Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

The Santos (Oil Search) Alaska LLC Business Unit (OSA) is responsible for appraising discovered resources in Alaska, commercializing the appraised resources and ultimately developing a project leading to oil production. In addition, OSA will be responsible for securing additional acreage and the discovery of new resources in the region. The President OSA is accountable for managing this Business Unit to the parent Company, Santos LLC, headquartered in Adelaide, Australia.

Through its merger with Oil Search, Santos has acquired and assumed operatorship over a world-class portfolio of oil leases on the Alaskan North Slope, USA. Our focus in Alaska is advancement of our Pikka Phase 1 project, which includes a single drill site, an oil processing facility, and other infrastructure to support production of 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Pikka has been identified as being among the top quartile of oil and gas development projects for greenhouse gas emissions performance. Pikka is poised to play an important role in the energy transition and is aligned with our company goal of managing climate change risk. The project is on track to be ready for first oil in 2026.

The Pikka Unit is one of the largest conventional oil discoveries made in the United States in the last 30 years, and the Pikka Phase 1 Project is the most significant development on Alaska's North Slope in more than 20 years. The permitted Pikka development project includes two additional drill sites. The Alaska assets also include discoveries made from both the Mitquq and Stirrup exploration wells drilled in 2020. These opportunities combine to offer a clear path to long-term growth in Alaska.

Position Purpose

The Senior Automation and Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automation and control systems to improve efficiency, reliability, and safety within the organization.

This position will oversee transition from project delivery to operating state and will be the eventual accountable owner of the complete ICSS (Integrated Control and Safety System) and supporting systems. The Senior Automation & Controls Engineer will be the Santos Alaska asset technical authority for this discipline. They will be accountable for development of corporate and regulatory compliant management systems within the Santos Operations Excellence System.

The successful candidate will lead projects to upgrade existing systems or implement new automation solutions, utilizing the latest technologies and best practices. The Senior Engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, develop solutions, and ensure successful implementation of automation projects. Additionally, this position will be the champion for ICSS and its incorporation into the future Anchorage Primary Control Centre.

Key Accountabilities

• Promote and lead in the implementation of Santos Ltd policies and procedures, including safety, health, environment, process, people and planning.
• Work and lead in an integrated fashion for project and asset success.
• Work with peers to ensure coordination of the technical aspects of the project are integrated in a timely manner to support execution.
• Ensure all designs are safe to install and operate.
• Collaborate closely with the major automation contractor, engineering, operations, and projects to ensure overall success.
• Provide 'in-house' engineering design, construction support, and startup assistance for the project.
• Participates in the development of operation, maintenance, and start-up philosophies.
• Participates in the evaluation & selection of operations technologies and systems.
• Participates in the Process Hazard Evaluation process.
• Participates in the risk management process.
• Participates in planning and supports commissioning & start-up.
• Ensure compliance of Process Safety Management (PSM) & Management of Change.
• Participates in the evaluation of new and/or unproven technology, review and assure inputs to emissions compliance.
• Identify opportunities to optimize existing automation systems to improve efficiency, reliability, and safety. Develop and implement strategies to enhance system performance and reduce downtime.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to junior engineers and cross-functional teams. Mentor team members on best practices and emerging technologies in automation and controls.

Formal Qualifications

• A bachelor's or master's degree or equivalent in an appropriate field.
• Applicants must be eligible and authorized to work in the United States

Experience

• 10+ years of major experience with a focus on designing and implementing complex automation systems. Experience in project/asset management.
• Alaska experience preferred
• Has clearly demonstrated strong technical competence including technical skills in PLC programming, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networking and control system design.
• Expertise of Emerson Delta V preferred
• Ability to work within a diverse cultural environment and demonstrated interpersonal/teambuilding skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills