Entry Level Instrumentation & Controls Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

NOV is a global leader in technology, equipment, and services for the oil and gas industry, supporting full-field drilling, completion, and production operations. Since 1862, we've driven innovation to enhance efficiency, safety, and environmental performance across the energy sector. NOV Rig Technologies designs and supports the world's most advanced drilling solutions. To learn more about Rig Technologies products and services, please visit us at https://www.nov.com/about/our-company-structure/rig
 

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and analyze product maintenance, design, and performance; recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and reliability
• Support new product development and implement performance or cost optimization initiatives
• Research and propose new materials to support design enhancements
• Conduct technical evaluations of competitor products, services, and patents
• Act as the technical escalation point for Tier 2 subject matter experts; provide advanced analysis and solutions for complex issues
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the COE Technical Leader
• Ensure compliance with all NOV Company policies and HSE procedures

Education & Experience Qualifications

• Technical diploma or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• Minimum 4 years of experience in roles such as Field Service, Instrumentation & Controls (I&C), Technical Support, eHawk, Field Engineering, or Asset Management (AM) Projects
• Hands-on robotics experience required, with systems such as FANUC, Yaskawa, ABB, or similar platforms
• Demonstrated expertise in technical analysis and professional report writing
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with multinational teams across different time zones
• Proficient in reading and interpreting mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic drawings
• Capable of supporting diverse technical issues across multiple engineering disciplines

Job Requirements 

• Attend customer meetings, assess technical issues, provide recommendations, and document outcomes
• Draft technical work scopes and evaluate special tooling needs
• Review spare parts lists and advise on stocking levels
• Participate in FATs and support training content development
• Evaluate new products, tools, and services for effectiveness
• Assist leadership in assessing employee competency and assigning tasks
• Step in for COE Technical Leader when needed
• Generate reports and manage data in systems like RigOffice, Glovia, and Oracle
• Follow ISO 9001 and NOV quality management standards
• Apply RCA techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) to resolve issues
• Support remote upgrades and understand NOV equipment failure modes

Facility/Group-Specific Responsibilities 

• Support global SMEs with advanced technical product assistance
• Lead training and competency development for Tier 2 personnel
• Identify product reliability trends and provide feedback to engineering
• Review and support release of Product Notifications (e.g., PIBs, PINs)
• Prepare damage assessments and maintenance recommendations
• Coordinate with internal/external experts for complex issue resolution
• Maintain close collaboration with Global Product Engineering teams

Technical Competencies 

• MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
• Deep knowledge of one or more disciplines; mechanical, hydraulic, electrical or controls, related to design, operations, and maintenance of specific families of NOV Rig Systems equipment.    

Competitive Benefits: (visit usbenefits.nov.com for more information about our benefits offerings)

• 401(k) Retirement Plan - NOV matches every dollar up to 5% of base pay and overtime for every dollar you invest.
• Competitive medical plans that are effective your date of hire. Coverage options for just yourself as an eligible employee start at as little as $40 per pay period (bi-weekly), and plans that cover your entire family (yourself, eligible spouse, and eligible children) start at $150.50 per pay period (bi-weekly). 
• Starting in 2026, FREE MDLIVE virtual visits (when enrolled in an NOV medical plan).
• FREE preventative medical and dental care for the entire family (when enrolled in an NOV medical/dental plan and seeing an in-network physician).
• FREE Basic Life and AD&D insurance at 2 times your annual salary (for full-time employees).