Controls Engineer (Q- or TS-Cleared Candidates Only)

Department: Engineering

Location: CE | Oak Ridge, TN

Employment Type: FullTime

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support our client in a direct role! This position is full-time and will be based out of Oak Ridge, TN. This position will play a key role in maintaining production operations by diagnosing and resolving controls, electrical, instrumentation, and automation issues affecting manufacturing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial automation and control systems supporting nuclear facility operations.

• Support the design, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of plant control and automation systems.

• Develop, configure, program, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.

• Troubleshoot control system equipment, instrumentation, network, and communication issues to identify root causes and restore reliable operation.

• Analyze control system performance and implement improvements to increase reliability, efficiency, availability, and operational performance.

• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to resolve technical challenges and support plant objectives.

• Provide technical support for control system upgrades, modifications, equipment replacements, and modernization initiatives.

• Support integrated system testing, commissioning, and validation of control system modifications and equipment.

• Develop and execute testing procedures to verify proper system functionality and performance.

• Provide technical guidance and training to operators and maintenance personnel on control system functionality and troubleshooting.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement engineering solutions that enhance system reliability and reduce equipment downtime.

• Maintain appropriate engineering documentation, system configurations, drawings, and technical records associated with control systems.

• Ensure control system designs, modifications, and operations comply with applicable nuclear safety, quality, cybersecurity, regulatory, and engineering requirements.

• Support the safe and reliable operation of critical plant systems in a 24/7 nuclear operating environment.

Requirements

• Education & Years of Experience – Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or another accredited engineering discipline and 5 years of experience

• Citizenship – To be considered, you must be a United States (U.S.) citizen due to the federal nature of the work.

• Clearance – To be considered, you MUST have an ACTIVE or very recently active DOE “Q” Clearance or DoD “Top Secret” Clearance.

• 5+ years of experience supporting industrial control systems in manufacturing, energy, chemical processing, or other highly regulated industries

• Experience with one or more industrial control platforms, including Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Honeywell, ABB, or Emerson

• Experience supporting system commissioning, integrated testing, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Familiarity with preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, system reliability, and equipment performance monitoring

• Experience designing, installing, programming, and supporting industrial process control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and process instrumentation

• Working knowledge of engineering standards, principles, and best practices related to industrial automation and process control equipment

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause problem-solving skills

• Effective communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional engineering, operations, and maintenance teams

ABOUT GEM

GEM Technologies, Inc. (GEM) is an award-winning federal contractor with more than 30 years of experience providing environmental, construction, facility management, and technical services to federal agencies, state and local governments, and commercial organizations. Founded in 1994 as a nuclear engineering firm to support federal operations in East Tennessee, GEM has since expanded into a nationwide, multi-disciplinary provider with over 270 employees and a diverse portfolio of contracts in the environmental, nuclear, and defense sectors. Some reasons to join GEM are:

• Our philosophy – We believe in the power of effective collaboration and recognize that good partnerships are the building blocks to success.

• Our relationships – Partnering with federal clients, we solve complex problems, exceed expectations, and advance critical missions.

• Our team – We are committed to managing a cohesive workforce and cultivating a supportive workplace for our employees on contracts and in-office.

• Our community involvement – Supporting our communities, we invest time and money in local schools and non-profit organizations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

GEM’s offered compensation is dependent on candidates’ education, qualifications, and relevant years of experience. To recruit and retain our exceptional staff, we offer the opportunity to elect benefit packages that best suit our employee’s needs; this includes, but is not limited to, a competitive Salary, Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (including HSA & PPO options), Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Life Insurance, and a matching 401(k) Retirement Plan.

Please Note: With the exception of mandated state requirements, GEM does not publish salary information on external job boards; as such, most ranges listed are estimates made by vendors and not actual salary ranges.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

GEM Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.