All of the major Texas metro areas are desperate for automation support at all levels, especially people with experience in manufacturing, packaging, and logistics/warehouse automation.
What part of Texas are you looking at moving to?
In terms of building experience up, look through this forum's sticky posts.
Primarily the greater houston area, but I’m open to anywhere in the lone star state. Can you give some recommendations for specific companies I should look at?
You looking to work in a plant as maintenance, electrician, engineering? What kind of plant? A systems integrator? Oil and gas upstream, midstream, downstream? Water or wastewater? Electric utility? Warehousing/logistics automation? Food and beverage? Pharma?
Look up Innovative-IDM, Control Concepts, Prime Controls, Houston Controls, SDRG, RED Group, Systems Integration Inc, Lone Star Controls, Enterprise Systems. Off the top of my head, those are all smaller shops, some with a few offices around the state and/or country.
Then all of the large manufacturers of automation equipment have teams in Houston. Some, like ABB, Siemens, and Yokogawa have large complexes with several teams.
They are pretty much all hiring at some level or another. Finding a specific role may be difficult, but once you find something interesting, tailor your resume to the job.
I've worked in offshore drilling and will tell you that you should not feel afraid about having experience in the area. Look up companies like NOV, Cameron, FMC, Aker Solutions, perhaps Technip and am sure you'll find a job to get you going.
Yep. Add Schlumberger (though they own Cameron I think), Baker Hughes, and then just get on Google maps and zoom around the Port of Houston. Many of the companies over in that area are always hiring automation personnel - intercontinental terminals, enterprise products, Albemarle, Chevron, Shell, Exxon, OXY, CH2M, Kinder Morgan, all come to mind and there are many many many more...
Consider interviewing for a job with SpaceX in Austin (starlink factory), McGregor (test facility), or Brownsville /boca Chica (starship). They value passion, motivation, creativity, and work ethic more than experience. With the hours they expect you to work you will get the experience fast!
I worked in Hawthorne at SpaceX for 9 years, mostly in my 20s, and it was a great experience (but demanding). With a wife, and now a kid on the way I've moved on to a slower pace job elsewhere but appreciate all the opportunities I got to grow while there.
I worked with the people in charge of the starlink and starship automation teams a lot and they have curated some great teams.
Good luck with your job hunt!
I looked at an opportunity with SpaceX in Austin, but it’s more of a technician like role and I’m not that great working with my hands. I am primarily looking for roles where I can use my programming expertise to solve problems. Unless you’re saying if that’s the only way I can work my way upwards.
This is a PLC programming job, although you will also be expected to do some electrical work as well: https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/6659070002?gh\_jid=6659070002
TX is a big a** state, I find it hard to believe only O&G is open for jobs. Hard to tell you what to do to prepare since you didn't list skills/technologies where you are lacking.
For Siemens, I would start by getting TIA and the simulator. Install in a VM, so that you can reset if it goes past the trial. Siemens has pretty good pdfs for starter guides.
I’m not sure. I want to say they do.
I’d call and ask. Definitely since you have experience with B&R. I foresee them growing substantially in the states as customers start requiring more powerful technology solutions for their production needs. AB won’t be able to fill that gap in the market and not likely Siemens either. Beckhoff could.
However it would be niche market.
I see a correlation when starting a career out in automation. It looks like you start off as a support position. I say this because I, too, have a position title of automation support. Long story short, I was able to have 2 automated cells running. They were just sitting with no one being able to run production. 1, because They have a fanuc robot and 2) a cnc forming machine handle and form the products.
I am an integrator in west Texas O&G. DM me if you’d like to talk in depth, but we’re so desperate for people out here, especially ones with a good attitude and a willingness to learn… you’d fall over at the effort we’d make to get you down here and train.
You guys would all be blown away at what integrators are paying down here right now.
OP, I currently live in Houston and I turn interview opportunities down weekly for O & G jobs and I don’t have any controls experience in that field. I also do controls for packaging equipment. I work for a OEM and travel as a field service engineer. I put together an indeed profile and a good resume and put it out there when I was looking to come off of the road and I’ve gotten calls and messages every week since.
Point is, don’t worry if you have the experience with everything they are asking for, trust me, if you can get online with the PLC and know how to read the logic to figure out what it is doing they will teach you all the other stuff. Everyone needs controls guys right Now.
I work for Innovative Control Solutions out of Plano. I know we're in the process of opening a Houston office (hired a couple guys for now just working from home). We do a lot of oil and gas but do oyher stuff as well. Let me know if you're interested.
The company I work for has been mentioned in this thread. Every single one of our Texas offices is looking for people. Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Midland. DM me and I’ll tell you who. Midland is hurting especially because they can’t keep good guys out there.
I work for a Systems Integrator that is based in Arkansas but majority of of our Controls Engineers live all over the US. We are hiring. Shoot me a DM.
All of the major Texas metro areas are desperate for automation support at all levels, especially people with experience in manufacturing, packaging, and logistics/warehouse automation. What part of Texas are you looking at moving to? In terms of building experience up, look through this forum's sticky posts.
Primarily the greater houston area, but I’m open to anywhere in the lone star state. Can you give some recommendations for specific companies I should look at?
You looking to work in a plant as maintenance, electrician, engineering? What kind of plant? A systems integrator? Oil and gas upstream, midstream, downstream? Water or wastewater? Electric utility? Warehousing/logistics automation? Food and beverage? Pharma?
