Sr Instrumentation and Controls Engineer

Company Overview:

Found Energy is building clean energy delivery platforms capable of replacing fossil fuels for heavy industries ranging from aluminum production (4% of global CO2 emissions) to fertilizer production (2% of global CO2 emissions) to maritime shipping (3% of global CO2 emissions). Building off technology developed at MIT that enables metallic aluminum to split water, our energy delivery systems safely generate hydrogen and industrial heat on-site at >5x the volumetric energy density of liquid hydrogen and >3x that of methanol and ammonia. By integrating storage, transport, and generation into a single package, our technology solves some of the biggest pain points in renewable energy transportation and storage.

At Found Energy, we believe in securing a livable and equitable future for our planet, and we are looking for partners who are motivated by this goal to join us. For more information, visit https://found.energy.

Job Overview:

Found Energy is seeking a Senior I&C Engineer to be part of a team of engineers that are building state of the art technology to turn scrap aluminum into energy. Our aluminum-thermal power systems extract energy from aluminum at double the energy density of diesel and at a competitive cost.  Compact, modular, safe, and carbon-free, our technology makes industrial decarbonization practical.

 You will be responsible for a wide range of work streams focused on instrumentation & electrical controls system design across the Found Energy Power System. As a Senior Engineer, you will be focused on project execution of greenfield control system projects in the renewable space.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Maintain, modify, and properly version control equipment programs, configuration files, and documentation as changes are implemented. This includes but is not limited to hardware, electrical, safety, pneumatic, network, PLC, HMI, SCADA, and MES.
• Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed.
• Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to PLCs using FBD and/or Structured Text with an emphasis on code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable.
• Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to HMIs to make them more user-friendly, intuitive, and suitable for operating and troubleshooting equipment.
• Ensure proper implementation of and modifications to (ANSI/NFPA/OSHA compliant) control-reliable safety systems for Found Energy’s aluminum-water reactor systems.
• Train personnel on the proper use of the equipment and troubleshooting from the HMI.
• Develop plans for testing and debugging automation equipment while applying knowledge of engineering technology as necessary.
• Program, troubleshoot, and evaluate any design considerations for new electrical and control equipment.
• Lead or participate in engineering design reviews as required and requested by management.
• Conduct R&D activities concerned with integration and testing of electronic/mechanical components and systems and in development of applications.
• Program software to configure and/or make modifications to automated systems and process control systems.
• Evaluate, select, and coordinate with outside vendors for design, fabrication and installation of automation systems.
• Assist in the specification of instrumentation and control system equipment for assigned projects and proposals.
• Lead the detailed design of control systems for a wide range of controls applications.
• Assist in pre-FAT/FAT on equipment for chemical engineering projects.
• Capable of troubleshooting traditional analog and discrete signals as well as other communication types (HART, Profibus, Ethernet I/P, Modbus, Ethercat).
• Capable of utilizing various handheld testing devices to support control loop testing and/or troubleshooting of wiring and connectivity issues.
• Review OEM/vendor submittals for adherence to customer standards and defined controls guidelines.
• Provide uncompromising quality to all work processes in designated areas of responsibility.
• Work across multifunctional project teams, focusing on control systems hardware and documentation
• Develop innovative designs to meet all requirements for performance, reliability, serviceability, cost and manufacturability
• Conceptualize, engineer, and complete detailed design of controls, safety, and power circuits for process automation
• Create specifications from variety of sources including from scratch as required
• Apply broad knowledge of technical principles, procedures and practices to define product concept, design schematics, layouts, bills of material (hardware selection) and wiring diagrams
• Leverage existing designs and work to build designs that can be re-used for future applications
• Maintain engineering data, documentation and/or drawings
• Review and correct drawings to ensure proper engineering techniques have been followed

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related engineering field or equivalent OTJ experience, with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in engineering or related field.
• Flexibility to deal with the rapidly changing needs of a startup
• Deeply motivated by the climate crisis and its downstream impacts
• Exceptional communication and documentation skills
• Ability to perform as part of a team
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining project commitments.
• Experience in one or multiple of the following:
  • Experience with hydraulics, robotics, electrical systems, automation
  • Knowledge of and experience with at least one industrial PLC system(Beckoff preferred), industrial sensors and pneumatic systems
  • Capable of designing, reviewing and approving PLC control panel and motor control panel drawings
  • Comfortable with specification and programming of controls systems for industrial PLC systems and HMI’s, ability to program new applications and modify existing applications with ample annotation for future reference
  • Working knowledge of TCP/IP, Modbus, Profibus, MQTT, and other industrial communication protocols
  • Excellent analytical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills
  • Has the ability to multitask, prioritize in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience programming SCADA and Ignition is a plus
  • Capable of specifying, designing, programming and maintaining automation control systems for industrial use with hydrogen and steam systems.
  • Capable of specifying both digital and analog instrumentation (Level, Flow, Pressure, Temperature, Analytical - pH, LEL, O2, CO, CO2, etc.) and integrate to construction and panel drawing sets.
  • Capable of specifying Electrical Component and Field Devices (combination starters, VFD’s, MCC’s, pushbuttons/selector switches, heat trace, etc.)
  • Ability to interpret P&ID’s, electrical schematics, loop drawings and general equipment arrangement drawings.
  • Capable of designing, reviewing and approving Electrical Construction Drawing sets including but not limited to instrument location plan, conduit block and network architecture drawings
  • Working knowledge of and ability to specify control systems for use in hazardous area locations as identified by NFPA 70
  • Working knowledge of ISA standards and ability to interpret and contribute to development of P&ID
  • Working knowledge of and ability to design robust safety circuits and specify components of varying industry requirements
• Experience designing electrical schematics in AutoCAD software
• Engineering Technical lead with ownership of projects, customer site relationships and success
• Understanding of hazardous areas and intrinsic safety design is a plus, but not required
• Demonstrated experience in Automation hardware design
• Knowledge of UL and IEC standards (e.g., UL508A,UL698 EN 60204-1) and how they apply to designs
• Knowledge of NFPA 70 and NFPA 79
• Background of industrial control panel assembly and wiring
• Self-starter, energizing, results oriented and able to multi-task