PLC Engineer

Position: PLC Engineer

Department: Operations Technology (OT)/Controls Engineering

Reports to: Director of IT

Location: Bakersfield, California

Classification: Exempt

Annual Salary Range: $75,000 to $90,000

Annual Bonus Potential: 10%

Benefits: Standard CalBio benefits package is available: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

CalBio projects benefit the environment both globally and locally. Working with the dairies we capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that currently is released into the atmosphere and use it beneficially. Our projects reduce CO2e emissions by over one million metric tons per year, and we are on track to double these CO2e reductions over the next three years.

One of the major uses of CalBio biomethane will be as vehicle fuel. When truck fleets convert from diesel to natural gas, pollution emissions are reduced by approximately 90%, a great and immediate advancement for air quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley and L.A. basin.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior PLC Engineer will be responsible for designing, programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting control systems for industrial biogas, wastewater, and energy management facilities. This role involves firsthand work with Rockwell Automation platforms, LoRaWAN gateways, flow meters, wastewater monitoring instruments, electric submeters, and HMI/SCADA interfaces, including partial development in Ignition. The engineer will support CalBio’s digital transformation initiatives, ensuring reliable field data acquisition for environmental compliance, operations optimization, and LCFS/RIN reporting.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

PLC & Control System Engineering

• Program, configure, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley / Rockwell PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix).
• Design and implement ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text code.
• Develop and maintain HMI screens using FactoryTalk View or similar tools.
• Perform PLC panel configuration, wiring validation, and I/O commissioning.

Field Instrumentation & IoT Integration

• Integrate LoRaWAN gateways for telemetry data transmission across distributed assets.
• Interface with flow meters (gas/liquid), wastewater meters, and electric submeters.
• Configure and optimize analog and digital I/O signals from field devices.
• Ensure accurate data acquisition and reliable communication with SCADA/BMS platforms.

SCADA & Visualization

• Support deployment and basic configuration of Ignition SCADA modules.
• Develop SCADA tags, historian connections, alarms, and data logging structures.
• Assist in HMI/SCADA integration with MQTT brokers and OT networks.

Operational Support & Compliance

• Commission new OT installations at digester plants, wastewater facilities, or energy hubs.
• Troubleshoot system faults, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure control systems adhere to safety, IEC 62443 cybersecurity standards, and facility regulatory requirements.
• Support data flow into reporting systems for GHG, LCFS, and renewable energy credits.

ESSENTIAL JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Industrial Automation, Mechatronics, or related discipline (or equivalent firsthand experience).
• 3+ years of experience in PLC programming, HMI development, and field commissioning.
• Firsthand experience with Rockwell Automation technologies including RS Logix, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View.
• Working knowledge of:
  • LoRaWAN gateways and industrial data loggers
  • Flow meters, wastewater meters, and electric submeters.
  • HMI deployment and change management.
  • Basic Ignition SCADA development or support
• Understanding of industrial protocols: Modbus TCP/RTU, Ethernet/IP, MQTT.
• Ability to read and interpret P&ID diagrams, wiring schematics, and control narratives.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in biogas, renewable energy, or wastewater operations.
• Exposure to Ignition Perspective or Vision modules.
• Experience integrating OT data into enterprise systems (historian, SQL, BMS).

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to work independently in field environments.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with operations, IT, and compliance teams.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on system reliability and data accuracy.

Certifications (Preferred but Not Mandatory)

• Rockwell Automation Certification
• ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or working towards one.

Travel Requirement

• Up to 30% travel to field sites for commissioning and troubleshooting activities.