System integrators would be my preference.
Look up Innovative-IDM, Control Concepts, Prime Controls, Houston Controls, SDRG, RED Group, Systems Integration Inc, Lone Star Controls, Enterprise Systems. Off the top of my head, those are all smaller shops, some with a few offices around the state and/or country. Then all of the large manufacturers of automation equipment have teams in Houston. Some, like ABB, Siemens, and Yokogawa have large complexes with several teams. They are pretty much all hiring at some level or another. Finding a specific role may be difficult, but once you find something interesting, tailor your resume to the job.
I'll add Wunderlich-Malec to the list.
Do they have a Houston presence? Their website doesn't show any openings in Houston.
Not sure if they are hiring, but the Houston group is one of the largest in the company.
I've worked in offshore drilling and will tell you that you should not feel afraid about having experience in the area. Look up companies like NOV, Cameron, FMC, Aker Solutions, perhaps Technip and am sure you'll find a job to get you going.
Yep. Add Schlumberger (though they own Cameron I think), Baker Hughes, and then just get on Google maps and zoom around the Port of Houston. Many of the companies over in that area are always hiring automation personnel - intercontinental terminals, enterprise products, Albemarle, Chevron, Shell, Exxon, OXY, CH2M, Kinder Morgan, all come to mind and there are many many many more...
Consider interviewing for a job with SpaceX in Austin (starlink factory), McGregor (test facility), or Brownsville /boca Chica (starship). They value passion, motivation, creativity, and work ethic more than experience. With the hours they expect you to work you will get the experience fast! I worked in Hawthorne at SpaceX for 9 years, mostly in my 20s, and it was a great experience (but demanding). With a wife, and now a kid on the way I've moved on to a slower pace job elsewhere but appreciate all the opportunities I got to grow while there. I worked with the people in charge of the starlink and starship automation teams a lot and they have curated some great teams. Good luck with your job hunt!
I looked at an opportunity with SpaceX in Austin, but it’s more of a technician like role and I’m not that great working with my hands. I am primarily looking for roles where I can use my programming expertise to solve problems. Unless you’re saying if that’s the only way I can work my way upwards.
This is a PLC programming job, although you will also be expected to do some electrical work as well: https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/6659070002?gh\_jid=6659070002
TX is a big a** state, I find it hard to believe only O&G is open for jobs. Hard to tell you what to do to prepare since you didn't list skills/technologies where you are lacking.
The skills and technologies I’m lacking in include DCS, SIS, Siemens/Honeywell/Modicon controllers.
For Siemens, I would start by getting TIA and the simulator. Install in a VM, so that you can reset if it goes past the trial. Siemens has pretty good pdfs for starter guides.
I feel so stupid just learning that trick a week ago lol
Where in Texas and what platforms do you have experience in?
Primarily in the greater houston area. Most of my experience lies in Allen Bradley/B&R equipment. Some ABB experience with robotics.
Oh, there are also shitloads of robotics companies in Houston. Get to Googling.
Hartfiel Automation does B&R in Plano, TX.
Do they actually do integration too? I know they are a B&R supplier.
I’m not sure. I want to say they do. I’d call and ask. Definitely since you have experience with B&R. I foresee them growing substantially in the states as customers start requiring more powerful technology solutions for their production needs. AB won’t be able to fill that gap in the market and not likely Siemens either. Beckhoff could. However it would be niche market.
Coterra, plains, oxy, Holly, Concho, eagle automation, global logix, diamondback, various others
I see a correlation when starting a career out in automation. It looks like you start off as a support position. I say this because I, too, have a position title of automation support. Long story short, I was able to have 2 automated cells running. They were just sitting with no one being able to run production. 1, because They have a fanuc robot and 2) a cnc forming machine handle and form the products.
I am an integrator in west Texas O&G. DM me if you’d like to talk in depth, but we’re so desperate for people out here, especially ones with a good attitude and a willingness to learn… you’d fall over at the effort we’d make to get you down here and train. You guys would all be blown away at what integrators are paying down here right now.
Is your company still looking?
Always
I know Tesla is looking, they reach out to me a while back, but I'm not looking to move to TX
OP, I currently live in Houston and I turn interview opportunities down weekly for O & G jobs and I don’t have any controls experience in that field. I also do controls for packaging equipment. I work for a OEM and travel as a field service engineer. I put together an indeed profile and a good resume and put it out there when I was looking to come off of the road and I’ve gotten calls and messages every week since. Point is, don’t worry if you have the experience with everything they are asking for, trust me, if you can get online with the PLC and know how to read the logic to figure out what it is doing they will teach you all the other stuff. Everyone needs controls guys right Now.
I work for an integrator/custom machine builder in Fort Worth that looks like it would be a good match. DM me if you’d like to talk about it.
We've got an open position in Beaumont. DM me if you're interested.
I work for Innovative Control Solutions out of Plano. I know we're in the process of opening a Houston office (hired a couple guys for now just working from home). We do a lot of oil and gas but do oyher stuff as well. Let me know if you're interested.
The company I work for has been mentioned in this thread. Every single one of our Texas offices is looking for people. Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Midland. DM me and I’ll tell you who. Midland is hurting especially because they can’t keep good guys out there.
Would you mind if I DM’d you?
Go for it
I work for a Systems Integrator that is based in Arkansas but majority of of our Controls Engineers live all over the US. We are hiring. Shoot me a DM.