At Williams, we’re powering a cleaner, more connected future, and that starts with you. Here, your work fuels communities, drives innovation, and helps deliver reliable energy the world depends on. Join a Fortune 500 team that invests in your growth, values your contributions, and challenges you to make a lasting impact every day.
As a Senior Automation Engineer, you will lead the programming, commissioning, and optimization of advanced control systems supporting compression and midstream operations. This role requires strong technical expertise, independent execution, and the ability to anticipate customer needs and deliver innovative automation solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Lead programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning of PLC and HMI/SCADA systems
Design and implement control strategies (PID loops, motor control, alarm management)
Translate business and operational needs into effective automation solutions
Develop control system documentation (control narratives, cause & effect, control philosophy)
Collaborate across teams to ensure safety, compliance, and continuous improvement
Provide technical leadership and may oversee project work of others
Monitor project scope, costs, and resources
Prepare and deliver technical presentations
Champion safety standards, procedures, and best practices
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; OR Engineering Technology degree with P.E. license
8+ years of automation/control experience in natural gas, petrochemical, or similar industries
Experience with:
PLCs (Allen-Bradley, SCADAPack) and HMI/SCADA systems
Natural gas processing and compression operations
Commissioning midstream or process facilities
Control system documentation development
Electrical/instrumentation standards (e.g., NEC, API RP 500)
Strong analytical skills with ability to translate requirements into control logic
Effective communication and collaboration skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Preferred Qualifications
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license
Experience in Pre-FEED, FEED, or EPC project phases
Background in instrumentation and electrical system design (low/medium voltage)
Experience leading projects or mentoring others
Work Environment
20–30% travel based on project need
Our Houston office is located in the Williams Tower, just steps from the Houston Galleria on Post Oak Boulevard, an area with more than 700 retailers, fine dining and hotels within two square miles. We offer free onsite-parking!
Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation and greater Houston is the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States. Houston is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city!
If you love being outside, Houston rates first in total park acreage among U.S. cities with more than one million residents and offers a 300-mile interconnected bikeway network spread over 500 square miles. Check out visithoustontexas to learn more!
We invest in our people in ways that actually show up in your day-to-day, not just on paper. Our Total Rewards are built to support how you work, live, and plan for what’s next.
Here’s a look at what that means:
- Strong pay plus an annual incentive program
- Hybrid work for most office roles, plus real flexibility in many field positions
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage with options that fit your life, not the other way around
- 401(k) with company match and an annual company contribution
- Paid time off, including company and floating holidays
- Paid parental leave (up to six weeks per parent), plus fertility and adoption support
- Advanced AI tools and resources to help level up and work smarter
- Clear paths to grow your career, with a strong culture of promoting from within
- Tuition reimbursement and support for continuing education
- HSA and FSA options
- Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Domestic partner benefits
- Employee resource groups, wellness support, paid volunteer time, and company matching for causes you care about
Eligibility and benefits are governed by the terms of the applicable plan or program document which can be amended or terminated at any time.
For more information, please visit Total Rewards | Williams Companies.
Williams is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected under applicable discrimination law.
Education Requirements:Skill Requirements:
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- Engineering Technology degree with P.E. license (alternate to Bachelor's)
- 8+ years of automation/control experience in natural gas, petrochemical, or similar industries
- Experience with PLCs (Allen-Bradley, SCADAPack) and HMI/SCADA systems
- Experience with natural gas processing and compression operations
- Experience commissioning midstream or process facilities
- Control system documentation development (control narratives, cause & effect, control philosophy)
- Knowledge of electrical/instrumentation standards (e.g., NEC, API RP 500)
- Strong analytical skills to translate requirements into control logic
- Effective communication and collaboration skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license
- Experience in Pre-FEED, FEED, or EPC project phases
- Background in instrumentation and electrical system design (low/medium voltage)
- Experience leading projects or mentoring others
What We Do
Williams has been around for more than a century, but our work has never been more important. Our employees impact people’s lives every day, fueling the clean energy economy with large-scale energy infrastructure that connects natural gas supplies to markets with growing demand for cleaner fuel. We handle 30% of the natural gas in the United States that is used every day to heat our homes, cook our food and generate our electricity. Williams works closely with customers to provide the necessary infrastructure to serve growing markets and safely deliver natural gas products to reliably fuel the clean energy economy. With interstate natural gas pipelines and gathering & processing operations throughout the country, we reliably deliver value to our employees, investors, customers and communities by running our business with authenticity and a safety-driven culture, leading our industry into the future. Our employees are our most valued resource and the driving force behind our reputation as a safe, reliable company that does the right thing, every time. At Williams, we make clean energy happen. And you can too, so bring your energy to ours.
