Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Engineer

Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) is looking for an Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Engineer to join our Engineering team. In this role, you will be accountable for instrumentation and controls scope in multidisciplinary engineering projects spread across scales from laboratory and pilot scales up to major capital projects. This role reports to the US Engineering Manager and works day-to-day with the U.S. Engineering and Research & Optimization teams. Location: Austin, Texas (preferred) \*Remote candidates within the United States will be considered, with regular travel to U.S. project sites required. ### Responsibilities Controls Delivery & Execution - Lead end to end I&C execution for a portfolio of technical projects, from early concept through construction, commissioning, and handover to operations. - Build and maintain control philosophies, implementation plans, instrument lists, etc. - Accurately report cost, tradeoff considerations, schedule, and milestone performance related to assigned I&E scopes; escalate issues early and drive structured recovery plans when needed. - Participate in recurring project meetings (status, design progress, readiness, lessons learned), ensuring clear progress and updated resourcing/timelines are available to project management as it relates to I&C scopes. Technical Coordination (Without Design Ownership) Act as the primary project level coordinator between Process, Mechanical, Controls, Operations, and EHS, ensuring interfaces, assumptions, and constraints are clearly documented and aligned. - Ensure engineering deliverables (PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specs, layouts, tie ins, etc.) are progressing per plan, without assuming responsibility for detailed design. - Support the U.S. Engineering Manager by surfacing cross discipline clashes, constraints, and resourcing needs early, enabling proactive leadership decisions. - Facilitate the flow of information between R&D, Engineering, and Operations so that scales up risks, operability concerns, and maintainability requirements are incorporated into project scope and timelines. Vendor, EPC, and Construction Coordination - Work with QLE project managers to coordinate engineering contractors on project I&C scope, schedule, and interfaces, while maintaining technical authority over work delivery. - Support preparation and tracking of technical requisitions, RFQs, and purchase orders for equipment and services, ensuring alignment with project budgets and timelines. - Work closely with construction and commissioning leads to integrate field constraints, tie in windows, and start up sequences into project plans. - Provide context and respond to I&C related change orders, RFIs, and technical queries from vendors and contractors from a scope/schedule/cost perspective. Governance, Risk, and Safety Integration Embed “compliance first” and “safety by design” expectations in project plans, aligning with engineering, EHS, and regulatory stakeholders. - Follow project documentation standards for project proposal, decision gates, and change management to meet internal governance requirements Communication, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement Provide clear, concise project status reporting to the U.S. Engineering Manager, Project Managers and broader leadership – including KPIs, risks, and decisions required. - Conveys technical information regarding I&C workstreams to non-I&C peers and managers in a way which permits educated decision making and risk management in I&C scope. - Capture and institutionalize lessons learned (scope definition, contracting strategy, commissioning readiness, stakeholder engagement), improving templates and playbooks over time. ### Requirements - >10 years of experience in I&C engineering, automation engineering, SCADA engineering, or similar roles in chemical, petrochemical, refining, nuclear, or advanced manufacturing environments. - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Data Science disci…