Automation Direct Plc Programmer Jobs in Covington, LA

Join the ECI Group's Professional Technical Services Network as a onsite Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Specialist.  This an 18- 24-month duration from award based in the New Orleans (Waggaman) area.   Note: You must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident to qualify for this position. 
About our Client
Our client is developing and operating a major chemical manufacturing facility in Waggaman, Louisiana, producing Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) and Ethyl Methyl Carbonate (EMC) for the battery supply chain.   The site is a petrochemical/chemical manufacturing operation requiring engineering support for construction, commissioning, startup, reliability, maintenance, and operations activities
Position Summary
The Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Specialist is responsible for the installation, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, testing, and reliability of electrical, instrumentation, and control systems within a chemical plant. The role ensures safe, reliable, and efficient plant operation by maintaining critical electrical equipment, field instruments, control systems, analyzers, and process automation systems in compliance with regulatory and safety standards.
Key Responsibilities
Instrumentation Maintenance and Reliability

• Install, calibrate, inspect, and maintain field instrumentation.
• Troubleshoot instrument failures and process control issues.
• Maintain pressure, temperature, flow, and level transmitters.
• Maintain control valves, positioners, regulators, and actuators.
• Perform loop checks, functional testing, and instrument verification.
• Ensure instrument accuracy and compliance with calibration schedules.

Electrical Systems Maintenance

• Maintain low-voltage and medium-voltage electrical systems.
• Troubleshoot motors, motor control centers (MCCs), transformers, and switchgear.
• Support maintenance of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and soft starters.
• Perform electrical testing and inspections.
• Ensure electrical installations comply with applicable codes and standards.

Control Systems Support

• Maintain Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and SCADA systems.
• Troubleshoot control logic and communication issues.
• Support control system upgrades and migrations.
• Verify alarm and interlock functionality.
• Ensure critical control systems remain operational and secure.

Analyzer and Process Control Equipment Support

• Maintain process analyzers including:

• pH analyzers
• Conductivity analyzers
• Gas detectors
• Oxygen analyzers
• Moisture analyzers
• Chromatographs

• Perform analyzer calibration and validation.
• Troubleshoot sampling systems and analyzer shelters.

Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

• Execute preventive maintenance programs for electrical and instrumentation assets.
• Utilize condition-monitoring tools to predict equipment failures.
• Review equipment health reports and recommend corrective actions.
• Improve asset reliability through proactive maintenance strategies.

Troubleshooting and Root Cause Analysis

• Investigate electrical and instrumentation failures.
• Conduct Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
• Develop corrective and preventive action plans.
• Work with operations and engineering teams to resolve acute and recurring equipment issues.
• Minimize plant downtime through rapid technical response.

Process Safety Support

• Support Process Safety Management (PSM) programs.
• Maintain Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Emergency Shutdown Systems (ESD).
• Verify functionality of safety interlocks and critical alarms.
• Support Management of Change (MOC) activities.

Project and Turnaround Support

• Support capital projects and plant modifications.
• Review electrical and instrumentation drawings and specifications.
• Participate in commissioning and startup activities.
• Coordinate contractor activities during shutdowns and turnarounds.
• Conduct Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT).

Documentation and Compliance

• Update electrical one-line diagrams, loop drawings, and control narratives.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, NEC, ISA, IEC, API, and company standards.
• Review and update maintenance procedures and work instructions.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve control system performance and reliability.
• Recommend energy-saving initiatives.
• Support automation and digitalization projects.
• Implement reliability and maintenance best practices.
• Train technicians and operations personnel on new systems and technologies.

• Participate in Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, including HAZOP, LOPA, and SIL reviews.
• Maintain project documentation and ensure accurate records are updated throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project schedules, cost control efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in chemical, petrochemical, refinery, power generation, or manufacturing facilities.
• Strong knowledge of industrial instrumentation, electrical systems, and process control.
• Experience with PLC, DCS, SIS, and industrial communication networks.

Key Skills

• Instrument Calibration and Testing
• Electrical Troubleshooting
• PLC Programming and Maintenance
• DCS and SCADA Systems
• Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)
• Process Control and Automation
• Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
• Loop Checking and Commissioning
• Industrial Networking and Communications
• Project Coordination
• Process Safety Management (PSM)

Chemical Plant-Specific Equipment Experience

• Pressure, temperature, flow, and level instruments
• Control valves and actuators
• DCS (Honeywell, Emerson Delta V, Yokogawa, ABB)
• PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider)
• Gas detection systems
• Motor control centers (MCCs)
• Switchgear and transformers
• Compressors, pumps, reactors, and utility systems
• Safety shutdown and emergency response systems (ESD/SIS)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to conduct field inspections in industrial plant environments.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and access operating units as required.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to travel periodically for vendor visits, construction support, commissioning, and startup activities.

Reports To: Maintenance & Engineering Manager
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Please Note: The ECI Group uses AI-assisted tools in the early stages of application review, with all decisions guided by human oversight and fully compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ECI Group's applicable data protection policies and Privacy Notice.
 

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