Controls and Automation Engineer- Early Career Development Program at Nabors in Houston, Texas

Job Summary

Join a team working on Controls and Automation with the best in class, innovative technology. Develop techniques to automate drilling equipment to improve safety, efficiency of the drilling process. Be part of the Nabors Early Career Development Program (ECD) to fast track your career! This rotational program will provide access to advance your knowledge and skills in high-profile roles within the ACE (Actively Changing Energy) program. You will start as a full-time Controls and Automation Engineer. The ECD program offers rotational opportunities in key areas during initial 12-18 months of employment, to help your knowledge and career development. Works with various departments including, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Product Design, Quality Assurance and Software Engineering to develop the skillset required to successfully contribute to controls robotic technologies and equipment.  Learn from real life business exposure in the best-in-class oil and gas technology industry to take your talents to the next level. Be part of the Nabors team. Position based out of Houston, TX. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as Robotics/Automation engineer with role of designing and developing software for automated machinery based on given requirements and specification.


• Understanding of machine controls which include induction motor control using AC Drives, servo motor control, hydraulic/pneumatics actuator/valve control.


• Software development will include developing machine control algorithms in robotic software platforms in C++ / Python


• Software architecture design, Code, Bill of Materials, Network Architectures, Operations manuals.


• Sustain current rig applications and debugging / fixing issues that are reported in the field. This could be by answering calls and working with technicians, remotely connecting to rig system and troubleshoot, or by traveling to the rig site and working with rig personnel to fix the issue.


• Commissioning of new products during deployment.


• Maintain product safety in all designs.


• Perform design prototyping, including field implementing and testing.

Minimum Qualifications / Skills

BS degree in Electrical, Mechanical engineering or Computer Science with related experience in robotics.

0-1 years of experience in designing and implementing machine controls systems or embedded controllers.

Robotics software interest and knowledge

Previous experience with controlling automated machines

Robotic software tools like ROS, PickNik MoveiT, Energid Actin etc.

Preferred Qualifications 

·    Master’s Degree or PhD in Controls / Robotics

·    Internship or experience in the energy or drilling industry

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong desire to learn and ability to be part of a team


• Effective communication skills both verbal & written, both 1-1 and group situations


• Situational leadership


• Time management

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge of Robotic Software platform, like PickNik MoveIt, ROS (Robot Operating System), Energid’s Actin etc.


• Strong ability to write C++ code


• Proficient in writing real time control code in Linux environment


• Strong understanding of code versioning tools like Git etc.


• Understanding of Hydraulics/Pneumatics controls


• AC drives and servo controls (SIEMENS/ABB/Converteam/Yaskawa)


• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols, including OPC, MODBUS, EtherCAT, Ethernet IP, and required.


• Software architecture design and development experience


• Ability to read electrical schematics.


• Strong hands-on hardware troubleshooting and software debugging skills


• Project management and presentation skills


• Ability to extract and document requirements from user problem description

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

While this position is primarily based in a professional office environment, travel to yards and rigs is essential and required.  

•               25% travel is expected with valid passport/domestic and international travel may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit, stand or walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear and smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to vibration, risk of electrical shock, wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, high and precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions and extreme cold and heat.