I&E Lead

Optimized Process Designs (OPD), a Koch Engineered Solutions company, is seeking an I&E Project Lead to join our team at our headquarters in Katy, TX.

In this role, you will serve as the primary owner of the Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls (I&E) scope for EPC projects from project development through commissioning and startup. You will be responsible for driving execution across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities while maintaining alignment with project cost, schedule, quality, and client objectives.

Success in this role requires a strong ownership mentality and the ability to balance technical leadership with practical project execution. Rather than serving as the deepest technical expert in every aspect of Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls, you will be expected to understand how the pieces fit together, make sound decisions, coordinate resources, remove obstacles, and ensure successful project delivery.

This position is ideal for engineers with a strong background in Electrical, Instrumentation, or Controls engineering who enjoy solving problems across disciplines and are ready to take broader responsibility for project execution. We are looking for individuals with depth in at least one I&E discipline and a desire to expand their impact across the full project lifecycle.

• Serve as the technical lead and execution owner for all Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls (I&E) activities on EPC projects from proposal through startup.
• Develop project estimates, scope definitions, execution strategies, and project plans.
• Lead I&E execution to achieve project cost, quality, safety, and schedule objectives.
• Forecast resource requirements, manage risks and critical path activities, and coordinate engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning efforts.
• Lead client engagement, change management, and cross-functional coordination to ensure successful project delivery.
• Proactively identify challenges, develop solutions, and drive issue resolution to maintain project momentum.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Lead the development of electrical, instrumentation, controls, and automation solutions through internal teams, vendors, subcontractors, and subject matter experts.
• Oversee electrical system design, including power distribution, grounding, hazardous area classification, electrical studies, and equipment specifications.
• Develop process control philosophies, control system architectures, automation strategies, and integration solutions.
• Develop and review key project deliverables, including I/O Lists, Control Narratives, Cause & Effect Matrices, Instrument Indexes, and DCS, SIS, and PLC designs.
• Lead multidisciplinary design and safety reviews, including PHA, HAZOP, constructability, and operability evaluations.
• Ensure technical quality, constructability, maintainability, and compliance with applicable codes, standards, and client requirements.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Lead procurement activities for major electrical, instrumentation, and controls equipment packages.
• Develop technical requisitions, scopes of work, and bid evaluation criteria.
• Evaluate bids, support vendor selection, and manage equipment packages through design, fabrication, testing, delivery, and startup support.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) activities and work with suppliers to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions that support project objectives.

Construction, Commissioning & Startup

• Provide technical leadership during construction, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Coordinate field issue resolution, design changes, contractor interfaces, installation support, and functional testing.
• Develop commissioning, turnover, and startup strategies to support successful facility startup and handoff to operations.