{"id":1135625,"url":"https://alion.io/job/investor-relations-nabors-industries-automation-engineer-ii-2","title":"Automation Engineer II","company":{"id":1046501,"name":"Nabors Industries","domain":"nabors.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/nabors-industries","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"is_intermediary":false,"ats_vendor":"Oracle","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":37,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-09-24T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Houston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":82000,"max_usd":170000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":297},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-18T17:20:12Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-18","last_verified_at":"2026-09-24T08:54:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"As an Automation Engineer II, you will help develop the software and automation technologies that power Nabors' industry-leading drilling automation solutions. Your work will directly improve operational consistency, drilling performance, and equipment reliability by delivering new automation capabilities and resolving complex system challenges. This role offers the opportunity to influence next-generation drilling technology while solving real-world engineering problems that have a measurable impact on field operations globally.\nThe Automation Engineer II develops and supports PLC-based automation software for Nabors' drilling automation product suite, including SmartDrill and other advanced automation platforms. This role partners closely with product managers, quality teams, field operations, and fellow engineers to transform operational requirements into reliable automation solutions that improve drilling performance and user experience.\nSuccess in this role means independently developing new software functionality, troubleshooting complex automation issues, and delivering robust solutions that perform reliably in the field. The ideal candidate combines strong PLC programming expertise with a passion for process automation, continuous improvement, and technical problem solving.\n PLC Software Development & Automation Solutions\nDesign, develop, and enhance PLC-based automation software that improves drilling performance, operational consistency, and equipment utilization.\nTranslate product requirements into scalable control logic and automation features that support Nabors' drilling automation platforms.\nDevelop software enhancements, functionality upgrades, and automation capabilities aligned to business and operational needs.\nApply structured programming and software engineering practices to deliver maintainable, high-quality code.\nSustaining Engineering & Technical Problem Solving\nInvestigate, diagnose, and resolve software defects identified through field operations, testing activities, and product releases.\nAnalyze operational data, system logs, and automation performance metrics to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.\nDevelop and deploy software patches that improve system stability, reliability, and user experience.\nDrive long-term solutions that reduce recurring issues and improve product performance across the automation portfolio.\nProduct Validation & Quality Collaboration\nPartner with quality and testing teams to validate new functionality and identify software defects before deployment.\nSupport iterative testing cycles by evaluating feedback, addressing findings, and refining automation solutions.\nVerify functionality against requirements and ensure software performs as intended across operational scenarios.\nContribute to continuous improvement of development, testing, and release processes.\nCross-Functional Engineering Partnership\nCollaborate with automation engineers, drilling subject matter experts, operations personnel, and product stakeholders to develop effective technical solutions.\nInterpret business and operational requirements and translate them into software functionality.\nSupport multiple automation products while building technical expertise across the broader drilling automation portfolio.\nCommunicate technical recommendations, risks, project progress, and solution impacts to stakeholders clearly and effectively. \n Required Skills\nBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, military experience, and relevant industry experience will be considered.\n3+ years of experience developing, programming, and supporting PLC-based automation or industrial control systems.\nDemonstrated experience with Rockwell Automation platforms (RSLogix/Studio 5000) or comparable PLC systems.\nStrong PLC programming and process automation expertise, including the ability to develop automation logic from functional requirements.\nExperience designing, supporting, and troubleshooting industrial control systems involving instrumentation, sensors, drives, communications, and machine automation.\nProven ability to diagnose complex software, controls, and system integration issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement sustainable solutions.\nExperience working with industrial communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC, Profibus, or similar technologies.\nAbility to interpret engineering specifications, electrical schematics, and operational requirements to develop effective automation solutions.\nExperience supporting software and automation systems throughout the development, testing, deployment, and operational support lifecycle.\nStrong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across engineering, quality, operations, manufacturing, and field teams.\nAbility to support occasional after-hours operational issues and travel up to 10% as needed.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with drilling automation, drilling rig controls, oil and gas operations, or other industrial automation environments.\nExperience with Rockwell Automation platforms and ladder logic programming.\nExperience supporting process automation systems in manufacturing, mining, power generation, chemical processing, marine, or other heavy industrial environments.\nFamiliarity with industrial communications protocols and networked control systems.\nExperience with Python, C, or other programming languages used in automation or software development environments.\nExposure to SmartDrill, directional drilling automation, or similar advanced automation technologies.\nUnderstanding of quality testing, defect resolution, and software release processes.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5835,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Energy Storage","Lighting","Oil & Gas"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-23T07:49:56Z"}],"liveness":{"score":58,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.577,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-09-24T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/investor-relations-nabors-industries-automation-engineer-ii-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/investor-relations-nabors-industries-automation-engineer-ii-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-24T09:03:02Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers"}}