Nexus Circular – Sr Instrumentation & Controls Engineer - Atlanta

Nexus Circular is the commercial leader in advanced recycling technology that converts landfill-bound plastics into circular feedstocks for the production of sustainable virgin plastics for packaging and other applications. Nexus Circular’s end-to-end solution is economically validated as demonstrated by consistent bulk sales of high quality, ISCC Plus circular feedstocks for virgin plastic production. Aligned with global partners who seek proven scalable solutions to meet ambitious plastic circularity goals, Nexus Circular is rapidly expanding its innovation footprint worldwide, moving decisively to address the complex challenges of plastics accumulation in the environment.

Nexus has built an outstanding culture. We are looking for people to contribute to a fast-paced, environmentally committed business that is focused on growth and sustainability. We are very collaborative, transparent, data driven, value diverse perspectives and are looking for constructive initiatives and new ideas. We are looking for self-starters and independent thinkers who work collaboratively in teams. Given the growth stage of Nexus, we are also looking for people who are comfortable moving between strategic thinking and executing those ideas to take Nexus to the next level.

Role Overview

Nexus Circular is seeking a Senior Instrumentation & Controls Project Engineer to serve as the technical lead and primary interface for instrumentation, automation, and controls on capital projects, facility expansions, and process upgrades.

Reporting to the Electrical Engineering Manager, this position will lead I&C activities from conceptual design through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and project closeout. The engineer will coordinate EPC firms, system integrators, equipment suppliers, contractors, and multidisciplinary Nexus teams. The role requires basic electrical engineering knowledge to manage power, grounding, motor-control, and packaged-equipment interfaces associated with instrumentation and controls.

Responsibilities

·       Serve as Nexus’s I&C project lead and owner’s technical representative for assigned capital projects.

·       Establish design criteria, scopes of work, battery limits, deliverables, schedules, and technical acceptance requirements.

·       Lead and coordinate work performed by EPC firms, consultants, system integrators, vendors, and contractors.

·       Develop and review:

o   P&IDs, instrument indexes, data sheets, and I/O lists.

o   Instrument layouts, installation details, loop diagrams, and cable schedules.

o   Control narratives, operating sequences, and cause-and-effect matrices.

o   PLC, HMI, remote I/O, and industrial-network architectures.

o   Alarm, interlock, permissive, and shutdown requirements.

·       Select and specify process instruments, analyzers, control valves, actuators, and related accessories.

·       Review instrument ranges, sizing, accuracy, materials, process connections, environmental ratings, and hazardous-area suitability.

·       Coordinate instrument power, grounding, shielding, signal segregation, intrinsic safety, surge protection, and cable routing.

·       Ensure control-system designs properly implement process requirements, operating philosophies, alarms, interlocks, permissives, and shutdown functions.

·       Coordinate interfaces between plant control systems and packaged equipment, motor controls, safety systems, and industrial networks.

·       Provide basic electrical engineering support for 120/480 VAC power distribution, MCC and VFD interfaces, control panels, UPS/DC systems, grounding, and heat tracing.

·       Review single-line diagrams, load lists, wiring diagrams, equipment data sheets, and cable-sizing calculations as they relate to I&C systems.

·       Prepare and review specifications, RFQs, technical bid evaluations, vendor submittals, RFIs, deviations, and field changes.

·       Monitor engineering progress and identify design gaps, interface conflicts, long-lead items, and cost or schedule risks.

·       Evaluate project deliverables for technical accuracy, completeness, integration, constructability, operability, and commissioning readiness.

·       Support construction walkdowns, installation inspections, FAT, SAT, calibration, loop checks, I/O verification, functional testing, commissioning, and startup.

·       Participate in PHA, HAZOP, MOC, PSSR, constructability, and commissioning-readiness reviews.

·       Verify final project documentation reflects the installed and commissioned system.

·       Mentor engineers and designers and provide technical direction across multidisciplinary teams.

·       Travel approximately 10%–20%, depending on project requirements.

Required Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.

·       Seven or more years of instrumentation and controls experience in chemical, petrochemical, energy, manufacturing, or a related process industry.

·       Experience delivering capital projects through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.

·       Experience serving as an I&C discipline lead, project technical lead, or owner’s engineer.

·       Experience managing technical interfaces among EPC firms, system integrators, vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.

·       Strong knowledge of process instrumentation, analyzers, control valves, PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O, and industrial networks.

·       Experience developing and reviewing P&IDs, instrument data sheets, I/O lists, loop diagrams, control narratives, and cause-and-effect matrices.

·       Knowledge of instrument grounding, shielding, signal segregation, intrinsic safety, and hazardous-area installations.

·       Basic knowledge of industrial electrical systems through 480 VAC, including MCCs, motors, VFDs, control panels, UPS/DC systems, and grounding.

·       Experience supporting FAT, SAT, construction, calibration, loop checks, functional testing, commissioning, and startup.

·       Knowledge of applicable ISA, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, ANSI, UL, OSHA, and hazardous-area requirements.

·       Strong technical leadership, project coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.

·       Ability to manage multiple projects, contractors, and priorities.

     Preferred Qualifications

• Seven or more years of relevant project experience.
• Experience with Rockwell ControlLogix, Siemens TIA Portal, Codesys, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, Profibus, Profinet, HART, and related protocols.
• Experience with safety instrumented systems, analyzer systems, alarm rationalization, and shutdown testing.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Electrical, SPI/Intools, or similar engineering tools.
• Experience with project controls, technical change management, and contractor change-order review.
• Exposure to medium-voltage electrical systems and power-system studies.
• Experience in advanced recycling, chemical processing, refining, plastics, or renewable fuels.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

·       Strong instrumentation and controls project leadership.

·       Ability to manage technical interfaces across multiple disciplines and organizations.

·       Ability to evaluate EPC, integrator, and vendor deliverables for completeness and quality.

·       Strong understanding of process measurement, automation, and packaged-equipment integration.

·       Ability to balance safety, operability, constructability, cost, and schedule.

·       Self-starter with sound technical judgment and strong initiative.

·       Effective communicator capable of leading through influence.

·       Comfortable managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position.

Nexus Circular Is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Nexus Circular provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant with a disability unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.

Statement to Third-Party Agencies: Nexus Circular only accepts resumes from agencies with which we formally engage their services. Please do not forward any resumes, as Nexus Circular is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.