Distributed Control System Operator Jobs in Ashburn, VA

What sets us apart is our unique culture. We thrive on teamwork, consistently surpass customer expectations, and celebrate both personal and professional success.

If you believe Thermo Systems is the right fit for you, explore our open positions below.

Reston VA, Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC

Location: Onsite in Reston, VA
Employment Status: Full Time | Direct Hire
Compensation: $90,000 - $120,000 per year + Annual Bonus Eligibility
Travel: Field based role - up to 60% travel can be overnight depending on project assignments
On Call: May participate in on-call rotation based on location and project requirements

Who We Are
Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided by The Thermo Way, we are unified, dynamic, and committed to delivering excellence. Our culture is grounded in three core principles:

Employee Success – investing in our people and their growth
Customer Success – delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
Financial Strength – operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity
The Control Systems Project Engineer I supports the design, integration, and delivery of automation and control system projects across industrial and mission-critical environments. In this role, you will lead individual project tasks or small to mid-sized projects while providing engineering expertise across design, implementation, testing, and commissioning phases.

Working alongside project managers, engineers, and commissioning teams, this role contributes to high-impact automation projects while ensuring systems are delivered safely, reliably, and in alignment with project requirements.

This position is ideal for professionals who are technically capable in the field, comfortable leading engineering tasks, and motivated to grow into more advanced technical and project leadership responsibilities.

What You'll Do
Core Responsibilities

• Lead and support start-up and commissioning of control systems.
• Lead and perform Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for automation systems.
• Interpret piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) and electrical wiring
• Diagrams and provide feedback on field conditions.
• Develop and implement HMI and PLC-based automation solutions.
• Contribute to design and implementation of complex control systems.
• Provide instrumentation specifications for automation and control system designs.
• Review technical documentation generated by project team members for accuracy and quality.
• Deliver assigned engineering tasks accurately, on schedule, and within project scope.
• Identify potential technical challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, and commissioning teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Communicate clearly and proactively with customers and trade partners throughout project lifecycles.
• Serve as the primary customer contact for projects or tasks assigned to lead.
• Provide updates on project progress, risks, and technical challenges to project leadership.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers and project stakeholders.

Quality, Safety & Process

• Follow Thermo Systems Quality Management System (QMS) processes and standards.
• Maintain strong attention to detail in engineering documentation and system configuration.
• Ensure automation designs align with project specifications and customer requirements.
• Apply strong understanding of industrial networking, IT infrastructure, and system integration practices.
• Support continuous improvement in engineering workflows and project delivery processes.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and project team members when assigned.
• Support field teams and commissioning personnel during system installation and testing.
• Promote a collaborative team culture aligned with The Thermo Way.

What We're Looking For
Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• Typically 4+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or system integration environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering tasks or small project scopes.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong understanding of PLC programming and HMI development.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, and control system documentation.
• Experience supporting system integration, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Knowledge of industrial networking and IT systems related to control system integration.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines across multiple projects.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and accountability.
• Willingness to travel and support field-based project assignments.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.

Thermo Systems, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 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.

Learn what the automation industry is all about

Be part of an exciting and growing team

Deliver solutions and services to clients such as NASA, Merck, Sam Adams, and universities coast to coast

Experience various aspects of work Thermo provides in engineering, development, and testing

Enhance your professional and technical skillsets

Thermo Systems is proud to be featured in the press for our innovative contributions to the automation and control systems industry, showcasing our commitment to excellence and sustainability in every project we undertake. View PR articles.

Expert perspectives, industry trends, and innovative solutions from our Industry experts are here to keep you informed and inspired in the world of automation and control systems. View our blog.

Discover how Thermo Systems' innovative solutions and expertise drive operational excellence and sustainability through our collection of insightful and impactful videos. See our videos.

We specialize in delivering innovative and reliable automation and control solutions, empowering industries to achieve peak efficiency, sustainability, and operational excellence. View our brochure.

Welcome to your go-to source for the latest updates, achievements, and innovations from our team of industry leading automation experts. See more news.

Check out our latest innovations and industry-leading solutions at our upcoming tradeshows and events, where we showcase our expertise in control systems integration and automation engineering. Where we'll be.

Seeing is believing, see how we deliver innovative and reliable automation and control solutions across a diverse range of industries by exploring our detailed case studies below. How we do it.

At Thermo Systems, our partnerships with industry leaders and organizations are the cornerstone of our commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and sustainable solutions.
Some pretty good company.