The Control Systems Lead provides leadership, direction, and accountability for the Control Systems team, supporting all three Methanex Geismar plants. The role is responsible for building and maintaining a capable, engaged, and high-performing team that safely and effectively supports plant operations, maintenance, reliability, projects, outages, turnarounds, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role establishes team priorities, allocates resources, manages workload and performance, develops team capability, supports recruitment and succession planning, and fosters a collaborative culture aligned with Methanex core values, site priorities, and leadership expectations.
Working closely with Technical, Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering, Projects, and site leadership teams, the Control Systems Lead provides strategic and technical leadership for instrumentation, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), process controls, automation, and associated electrical and control infrastructure. The role oversees the evaluation, prioritization, planning, and execution of Plant Change Requests, Technical Service Requests, and small OPEX modifications, ensuring work is properly scoped, risk assessed, resourced, and executed safely, cost-effectively, and in compliance with applicable technical standards and the Management of Change process. The position serves as the site subject matter expert for control systems-related capital projects, providing technical guidance, design assurance, and support through project development, construction, commissioning, and startups.
The Control Systems Lead is accountable for the reliability, availability, security, and long-term performance of plant control systems through effective technical governance, lifecycle management, cybersecurity practices, and cross-functional collaboration. The role leads Control Systems planning and execution support for major outages, pit stops, and turnarounds across all 3 Geismar plants, manages team budgets, contractors, and service providers, and oversees strategic reliability and risk-reduction initiatives, including the G3 DCS and SIS Vulnerabilities Project. This role also ensures the maintenance and continuous improvement of technical standards, procedures, system configurations, critical drawings, P&IDs, and related documentation, including oversight of Instrument and Electrical drawing control, while monitoring performance, managing risks, and driving the successful delivery of business and operational objectives.
-
Ensures all assigned DCS OPEX projects and modifications are managed such that the safety, quality, cost and schedule targets are achieved.
-
Provides expert knowledge, advice and direction to management and co-workers on configurable control systems within Methanex USA.
-
Provides technical advice and assistance to the I&E Supervisor, I&E Technicians and the Operations Department on I&E systems.
-
Communicates complex I&E and Control engineering issues to non-experts in a clear and concise fashion.
-
Ensures assigned OPEX projects and all plant modifications are implemented in accordance with the Methanex Management of Change (MOC) Standard procedures and are in compliance with all regulations.
-
Manages the Control project work list to meet customer requirements.
-
Ensures all scope of work for assigned Control projects covering detailed design, preparation of purchase specifications and preparation of construction packages are accurate, sufficient and clear.
-
Oversees the completion of the DCS / SIS G3 Vulnerabilities project, in collaboration with the team members assigned to this effort. Leads the reporting of the progress for this initiative to be delivered to the Technical Manager on a monthly basis
-
Develops engineering briefs, as well as provides technical advice and assistance as required to the Projects and Engineering group to allow the development of detailed engineering scope of work and design.
-
Ensures any Control System modification on site follows a thorough review and risk assessment from the site SME on electrical systems.
-
Supports the Engineering and Projects team on Control System modifications for Capital projects.
-
Ensures all contractors undertaking assigned project work on the Methanex Geismar site are effectively supervised such that safety, quality, costs and schedule targets are achieved.
-
Ensures all DCS drawings and documentation are controlled according to the Methanex Geismar procedures and standards.
-
Provides project support during the engineering, construction and start-up phases of Capital projects on the plant.
-
Ensures the assigned projects are implemented in compliance with our MOC and MCMP processes, procedures and are in compliance with all regulations.
-
Upholds Process Control technical excellence for the Methanex USA operations.
-
Advises and assists in the development of plant control systems to include DCS and PLC.
-
Able to provide guidance on Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) calculations. Ensures appropriate hazard and risk reviews are conducted and all issues identified are actioned.
-
Leads, supervises and contributes to the Control Systems team ensuring provision of effective Engineering support to the business.
-
Ensures the performance management system is competently applied to all assigned staff to maximize each individual’s contribution to Methanex.
-
Improves individual and organizational performance through coaching for success.
-
Ensures employee and contractor compliance with Methanex policies, procedures and applicable standards.
-
Involves the team in developing and actioning the annual department plan. Ensures alignment with the Methanex USA business plan and Corporate Strategy.
-
Effectively communicates current activities and policies.
-
Ensures implementation of and compliance with all Methanex HR policies and procedures, including performance optimization.
-
Work closely with team members, local or remote, on assignments to coach and mentor progress and performance against set goals
-
Ensures execution and delivery of the relevant components applicable to Control Systems Engineering in the Methanex USA Business Plan and the Technical Department Plan as developed each calendar year.
-
Is a member of the Global I&E Engineering sub team.
-
Ensures a high level of technical skills and plant knowledge within the I&E and Control Engineering team is maintained.
-
Manages external Consulting Engineering Services.
-
Contributes to the organizational vision of Global Methanol Leadership and as a team member demonstrates the core values of integrity, trust, respect and professionalism.
-
Conducts all business in a manner which supports the Responsible Care® ethic.
-
Networks with other Methanex sites to the mutual benefit of all sites.
-
Contributes to the ‘operational excellence’ for Methanex USA as an effective member of the Technical Department.
-
Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution required; Chemical or Electrical Engineering preferred.
-
10+ years experience in Mechanical, Electrical or Chemical Engineering or Instrumentation/Control Systems Engineering (DCS) preferably in the Oil&Gas, Refining and/or Petrochemical industries.
-
5+ years proven leadership experience preferred.
-
Experience level of Mechanical/Piping engineering and design knowledge.
-
Strong diagnostic/fault finding skills.
-
Excellent computer / programming skills.
-
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
-
In depth knowledge of standards and procedures and industry best practice.
-
Flexible and Innovative.
-
Desired previous experience in:
-
Management of Change
-
Project Management
-
Plant Reliability
-
Codes and Standards Use
-
Procurement and Expediting
-
Contract Management
-
Cost Estimating/Management
-
Statutory Requirements
-
Drafting and Document Control
-
DCS systems
-
Low, Medium and High Voltage systems
