Helmerich & Payne

Control Systems Engineer, Principal

Tulsa-OK-USA Full time

At H&P, our people are our strength.

 

Since 1920, Helmerich and Payne has been the industry’s most trusted partner in drilling productivity and reliability. As the world changes, so does our approach. We are changing the landscape of drilling by using cutting-edge rig technologies and drilling solutions to build upon a century of success, all while continuing to deliver better outcomes for our customers. 

At H&P, our people are our strength. We strive to continually lead with our Core Values that enable employees to develop on their H&P Journey. We believe that doing the right thing means creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that empowers our people to bring their authentic selves to work every day. 

Some companies offer career paths. We offer a Journey of a Lifetime. Let's go far, together.

Hear directly from our employees, and leaders about their unique journeys at Helmerich and Payne

Location: Tulsa, OK

Work Type: Onsite

#LI-Onsite

At a Glance:

The Control & Application Systems Engineer, Principal is critical to maintaining and evolving our software infrastructure, which supports automation platforms and industrial control systems. You will play a key role in ensuring the reliability, scalability, and security of our deployment pipelines and containerized applications.

What you will do:

  • Kubernetes & Containers

  • Manage and optimize Kubernetes clusters for performance and availability.

  • Design and maintain containerized microservices using Docker and Helm.

  • Ensure secure and compliant container orchestration across environments.

  • C# Development

  • Develop and maintain backend services and APIs in C#.

  • Integrate C# applications with cloud-native services and container platforms.

  • Support legacy systems and contribute to modernization efforts.

  • Software Deployment Pipelines

  • Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins.

  • Automate testing, deployment, and rollback procedures.

  • Collaborate with QA and DevOps teams to ensure smooth software delivery.

  • Industrial Control System Integration

  • Be familiar with industrial protocols to modify PLC code to support the continuous expansion of the capabilities that are supported and exchanged between the environments via industrial protocols.

  • Work closely with the Industrial Control System team to ensure seamless integration with PLC-driven rig operating systems.

  • Align software deployments with field control requirements to maintain operational integrity.

  • Develop standards and procedures to handle the operational requirements of applications interacting with the control system

  • Write integrations between the various containers and the control system to support a variety of applications that need to request control and changes within the PLC environments.

  • Must be able to manage all aspects of an engineering project, from start to finish, so that it is completed on time and within budget.

  • Design, communicate, and implement an operational plan for completing the project; monitor progress and performance against the project plan; take action to resolve operational problems and minimize delays.

  • Identify, develop, and gather the resources to complete the project. This may include preparing engineering designs and work specifications, developing project schedules, selecting materials and equipment.

  • Liaise with other operational areas in the organization (e.g., operations, other engineering disciplines, drafting) to secure specialized resources and contributions for the project. 

  • Conduct meetings and prepare reports to communicate the status of the project.

  • Provide after hours/weekend support when needed

  • Some travel as needed

What you need:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science from an ABET accredited university required

  • Proven experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, and container orchestration.

  • Strong proficiency in C# and backend development.

  • Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools and DevOps practices.

  • Familiarity with industrial control systems and PLC integration.

  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Drilling industry or general oil & gas experience required.

  • Prior numerical computing and data simulation experience with MATLAB/Simulink, SCADA or similar, is preferred.

  • Must be able to create and read logic and flow diagrams and schematics for system/program design, programming, simulation and testing, and start-up.

  • Ability to work with multiple engineering disciplines and operational groups

  • Excellent professional and interpersonal skills.

  • Must be able to analyze field problems; support technical service in determining various causes and solutions of software/hardware-related problems reported from the field.

  • Self-motivated individual with the ability to set and achieve goals.

  • Solid documentation and organization skills.

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

Not a must, but a plus:

  • 5+ years of oil and gas, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, food processing, or similar experience preferred.
  • Hands-on field experience with power and control systems a plus.
  • Configuration and programming experience with VFD's are a plus.

What we offer:

At H&P, our commitment to our people is at the forefront, and that includes benefits that provide employees a sense of health and financial security. We know that life continues outside of employment and actively caring of our people is our priority.

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance 
  • Flexible Spending or Health Savings Accounts
  • 401k match Paid
  • Leave Plans
  • Parental & Adoption Benefits
  • Disability Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program 
  • Educational Assistance 
  • Learning & Development Opportunities 
  • Flex-scheduling available for qualifying positions to achieve work-life integration

The job level and associated compensation for this position will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and alignment with the role’s requirements. Final compensation for this role may vary depending on individual factors.

H&P is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team!