Instrumentation and Controls Engineer
At Salas O’Brien Company, we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a different applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.
Building for the long-term means that all our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build unique, meaningful, and high-impact careers and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.
Job Summary: Our Nashville office is seeking an Instrumentation a Controls Engineer to join the Industrial Division. The candidate with prepare and support instrumentation and controls deliverables such as instrument indexes, I/O lists, control narratives, loop diagrams, panel layouts, network architecture diagrams, cable schedules, and technical specifications. The candidate will work within a multi-disciplined team of experienced engineers to deliver projects that meet project objectives.
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Chemical Engineering or equivalent from an ABET-accredited school.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to exercise independent design decisions.
- Experience integrating interfacing and evaluating programming logic within DCS and/or PLC platforms within Industrial settings.
- Ability to simultaneously work on multiple projects within constraints of project deadlines.
- Five years or more of experience within instrumentation and/or controls. Related projects preferred.
- I.T. certificate of in-process preferred.
- Experience and detailed understanding of AutoCAD and/or REVIT designing software.
- Familiar with Pipin and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and capable of providing input with regard to instrumentation, tagging, and nomenclature.
- Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for field investigations, commissioning support, and client meetings.
Core Competencies:
- Knowledge of instrumentation and control principles.
- Knowledge of field instrument selection, setpoints, and use cases for associated components.
- Ability to conduct an analysis and evaluation of breaker controls, process interlocks, industrial communications protocols, SCADA platforms, and safety instrumented systems (SIS).
- Familiarity with a variety of control system frameworks and associated networks.
- Assists in the preparation or modification of instrument and I/O lists, specifications, plans, network architecture, control narratives, construction schedules, studies, permits and designs for assigned projects.
- Uses computer-assisted engineering and design software and equipment to prepare engineering and design documents.
- Assists in client contact and communication pertaining to specific projects.
- Excellent organizational and management skills.
- Ability to work well independently and as a part of a team, as well as effectively communicate with peers, owners, and contractors.
- Familiar with control system platforms (PLC/DCS/SCADA).
- Familiar with ISA and NEC codes and standards.
Location: Nashville, TN
Travel: 10%
This role is eligible for performance-based bonuses, and comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
- Professional development support
For more information, visit our full benefits overview here – Salas O’Brien benefits
About Us:
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.
We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.
Our technical expertise is paried with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life everyday.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Chemical Engineering or equivalent from an ABET-accredited school
- Five years or more of experience within instrumentation and/or controls
- Experience integrating, interfacing, and evaluating programming logic within DCS and/or PLC platforms in industrial settings
- Experience and detailed understanding of AutoCAD and/or Revit design software
- Familiarity with Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), instrumentation tagging, and nomenclature
- Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for field investigations, commissioning support, and client meetings
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with independent design decision capability
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
- Familiarity with control system platforms (PLC/DCS/SCADA), industrial communications protocols, breaker controls, process interlocks, and SIS
- Familiarity with ISA and NEC codes and standards
- I.T. certificate in-process
Salas O'Brien Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Salas O'Brien and has not been reviewed or approved by Salas O'Brien.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare options include multiple medical, dental, and vision plans with an individual medical option at no premium, plus no‑cost preventive medications and mental‑health resources. Employer‑paid disability and life coverage further strengthen the safety net.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes a base PTO allotment plus company office‑closure days and paid parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster placements. Feedback suggests the breadth of leave is a standout component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits include a 401(k) employer match with a potential additional company stock contribution, along with RRSP support in Canada and a student‑loan payment 401(k) match in the U.S. These features provide structured long‑term savings support beyond base pay.
Salas O'Brien Insights
What We Do
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues, including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.
