Senior Control Systems Engineer (Instrumentation & Controls)

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next-generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence. The Northern California Control Systems and Cybersecurity team supports a diverse portfolio of projects across industrial automation, operational technology (OT), SCADA, instrumentation and controls (I&C), industrial networking, building automation systems (BAS/BMS), and OT cybersecurity. This position will provide technical leadership and project delivery services for clients including hyperscale data centers, municipal water and wastewater utilities, renewable energy and battery energy storage facilities, agribusiness and food processing clients, industrial manufacturing facilities, and other critical infrastructure projects throughout Northern California and the western United States. This role offers significant opportunities for leadership growth as the team expands and new project opportunities are secured throughout the region. Current growth initiatives include data centers, water and wastewater infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, industrial manufacturing, and operational technology modernization. The successful candidate will be expected to independently lead projects from initial client engagement and proposal development through detailed design, implementation support, commissioning, and project closeout while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and mentoring junior staff.

Typical responsibilities of the Senior Control Systems Engineer include:

• Leading development of SCADA, industrial control systems, instrumentation, networking, automation, and operational technology solutions for municipal, industrial, commercial, and mission-critical facilities.
• Serving as technical lead, discipline lead, or Engineer of Record for studies, master plans, assessments, basis-of-design documents, technical reports, and construction document packages.
• Overseeing development of P&IDs, network architectures, control narratives, instrumentation schedules, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, loop drawings, and technical specifications.
• Leading multidisciplinary project teams through planning, design, implementation, startup, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
• Providing technical leadership for industrial networking, OT modernization, cybersecurity assessments, network segmentation, system architecture, and critical infrastructure resiliency initiatives.
• Supporting business development activities including client engagement, proposals, interviews, project scoping, technical presentations, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Mentoring and developing Control Systems Engineers, EITs, Designers, and future technical leaders within the Northern California Controls practice.
• Participating in industry organizations, technical leadership initiatives, and development of innovative technology solutions including advanced automation, analytics, artificial intelligence, industrial networking, and operational technology systems.

This position provides a pathway toward increased technical leadership, project management, supervisory responsibilities, and long-term participation in the continued growth of HDR's Northern California Control Systems practice. Preferred Qualifications

General

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• Previous experience with an engineering consulting firm, systems integrator, industrial automation provider, technology vendor, or owner/operator organization.
• Experience serving as project technical lead, discipline lead, project manager, supervisor, or mentor.
• Experience supporting projects from proposal development and planning through design, implementation, commissioning, and client acceptance.
• Experience working with data centers, water and wastewater utilities, agribusiness facilities, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, industrial manufacturing facilities, or other critical infrastructure clients.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with clients, contractors, vendors, and project teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel to client sites throughout Northern California and the western United States as required.
• This position is subject to a preemployment drug test.

Controls Design, Automation & Systems Integration

Candidates may possess experience in one or more of the following:

• SCADA, PLC, HMI, DCS, instrumentation, process control, and industrial automation systems.
• Development of construction documents including P&IDs, network architecture diagrams, instrumentation schedules, control narratives, loop drawings, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and technical specifications.
• Control panel design, instrumentation specification, calibration, testing, startup, and commissioning.
• PLC programming, HMI development, systems integration, troubleshooting, and operational support.
• Automation platforms including Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Emerson, GE, AVEVA/Wonderware, Ignition, FactoryTalk, iFIX, VTScada, DeltaV, Ovation, or similar technologies.

Building Automation, Industrial Networking & OT Cybersecurity

Candidates may possess experience in one or more of the following:

• Building automation systems, building management systems, or critical facility infrastructure controls.
• Industrial Ethernet networking, network architecture development, managed switches, industrial firewalls, remote communications, and network segmentation.
• Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability assessments, asset inventories, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Application of industry standards and frameworks such as ISA/IEC 62443, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-82, DoD RMF, NERC CIP, or similar guidance.
• Critical infrastructure sectors including water, wastewater, power generation, renewable energy, data centers, manufacturing, chemical processing, transportation, or federal facilities.
• Professional certifications such as GICSP, CISSP, CISM, CCNA, CCNP, PMP, ISA CAP, or equivalent industry certifications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• A minimum of 10 years applicable experience

What We Believe HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.