required Skills

• Education
• PhD / MS / BS as outlined above in an applicable engineering or science discipline
• OR current Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Nuclear, or I&C Engineering
• Core Technical Skills
• 10+ years of direct I&C design experience within the last 15 years in the nuclear or process chemical industry.
• Strong design experience with process control instrumentation.
• Strong design experience with PLC systems.
• Strong design experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Proficiency using MicroStation 2D Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) software.
• Ability to perform weekly field walkdowns in industrial or construction environments.
• Ability to develop and review P&IDs, control logic diagrams, loop diagrams, instrument indices, setpoint lists, instrument specifications, control valve specifications, DCS/PLC design documents, instrument installation designs, panel layouts, and vendor documentation.
• Ability to perform engineering analysis, design development, and design output document generation.
• Ability to support schedules, budgets, progress monitoring, and quality reviews for assigned technical work.

Preferred Skills

• Active or recent DOE “L” or “Q” clearance within the past 2 years.
• Prior Savannah River Site (SRS) or SRNS experience.
• Previous DOE/NNSA facility design engineering experience.
• Experience supporting nuclear facility projects, capital upgrades, or process chemical facility projects.
• Experience using SRNS processes and procedures.
• Experience supporting field walkdowns, design package development, vendor document review, and design implementation in active facilities.
• Security Requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE “Q” clearance.
• Subcontractor must have an active eFOCI registration and approved Facility Level Clearance with DOE/NNSA.

Work Environment

• 100% Onsite – Aiken, SC
• Local candidates preferred or candidates willing to relocate at their own expense.

Field work required:

• Walking long distances, including distances over half a mile
• Climbing ladders to access remote areas
• Working in active industrial or construction environments
• Walking on uneven surfaces and around work in progress
• Dressing out in protective clothing
• Wearing required PPE

Work Schedule

• Mon–Thurs | 6:45am – 5:15pm EST
• Overtime may be expected at times to meet deliverables and will be utilized at the discretion of the manager.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

• We don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. COMPA Industries supports mission-critical DOE programs with best-in-class engineering and technical services.
• Join a team where your I&C design expertise directly contributes to national security, nuclear safety, compliance, and advanced engineering innovation.
• COMPA Industries is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
  No C2C. No third-party agencies.

#LI-Onsite