PRINCIPAL INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER (PE)

About the Role

The Principal Instrumentation Engineer handles medium, large, and complex projects with wide technical authority and full work responsibilities, including limited administrative oversight of a group of Instrumentation Engineers and Designers. This role may also function as the Lead Instrumentation Engineer, responsible for all discipline technical and scheduling matters on assigned projects.

Responsibilities

• Prepares or reviews discipline job specifications.
• Prepares or reviews requisitions for inquiry and purchase of equipment, materials, and subcontracts.
• Approves technical bid evaluations for equipment, materials, bulk materials, and subcontracts in cooperation with the Procurement Department.
• Prepares and reviews/approves operation philosophy and Cause & Effect diagrams.
• Reviews and provides inputs to Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs).
• Develops Network Architecture, Instrument Index, I/O List, and layouts as required by the discipline.
• Directs/observes factory acceptance testing of equipment.
• Reviews plot plans and facilities for Instrumentation & Control requirements.
• Coordinates with and provides liaison with client personnel relative to Instrumentation & Control activities.
• Reviews and approves vendor documents.
• Prepares or reviews engineering and design status reports, logs, work plans, and project variances.
• Reviews the discipline scope of work to ensure it matches project specifications and/or proposal documents.
• Accepts short and extended-term assignments to site, client’s office, or other locations as requested.

Instrumentation Engineering Department

The Instrumentation Engineering group provides specialized design-engineering services, including:

• Network Architecture: Develops optimal instrumentation and control systems based on reliability, maintainability, flexibility, integration, and cost.
• Cause and Effect: Develops matrix logic for critical conditions, identifying root causes and analyzing interactions among factors affecting processes.
• Operation Philosophy: Develops narratives on plant operations and integration with control systems.
• Safety Instrumented System (SIS): Determines location, size, and arrangement of major equipment.
• Basis Process Control System (BPCS): Determines location, size, and arrangement of major equipment.
• Standards Specifications: Responsible for technical content of standards and preparation of specifications for:
  • SCADA Systems
  • Temperature, Pressure, Level, and Flow Transmitters
  • Safety Instrumented Systems
  • Basic Process Control Systems
  • Temperature, Pressure, Level, and Flow Switches
  • Fire and Gas Systems
  • Temperature, Pressure, and Level Gauges
  • Analyzer Systems
  • Flow meters
  • Leak detection Systems
  • Security Systems
  • Telecommunication Systems
  • Commissioning and Operation Manuals
• Construction Drawings: Approves for construction drawings and schedules, including:
  • Network Architecture
  • Interconnecting Wiring Diagrams
  • Instrument location Plan
  • Raceway and cable schedule

Requirements

• Typically 8+ years of proven experience in oil and gas, focusing on pipeline facilities.
• Familiarity with natural gas industry standards and codes published by NEMA, NFPA, API, AGA, ISA, IEC, ANSI, etc., and ability to apply them to measurement, process control, and control system designs.
• Knowledge of computer systems in an engineering environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering.
• Professional Engineering License required.

Skills

• Results-oriented and customer-focused.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with multi-disciplined teams and managers.
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong communication and networking skills to collaborate with various groups.

Work Environment

• Normal office environment with frequent sitting and computer use.
• Must be able to use body members to work, move, or carry objects or office materials.
• Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally.
• Physical demands are consistent with sedentary work requirements.