Distributed Control System Operator Jobs in Chicago, IL

About Amp Americas 

 Amp Americas is an emissions reduction platform. Since 2011 we have pioneered the renewable natural gas (RNG) industry building the first dairy RNG-to-fuel project certified to make RINs under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the first dairy RNG-to-fuel project certified by the California Air and Resources Board (CARB). With nearly $500 million in M&A transactions in the last four years, we are at the forefront of the rapidly growing RNG space. Our vertically integrated company builds, owns, and operates state-of-the-art RNG production facilities that convert dairy waste into carbon-negative hydrogen, renewable transportation fuel, and power. Join our mission to revolutionize the energy sector and make a lasting impact on the environment. 

Position Summary 

The Senior I&C Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, executing, troubleshooting, and implementing instrumentation and control systems to minimize unplanned downtime and ensure safe operations. The role involves extensive collaboration with project delivery, field operations, asset management, information technology and engineering functions to ensure that all production facilities meet their commercial objectives. The Senior I&C Engineer must have excellent vendor management skills and prior experience working with 3rd party engineering and construction firms. The Senior I&C engineer must be able to provide leadership, technical support, and project management to identify, solve, and implement basic plant electrical, instrumentation, PLC, historian and SCADA designs to meet overall project design and safety objectives. 

The candidate must possess expertise in the application and installation of instrumentation and measurement technology, as well as industrial control system design, operation, and project management from conception to completion. The position requires proficiency in specifying hardware, developing software, and configuring control systems deployed in the process industries.  

Key Responsibilities 

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop internal I&C engineering contractors. Foster culture of safety, accountability and collaboration
• Establish and implement company-wide I&C standards, specifications, and best practices.
• Develop long-term control system strategy, including PLC, SCADA, historian, networking, and cybersecurity initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant reliability, performance, and safety.

Engineering & Technical Oversight

• Oversee troubleshooting and resolution of complex issues involving instrumentation, PLCs, SCADA systems, historians, ladder logic, and networking devices.
• Provide technical authority for low-voltage electrical systems, gas analysis equipment, transmitters, metering devices, and process control systems.
• Review and approve technical designs, scopes of work, implementation plans, and cost estimates.
• Ensure compliance with applicable electrical codes, industry standards, and environmental regulations.
• Oversee Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and commissioning activities.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for system and instrumentation failures.

Project & Vendor Management

• Manage third-party engineering firms, system integrators, and OEM vendors.
• Support development of electrical equipment specifications, block diagrams, schematics, interconnection wiring diagrams, one-line diagrams, load lists, area classifications, and P&ID/PFD reviews.
• Provide oversight for pre-commissioning, cold and hot commissioning, and startup of Anaerobic Digester (AD) and RNG facilities.
• Support capital project planning, budgeting, and execution.
• Contribute to annual operating plans, including gas production targets, O&M budgets, and capital improvement programs.

Operational Support

• Provide advanced field engineering support for RNG production facilities.
• Standardize and optimize control logic through review of control strategies, loop drawings, and P&IDs.
• Partner with operations teams to identify deficiencies, prioritize corrective actions, and track resolution.

Skills / Abilities / Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Instrumentation, Control Engineering or equivalent(required) 
• Master's degree in a relevant field (preferred) 
• Minimum 10-15 years of experience in specification, installation, troubleshooting, repairs, testing and calibration of industrial instrumentation systems (required) 
• Willingness to travel 30% -50% of the time (required) 
• Experience in the specification and design of low voltage electrical and control hardware and software components commonly used in I&C system platforms such as: Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Emerson, Human Machine Interface (HMI) equipment such as Aveva, FactoryTalk and Ignition 
• Knowledge of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Facility Control and Monitoring System (FCMS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) such as Allen Bradley CompactLogix & Control Logix 
• Experience installing and programming common instruments to PLC communication protocols including 2-wire, HART, Ethernet/IP, Profibus and Modbus 
• Knowledge of IEC 61131 programming languages (e.g., function block diagrams, ladder logic commonly used in DCS and PLC platforms (required) 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks working effectively with all levels of staff and management Excellent written & oral communication skills (required) 
• Ownership mindset - passion for & track record of delivering results & problem solving (required) 
• Ability to work independently to organize, plan, coordinate, and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously (required) 
• Interest in alternative energy and/or renewable fuels (preferred) 
• Able to lift 50 lbs. (required) 

What We Offer 

• Compensation package commensurate with experience including significant productivity pay and equity 
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid company holidays Opportunity to build upon your career in a company on the cutting edge of the RNG industry
• Blend of in-office collaboration at our headquarters and flexible work-from-home arrangements
• A chance to make a meaningful impact on the environment and contribute to a sustainable future
• Collaborative and innovative work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development

If you are a driven and experienced I&C Engineer with a passion for renewable energy, a knack for solving complex technical challenges, and a proven ability to lead projects from concept to completion-we want you on our team! Join us at Amp and be a key contributor in shaping a sustainable future while working with cutting-edge technologies and a dynamic, mission-driven team. 

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position, and the duties and responsibilities may change without notice. Amp is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to excellence through diversity.