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Contract Protection & Controls Engineer Jobs in Tennessee

Industrial Controls Engineer

Cookeville, TN ยท On-site

$71K - $92K/yr

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Industrial Controls Engineer to join our Innovation Team ... other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values ...

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Industrial Controls Engineer to join our Innovation Team ... other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values ...

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Contract Protection Controls Engineer information

What does a Contract Protection & Controls Engineer do?

A Contract Protection & Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining protection and control systems within electrical power networks, often under contract for utility or industrial clients. Their work ensures the safe and reliable operation of electrical systems by preventing faults and managing system stability. They handle tasks such as system analysis, relay coordination, preparing technical documentation, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. These engineers often collaborate with project managers, contractors, and other engineers to deliver projects on time and within budget. Their expertise is crucial for minimizing system downtime and protecting critical infrastructure.

What is the difference between Contract Protection & Controls Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectContract Protection & Controls EngineerElectrical Engineer
CertificationsPE license, control system certificationsPE license, electrical engineering degrees
Work EnvironmentIndustrial plants, power stations, control system sitesDesign offices, manufacturing facilities, project sites
Industry UsagePower, energy, manufacturing sectorsConstruction, electronics, energy, manufacturing

The Contract Protection & Controls Engineer focuses on designing and maintaining control systems and protection schemes for industrial and power facilities, ensuring safety and reliability. Electrical Engineers have a broader scope, including designing electrical systems, power distribution, and electronic components. While both roles require electrical credentials and work in related environments, the Protection & Controls Engineer specializes in control systems and protection schemes specific to industrial applications.

What are the typical challenges faced by a Contract Protection & Controls Engineer when working on short-term projects?

Contract Protection & Controls Engineers on short-term projects often need to quickly adapt to new teams, project scopes, and site-specific systems. Balancing multiple project deadlines while ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards can be challenging, especially when documentation or system histories are limited. Effective communication and rapid learning are essential for integrating into new environments and collaborating with electrical, instrumentation, and operations teams to deliver reliable protection and control solutions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Protection & Controls Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Protection & Controls Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, power systems, and contract management, often supported by a relevant degree and engineering licensure. Expertise in industry-standard protection relays, SCADA systems, and familiarity with technical standards such as IEEE or IEC, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with stakeholders and manage complex project requirements. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of electrical systems within contractual frameworks.
What are popular job titles related to Contract Protection & Controls Engineer jobs in Tennessee? For Contract Protection & Controls Engineer jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Protection & Controls Engineer jobs in Tennessee look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Protection & Controls Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Contract Protection & Controls Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Contract Protection & Controls Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Protection & Controls Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Hybrid job distribution.

Controls Engineer (Power & Utilities)

BNH

Arnold Air Force Base, TN โ€ข On-site

$8/hr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Serve as the engineering point of contact for utility control and monitoring systems, including PLC/DCS platforms from specified vendors.

  • Manage and maintain control systems for the electrical distribution system, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, Elk River Dam, cooling water plants, and steam plant.

  • Provide hands-on support for field commissioning, system testing, and troubleshooting of control systems and instrumentation.


Job description

Overview
Job Title: Controls Engineer (Power & Utilities)
Location: Arnold AFB, Tennessee
Job Family Code: O-Engineering
Function/Branch: Engineering / Utilities
Directorate: Asset Management
Position Type: Regular, Full-Time
Pay Type: Exempt
Grade (provided by HR): L07 (OA0768) - L08 (OA0861)
Salary Range or Starting Hourly Rate (provided by HR): L07: $78,000 - $90,000; L08 $88,000 - $110,000
Who We Are
Beyond New Horizons (BNH) is a fully populated joint venture of Astrion and Fluor Federal Services, Inc. formed to provide unmatched Test Operations and Sustainment services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex.
Our name honors the legacy of AEDC's Toward New Horizons founding study. BNH expands AEDC's capacity by leveraging our parent companies' expertise in military and space system testing. We deliver proven results in large-scale program management, engineering, and construction for technically advanced, high-hazard facilities.
Overview
Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has a unique opportunity for a Controls Engineer to support critical national defense infrastructure at Arnold AFB, TN. As part of our Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) II team, you will play a direct role in maintaining and modernizing the complex utility systems that power America's most advanced aerospace testing facilities.
**If you are seeing this posting on a job board, BNH highly recommends you apply directly on the Careers Center page of our business website (https://careers-bnh.icims.com/jobs). Job board applications are not always compatible with company applicant tracking systems. **
Open to internal and external candidates
Job Summary
We are seeking a proactive and technically skilled Controls Engineer to join our Power Control group. This role is responsible for the engineering and technical oversight of utility control and monitoring systems which are critical to the distribution of electrical power and other utilities to our test facilities. While this position involves some office work, a significant portion of the time is spent in the field and test areas requiring a proactive, hands-on approach to problem identification, problem solving, and system commissioning.
What you will do in the role:
  • Serve as the engineering point of contact for utility control and monitoring systems, including PLC/DCS platforms from vendors like GE, Schneider Electric, Rockwell, and ABB
  • Manage and maintain the control systems for the electrical distribution system, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, Elk River Dam, cooling water plants, and steam plant
  • Maintain and support the control systems for other critical plant utilities including the steam plant and large scale compressed air systems
  • Oversee utility instrumentation, including data collection from water, steam, and electric meters used for billing. This includes leading the implementation and optimization of a new Schneider HMI-based meter reading and data collection system
  • Manage the lifecycle of the base-wide Energy Monitoring and Control System (EMCS), including planning for future upgrades and ensuring the reliability of critical monitoring points.
  • Provide hands-on support for field commissioning, system testing, and troubleshooting of control systems and instrumentation
  • Interface with Air Force (AF) counterparts to ensure control systems comply with DoD network and cybersecurity directives
  • Collaborate with and provide technical guidance to Instrument Technicians and Utility Supervisors on maintenance, repairs, and system programming
  • Support capital investment projects for control systems through the entire project lifecycle, from design to final commissioning
  • It is a condition of employment to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Basic Qualifications:
  • BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline plus a minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience with PLC, DCS, and/or SCADA systems in an industrial, utility, or manufacturing environment
  • Direct experience programming and troubleshooting systems from vendors such as Rockwell (Allen-Bradley), Schneider Electric, GE, or ABB
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Secret level security clearance and access to the AEDC local area network
  • Due to Air Force Security requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required for employment at AEDC

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Strong understanding of industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, DNP3, Ethernet/IP)
  • Proficiency in one or more IEC 61131-3 PLC programming languages (Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Function Block Diagram).
  • Experience with programming environments such as Rockwell Studio 5000, Schneider Unity Pro, or GE Proficy Machine Edition.
  • Familiarity with DoD/Air Force cybersecurity requirements, such as the Risk Management Framework (RMF) or STIGs for control systems.
  • Knowledge of secure industrial network architecture concepts (e.g., network segmentation, firewalls) in an OT environment.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer in Training (EIT) certification.
  • Professional certifications such as ISA CAP, GICSP, or vendor-specific credentials (e.g., Rockwell Automation Certified, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure) are highly desirable.

What We Offer
  • Competitive salaries
  • Continuing education assistance
  • Multiple healthcare benefits packages
  • 401K with employer matching
  • Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

Join our Team!
U.S. Citizenship is required. At this time BNH will not sponsor any applicants for employment authorization or offer any immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1b, F1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, E-2, E-3, L-1, or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations and refers to the amount BNH is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time jobs will be adjusted based upon the number of hours agreed to work.
L07: $78,000 - $90,000; L08: $88,000 - $110,000
at Arnold AFB, TN
BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, and any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.