Freelance Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking an experienced Senior Ovation DCS Programmer / Control Systems Engineer to support the design, implementation, commissioning, and long-term support of Emerson Ovation Distributed Control Systems for water and wastewater treatment facilities. This role is a senior technical position responsible for hands-on system programming, configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization, with direct involvement in plant operations, startup, and lifecycle support. The successful candidate will serve as a technical lead, supporting project delivery while mentoring junior staff and collaborating closely with operations, engineering, and project management teams.

This position can be based at any Hazen location; however, our preference is for it to be based in Virginia or the Washington, D.C. area.

Why Hazen and Sawyer:

• Founded in 1951 by the son of Allen Hazen (developer of the Hazen-Williams equation), we are an employee-owned company with a singular focus on "all things water."
• Our work includes planning, design, and oversight of construction of environmental infrastructure – for water, wastewater, and stormwater management.
• We foster a work environment low on bureaucracy and high in creativity.
• We recruit talented professionals, provide them with challenging, interesting, and creative assignments, and furnish them with the tools they need to succeed.
• We currently have over 2,400 employees in 70+ offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK.
• A flexible hybrid work schedule supports today's busy professionals.

Key Responsibilities:

Ovation DCS Engineering & Programming

• Configure, program, test, and commission Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Develop and maintain control logic, operator graphics, alarm configurations, and system databases.
• Perform system upgrades, migrations, and expansions on legacy and current Ovation platforms.
• Support control optimization, tuning, and modernization initiatives.

Water & Wastewater Process Integration

• Implement and support control strategies for treatment and conveyance processes including pumping, filtration, chemical feed, disinfection, sludge handling, and distribution systems.
• Troubleshoot process and control system issues and implement corrective actions.

Testing, Commissioning & Support

• Lead and support FAT, SAT, and on-site commissioning activities.
• Provide operational troubleshooting and post-startup support.
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including control narratives, I/O lists, and architecture diagrams.
• Support changing management and configuration control procedures.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Implement OT cybersecurity best practices consistent with ISA/IEC 62443 and utility standards.
• Support redundancy, backup, disaster recovery, and system resiliency planning.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a technical lead on Ovation-related projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and programmers.
• Coordinate with operations staff, project managers, vendors, and system integrators.

Work Setting:

• Hybrid Preferred (3 days in office; 2 days remote)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in control systems or automation.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with Emerson Ovation DCS systems.
• Experience supporting water or wastewater treatment facilities strongly preferred.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, and field commissioning.

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Emerson Ovation configuration tools and system architecture.
• Strong understanding of process control, instrumentation, and control system networks.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Ethernet, OPC, Modbus).
• Working knowledge of alarm management best practices and OT cybersecurity principles.
• Experience with PLC/SCADA systems, networking, and industrial control protocols is often a plus.
  

Certifications (Preferred)

• Emerson Ovation training or certifications.
• ISA, cybersecurity, or related professional certifications a plus.
  

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel to project sites (often up to 25–75% depending on the role and level).
• As required to support commissioning and troubleshooting.
• Valid driver’s license and authorization to work in the U.S.

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
• Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
• Short and long-term disability, and employer paid life insurance
• Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
• Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
• Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and professional organization memberships
• Starting pay range for this position depends on skills, experience, education and geographical location

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