Automation (APC) Engineer I

Company DescriptionAtlas Prediction Control works directly within operating plants to restore and sustain control performance, helping chemical and continuous process facilities run more safely, efficiently and reliably. We are a vendor-neutral partner, and we strengthen performance inside our clients’ existing control systems. We are a small, technical team, and we measure ourselves by results at the plant.

Read on to find out what you will need to succeed in this position, including skills, qualifications, and experience.
Role DescriptionThe Automation (APC) Engineer I is a full-time, on-site role at our office in South Charleston, WV. You will split your time between deploying advanced process control at client sites and building the models, simulations and software tools behind Atlas’s services. You will report to the Founder & President, and a senior APC engineer will mentor you day to day. This role is for an early-career engineer who wants to grow into model-based control development.DeployConfigure, test and implement APC applications on vendor platforms (AspenTech, Honeywell, Yokogawa, Emerson and others), following functional specifications from senior engineers.Troubleshoot process and control problems at client sites and remotely.Own defined pieces of client work, such as model updates, controller retuning and performance reports, with oversight from senior engineers.Support commissioning, start-ups and operator training at client sites.DevelopWrite and test tools for APC performance monitoring, data analysis and system identification in Python and MATLAB.Build dynamic process simulations to test control strategies before they reach a live plant.Own internal R&D projects from idea to working tool, with guidance from the senior team.Document your work clearly so it can be reused across sites.
Our valuesOwnership. You are goal-oriented, ambitious and accountable for performance from start to finish.Driven. You are self-motivated, take initiative and pursue results under real operating conditions.Team Player. We collaborate, help each other and lead from the front.Innovative. We apply process expertise, APC and AI to real problems inside a plant’s existing systems.
Performance and growthAt Atlas, pay and promotions are based on performance, growth and productivity. You will learn model-based control from experienced engineers, take on bigger client work as you prove yourself, and have a clear path toward a technology development role. We pay for training and coursework that build your skills.
Work arrangement and benefitsOn-site at our South Charleston, WV office, with client site travel of up to 25% annually, mostly domestic and occasionally international.Base salary of $80,000 to $90,000, plus a performance bonus.Group medical, Safe Harbor 401(k) with a match of up to 6%, $50,000 term life insurance, PTO with floating holidays, tuition and training reimbursement, and a $125 per workday bonus for client trips of two weeks or longer.
QualificationsBS or MS in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field.2 to 5 years of industry experience in process engineering, process control or automation in a chemical, refining or continuous process plant.Experience with DCS, PLC or historian systems, and comfort working in live plant environments with operations, maintenance and engineering teams.Coding experience in Python, MATLAB or a similar language.Comfort using AI tools such as Claude, Codex or Cursor in your daily engineering and coding work.Strong analytical skills, with the ability to work with process data and diagnose performance issues.Clear written and spoken communication, including documentation of technical work.A commitment to safety and quality.
What we look for in your interests:We don’t expect you to have done all of this yet. We do want you to be eager to learn:Model predictive control and system identification.Soft sensors and inferential modeling.Building your own engineering tools in code.
If you’ve worked on any of these in a course, research project or job, tell us about it.
Atlas Prediction Control is an equal opportunity employer. xzbcwsv Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.