Principal Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

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Date: Sep 3, 2025

Location(s): Houston, TX, US, 77002

Company: NextEra Energy

Requisition ID:  90515 

 

NextEra Energy Resources is one of America’s largest wholesale electricity generators, harnessing diverse energy sources to power progress. We deliver tailored energy solutions that fuel economic growth, strengthen communities, and help customers achieve their energy goals. Ready to make a lasting impact? Take the next step in your career with us!

 

Position Specific Description

NextEra Energy is currently seeking a Principal SCADA and Controls Engineer who can supervise and apply diversified knowledge of Automation and I&C engineering principles and practices to the Upstream/Midstream Oil & Gas and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)  industries within the Nextera Power Generation Division. Performs oversight, engineering, troubleshooting, and operation/maintenance-based tasks for PLC’s, Instrumentation and control systems and supporting networked applications. Successful candidate will have a sense of accountability and urgency required to make informed decisions regarding engineering complexity, system integrity, safety and regulatory compliance under limited supervision.
 
Responsibilities:

  • Plans, develops, and supervises engineering projects concerned with unique or controversial complexities which have important impact on major company programs
  • Prepares, tracks and is accountable for task and project budgets
  • Acts as technical liaison to individuals within and outside the organization with responsibility to act independently regarding technical matters pertaining to individual's field
  • Completes assignments given in broad terms concerning general objectives and limitations
  • Prepares process control design concepts and documentation (e.g., C&E, control narratives, interlock matrices)
  • Leads I&E commissioning activities for new control systems and major upgrades, ensuring comprehensive documentation of all commissioning procedures, test results, and acceptance criteria
  • Develops, maintains, and validates calibration documentation protocols for instrumentation and control devices, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements
  • Provides technical support to operations and business unit personnel during the engineering, construction, commissioning, and operational phases of projects
  • Prepare, participate and facilitate Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) activities on new and upgraded facilities when required
  • Performs system testing and documentation for control system changes and upgrades
  • Analyzes and corrects complex application deficiencies and system issues
  • Provides technical leadership in the functional specification, design and implementation of control solutions
  • Mentors and supervises senior level Control Engineers, providing technical guidance, professional development opportunities, and performance oversight
  • Directs and coordinates the work of senior engineering staff on complex control system projects, ensuring quality deliverables and knowledge transfer
  • Provides automation engineering support for failure mitigation, process improvement, data analytics and improving performance targets
  • Establishes and/or modifies procedures and guidelines supporting controls and SCADA users
  • Travels to sites occasionally for onsite troubleshooting support

 
Desired Qualifications:

  • Process Management Concepts
  • Possess experience working with Industry, Regulatory, and Corporate Standards  
  • Experience in commissioning documentation standards and best practices
  • Proven track record in mentoring and developing engineering talent
  • Quality Tools and Techniques
  • Working experience with SCADA applications and PLC’s
  • Experience with Modbus and OPC 
  • Working experience with Ethernet and Serial networks
  • Working knowledge of power fundamentals and voltage control 
  • Strong background in logic development and troubleshooting 

 
 
Travel: < 50%

Job Overview

Employees in this role make decisions and recommendations having significant impact on extensive engineering and related activities for the company. This position negotiates critical and controversial issues with top level engineers and officers of other organizations and companies.

Job Duties & Responsibilities


•   Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding extensive engineering programs and activities
•   Manages one or more programs of complex diversity and scope which are of critical importance to overall company objectives
•   Acts as a subject matter expert
•   Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

•  Bachelor's - Engineering
•  Experience: 7+ years

Preferred Qualifications


•  None

 

NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees and their eligible family members. Click here to learn more.

 

Employee Group:  Exempt
Employee Type:  Full Time
Job Category:  Engineering
Organization:  NextEra Energy Pipeline Services, LLC 
Relocation Provided:  Yes, if applicable

 

NextEra Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

 

NextEra Energy provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable and permitted by applicable law. To request a reasonable accommodation, please send an e-mail to recruiting-coordinator.sharedmailbox@nexteraenergy.com, providing your name, telephone number and the best time for us to reach you. Alternatively, you may call 1-844-694-4748. Please do not use this line to inquire about your application status.

 

NextEra Energy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

 

NextEra Energy does not accept any unsolicited resumes or referrals from any third-party recruiting firms or agencies. Please see our policy for more information.

 


Nearest Major Market: Houston

Job Segment: Pipeline, Energy

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