Instrument Control & Automation Engineer (Hybrid)

About the role

Join BASF’s Global Engineering team as an Instrument Control & Automation Engineer, supporting new chemical plants, research labs, expansions and infrastructure projects across North America. The role blends design, implementation and troubleshooting of instrumentation and control systems to ensure safe, sustainable and cost‑effective operations.

Key responsibilities

• Review design documentation and ensure system designs align with manufacturing operations, cost‑reduction and sustainability goals.
• Develop and maintain instrument documentation, functional design specifications, P&IDs, control strategies, panel layouts and logic diagrams.
• Design, program, commission and support PLCs, Safety Instrumented Systems (Triconex/HIMA) and Burner Management Systems while complying with BASF technical standards and industry codes.
• Diagnose instrumentation and I/O issues, ensuring reliable communication between DCS, PLCs, analyzers and field devices.
• Lead SIS training, dossier management, safety requirement specifications and proof‑test procedures in collaboration with process, operations and maintenance teams.
• Participate in PHA, HAZOP, functional safety assessments and SIL studies to support safe operations.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical or related engineering with 10+ years of process instrumentation experience (or Engineering Specialist degree with 15+ years).
• Proven experience with process instrumentation, Safety Instrumented Systems, Distributed Control Systems and PLCs.
• Experience developing instrument documentation, control strategies and related deliverables (preferred).
• Background in designing, programming and commissioning PLC, SIS and Burner Management Systems (preferred).
• Ability to interpret BASF Technical Standards and industry standards such as ISA 84, IEC 61508/11, NEC and NFPA.
• Strong troubleshooting, collaboration and communication skills across engineering, operations and maintenance.
• Experience supporting capital projects through FEL, detailed design, construction, FAT, SAT and startup (preferred).

Required skills

• Process instrumentation
• Safety Instrumented Systems (Triconex, HIMA)
• Distributed Control Systems (Foxboro, DeltaV, ABB)
• PLC programming and commissioning
• Burner Management Systems
• Industrial networking and plant automation infrastructure
• Instrument documentation (P&IDs, functional design specs, control strategies, logic diagrams)
• Reliability tools (FMEA, RBI, RCM)

What we offer

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible
• Highly competitive retirement savings plan with company match
• Comprehensive mental health support for employees and families
• Family‑forming benefits including fertility, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement
• Back‑up child and elder care discount programs
• Mentoring, career development and matching‑gifts programs
• Employee discounts, access to BASF wine cellar and more