Process Controls Engineer - Automation

Drax
Columbia Falls, US
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Why this role

Pace
Steady
Collaboration
High
Autonomy
Medium
Decision Impact
Team
Role Level
Individual Contributor
Career Pivot Friendly
Welcomes transferable skills

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • optimized plant processes
  • reduced downtime
  • improved plant reliability
Typical background
engineeringautomationprocess control

Transferable backgrounds

  • Coming from engineering
  • Coming from automation
  • Coming from process control

Skills & requirements

Required

Process ControlPLC ProgrammingScada/hmiDistributed Control SystemsTroubleshooting

Preferred

Energy EfficiencyEmissions ReductionCybersecurity

Stack & domain

Process Control SystemsDistributed Control Systems (dcs)Programmable Logic Controllers (plc)Scada/hmi PlatformsProcess DynamicsControl TheoryControl LoopsAdvanced Control StrategiesTroubleshootingAutomation IssuesPlant ProcessesPerformanceEnvironmentalSafetyControl ArchitecturesControl NarrativesInterlocksRegulatory RequirementsInternal Engineering StandardsIndustry Best PracticesCybersecurityOperational TechnologyControl System Work ScopesTesting And CommissioningTechnical SupportControl SystemsOperatorsMaintenance TechniciansCollaborationSustainabilityResponsible Energy UseSharing IdeasChallenging AssumptionsCollaborating Across DisciplinesSustainable Engineering SolutionsPlanned OutagesMaintenance WindowsGuidanceTrainingEnergyUtilitiesPower GenerationProcess ControlIndustrial AutomationDecarbonization

About the role

Original posting from Drax

Drax is seeking a Process Control Engineer to join our Engineering & Design team and help advance our mission of enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. In this role, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, and optimization of process control systems that support safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our energy and utilities assets. Working within a collaborative, inclusive culture that values sustainability and responsible energy use, you will partner closely with operations, maintenance, and project engineering teams to deliver robust control solutions across our power generation and related facilities.

You will design, configure, and maintain distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), and SCADA/HMI platforms, ensuring that plant processes are monitored and controlled to meet performance, environmental, and safety targets. Drawing on your knowledge of process dynamics and control theory, you will develop and tune control loops, implement advanced control strategies where appropriate, and troubleshoot complex automation issues to minimize downtime and improve overall plant reliability. You will contribute to engineering projects that transform how energy is generated and utilized, supporting modifications, upgrades, and new installations from concept and functional specification through commissioning and handover.

The Process Control Engineer will analyze operational and historian data to identify opportunities for efficiency gains, emissions reduction, and improved asset performance, translating insights into practical control system changes. You will ensure that control architectures, control narratives, and interlocks align with regulatory requirements, internal engineering standards, and industry best practices, including appropriate layers of protection and cybersecurity considerations for operational technology. As part of Drax’s empowering work environment, you will be encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver sustainable engineering solutions.

You will support planned outages and maintenance windows by developing control system work scopes, participating in testing and commissioning, and providing on-site or remote technical support as required. In addition, you will provide guidance and training to operators and maintenance technicians on the effective use and troubleshooting of control systems, helping build capability across the organization.

This position is well-suited to an engineer with a strong background in process control or industrial automation, ideally within energy, utilities, or other complex continuous process industries. By joining Drax, you will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that contribute directly to decarbonization goals while advancing your technical expertise and career within a forward-looking, sustainability-driven energy business.

Source: Drax careers

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