Engenheiro Sénior de Automação

Role Summary

As a Sr. Automation Engineer within the Central Projects & Engineering team, you play a key role in shaping and delivering automation and process control solutions across multiple bio‑energy facilities and projects. You work closely with engineering contractors, system integrators, OEM vendors and VTTI Group OT experts to ensure robust SCADA/PLC design, safeguarding, cybersecurity, and process control implementation. Your work spans the full lifecycle: concept, design, execution, commissioning, and optimization of automation systems that ensure safety, reliability, and high plant performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Automation & Control Systems

• Design, program, and maintain PLC‑based control systems and associated SCADA/HMI environments.
• Ensure correct integration of instrumentation, gas quality analyzers, safety devices, interlocks, and ESD logic.
• Lead troubleshooting across control systems to improve plant stability and reduce downtime.

2. Process Control Strategy & Architecture

• Develop and maintain the Process Control Strategy (PCS) for bio‑energy assets.
• Create and own control narratives, Cause & Effect (C&E), alarm philosophy, and functional logic.
• Define, develop, and maintain the site-wide Process Control Architecture (networks, segregation, security layers, protocols) of all our locations (NL and UK).

3. Functional Design Specification (FDS) & Safety

• Prepare and maintain FDS, SDS, FAT/SAT documentation, commissioning plans, and test procedures.
• Participate in HAZOP, LOPA and SIL review meetings and implement safeguarding according to HAZOP, LOPA, and SIL requirements.
• Validate and support Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF), shutdown logic, and emergency response behavior.

4. IT/OT & Cybersecurity

• Work across IT and OT domains to ensure secure, resilient industrial networks.
• Define and maintain communication structures, including Modbus, OPC-UA, MQTT, Profinet, and secure remote access.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity specialists to strengthen critical infrastructure and maintain compliance standards.

5. Data Historian & Analytics

• Configure and maintain data historian systems (e.g., PI, Aveva, Ignition).
• Build dashboards and analytics that support operational decision-making, performance reviews, and reliability tracking.
• Support digitalization initiatives such as anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization.

6. Process Optimization

• Use operational data, trends, and plant diagnostics to identify opportunities for efficiency improvement, cost reduction, and methane yield optimization.[Rv1] [GK2]
• Provide automation expertise to troubleshoot complex process issues related to fermentation, gas upgrading, utilities, and thermal systems together with other engineering disciplines.

7. Project Engineering & Vendor Management

• Act as automation lead in CAPEX projects, coordinating with:
• Engineering contractors (FEED, detailed design, commissioning)
• System integrators (software, PLC, SCADA programming)
• OEM vendors (compressors, digesters, analyzers, upgrading equipment)
• Ensure vendor-supplied packages meet functional, cybersecurity, and integration requirements.
• Support project delivery from design reviews through commissioning and handover.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering, Industrial IT, Mechatronics, or equivalent.
• 5-10+ years experience in industrial automation, preferably in bio‑energy, utilities, chemicals, food processing, or waste‑to-energy.

Technical Skills

• Strong PLC programming experience (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider).
• SCADA/HMI development and alarm management skills.
• Deep understanding of process control, instrumentation, and safeguarding.
• Experience with FDS, C&E, SIL/LOPA, FAT/SAT.
• Knowledge of IT/OT architecture and industrial cybersecurity.
• Experience with historians and data analytics.

Soft Skills

• Strong communicator with the ability to manage diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactive, structured, and hands‑on problem solver.
• Capable of guiding contractors and OEM vendors in a multi‑project environment.

What We Offer

• A central role in scaling and optimizing sustainable bio‑energy assets.
• Collaboration with a wide network of engineering partners, vendors, and internal specialists.
• Opportunities for technical leadership, innovation, and cross‑site influence.

If you have built your career in strategy, transformation, or performance improvement consulting and are looking for an opportunity to drive meaningful impact within a growing industrial business, we would love to hear from you. Email: [email protected] - Shiva Ahmadi, Sr. talent acquisition VTTI/ Vida