Lead Automation Engineer

About the Company

HMH is a leading provider of drilling solutions, offering a wide range of products and services designed to be the safest and most efficient in the industry. In addition to expertise in land and offshore operations, HMH is expanding its knowledge within subsea mining, geothermal, on‑shore and offshore construction, and offshore wind industries. With offices in 16 countries across five continents, HMH maintains a strong global presence and is a frontrunner in developing automation and digital solutions for drilling customers to improve efficiency and environmental footprint. The company values its employees, offering a casual, inclusive work environment, competitive pay, benefits, and professional development opportunities.

About the Role

HMH is seeking an experienced Lead Automation Engineer with a strong background in oilfield equipment, industrial controls, and field service support. The role focuses on designing, programming, and supporting advanced automated drilling equipment, leveraging deep automation engineering expertise and hands‑on oilfield experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain PLC programs for automated drilling equipment.
• Create and optimize control system layouts and logic flow.
• Support ongoing product development and new feature testing.
• Participate in validation and refinement of automation solutions.
• Provide engineering insights to enhance safety, reliability, and performance.
• Troubleshoot PLC and HMI issues remotely or on site.
• Provide technical support during equipment build, installation, and commissioning.
• Travel to field or facility locations for system support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Automation, Electronic, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant technical experience.
• Experience with PLC programming (e.g., Sysmac Studio, SIMATIC WinCC, etc.).
• Understanding of industrial electrical systems and controls.
• Oilfield or heavy industrial machinery experience.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings and technical specifications.

Desired Qualifications

• Programming experience with Omron and/or Beckhoff PLCs.
• Strong Autocad experience.
• Experience with version control systems such as Git.
• Familiarity with task‑tracking and collaboration tools (Azure DevOps, JIRA, Confluence, etc.).
• Knowledge of hazardous‑area electrical standards (ATEX, CSA, IECEx).
• Field service or commissioning experience.

Additional Information

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis, now or in the future, without employer sponsorship for employment visa status.
• Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Location: Houston, TX – JFK.