Automation Engineer

Cascade Engineering & Contracting is hiring an Automation Engineer in Abu Dhabi on a one-year extendable contract. The role is ideal for Instrumentation Engineering graduates with 1–2 years of experience in PLC and SCADA-based industrial automation projects. Responsibilities include supporting control system design, preparing I/O lists, logic diagrams, functional design specifications, and assisting in FAT and SAT activities. Candidates should understand ladder logic, HMI configuration, industrial communication protocols, and control documentation. This position offers hands-on exposure in oil and gas automation projects within a structured engineering and panel integration environment.

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Automation Engineer Job in Abu Dhabi 1 Year Extendable Contract

Company Name: Cascade Engineering & Contracting
Position Title: Automation Engineer
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Oil & Gas / Industrial Automation / Instrumentation
Employment Type: 1-Year Contract (Extendable)
Apply Method: Email CV to HR@cascade-ec.com (Subject: Automation Engineer)
Contact Number: +97128829288
Official Website: http://www.cascade-ec.com

Job Offering Company Introduction

Cascade Engineering & Contracting is a service and contracting company based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2017, the company has steadily built its reputation in the field of electrical, instrumentation, and control system integration. Operating within the oil and gas sector and other industrial environments, Cascade Engineering & Contracting supports clients with specialized engineering services, panel integration, and site-based project execution.

The company’s headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi, with its dedicated panel integration facility situated in Musaffah. This facility is designed to accommodate up to 200 control panels at a time, allowing for structured assembly, wiring, inspection, and testing. The workshop includes a separate area specifically designated for Factory Acceptance Testing support. This setup allows clients and engineers to conduct verification activities in a controlled and organized environment before systems are dispatched to site locations.

Cascade Engineering & Contracting undertakes a complete range of control panel integration projects. These projects cover the full lifecycle of panel building from design interpretation and component selection to wiring, labeling, inspection, and FAT support. The company handles projects of varying complexity, from basic motor control centers to more advanced PLC-based automation panels and integrated SCADA control systems.

Electrical works form another core area of operations. The company undertakes electrical projects up to medium voltage level installations. This includes cable laying, termination, installation of switchgear, transformers, and distribution panels. Electrical integration with instrumentation and control systems ensures that project deliverables meet the technical expectations of end users.

Instrumentation and control services are central to Cascade’s project portfolio. Industrial facilities require accurate signal acquisition, process monitoring, actuator control, and data reporting systems. The company supports these functions through installation, calibration, loop checking, and commissioning of instrumentation devices and automation systems.

Heat soak testing and burn-in testing services are part of the organization’s quality assurance capabilities. These procedures are essential in validating panel reliability before deployment. By simulating operational loads over controlled time periods, heat soak testing reduces the risk of early component failure.

The company also provides telecommunication and low current works. Industrial facilities often rely on communication networks to connect PLCs, SCADA systems, control rooms, field instruments, and monitoring platforms. Cascade Engineering & Contracting integrates these systems with structured wiring and network design approaches.

OT cybersecurity solutions and services represent a growing technical focus within the company. Industrial automation systems face increasing cybersecurity challenges. The organization addresses these risks by implementing security configurations, network segmentation, and controlled access management practices as part of system integration.

Manpower strength is another significant asset of Cascade Engineering & Contracting. With more than 70 technicians and qualified engineers, the company maintains the capacity to handle large and multiple projects simultaneously. Many of its technical personnel bring at least five years of field experience, which contributes to consistent project delivery standards.

The company is registered and prequalified with several major end users and system vendors in the UAE and the wider region. This recognition reflects its ability to meet compliance requirements, documentation standards, safety protocols, and execution benchmarks set by established industrial clients.

Cascade Engineering & Contracting operates within the oil and gas industry, a sector that demands high precision, system reliability, and strict adherence to safety and documentation procedures. Automation, instrumentation, and electrical integration play a major role in oil and gas production facilities, storage terminals, and processing plants.

The organization maintains a structured approach to project management. Engineering documentation, design review coordination, FAT preparation, site testing support, and commissioning activities are all handled according to defined processes. This ensures clarity between client expectations and project outcomes.

With ongoing project requirements in Abu Dhabi, Cascade Engineering & Contracting is currently hiring an Automation Engineer on a one-year extendable contract basis. This opportunity is suitable for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation Engineering and 1–2 years of relevant experience in industrial automation environments.

This role will contribute to the design support, development assistance, and implementation of control systems involving PLCs and SCADA platforms. The selected candidate will become part of a project-driven engineering team, supporting both workshop-based and site-based activities.

Job Description

The Automation Engineer position at Cascade Engineering & Contracting is designed for early-career professionals who are seeking hands-on exposure to industrial automation projects in Abu Dhabi. This role offers a structured environment where the engineer will work under senior supervision while gaining practical experience in design documentation, testing procedures, and implementation support.

The primary responsibility of the Automation Engineer is to support the design, development, and implementation of control solutions using PLC and SCADA systems. Industrial facilities rely heavily on programmable logic controllers to monitor and control process variables such as temperature, pressure, flow, and level. The selected candidate will assist in system configuration tasks and project documentation activities related to these systems.

Exposure to SCADA systems and HMI configuration is required. SCADA platforms allow centralized monitoring and control of distributed processes. Human Machine Interface screens must be configured carefully to provide operators with accurate visual representation of plant conditions. The Automation Engineer will assist in configuring display pages, alarm thresholds, trending screens, and tag mapping under guidance.

Preparation of I/O lists is an important documentation responsibility. An I/O list defines every input and output signal in a control system. These lists connect field devices such as sensors and actuators to PLC modules. The Automation Engineer will help prepare and verify these lists according to approved control philosophies and project specifications.

Logic diagrams are essential to demonstrate the sequence of operations in automated systems. The engineer will assist in drafting and reviewing these diagrams to ensure correct representation of process logic. Understanding of ladder logic, function block diagrams, structured text, and sequential function charts will be beneficial in interpreting such documentation.

Control philosophies outline the operational approach of a system. They explain how equipment should respond under normal and abnormal conditions. The Automation Engineer will assist in preparing these documents based on client requirements and engineering discussions.

Functional Design Specifications are detailed documents that describe system functionality. The engineer will contribute to preparing these specifications, ensuring they reflect accurate process behavior, alarm logic, and interlocks.

Cause and effect charts are commonly used in process industries to define automatic responses to certain events. For example, a high-pressure signal may trigger pump shutdown and alarm generation. The Automation Engineer will assist in drafting and reviewing these cause-and-effect matrices.

System architecture documentation is another critical deliverable. Industrial automation systems involve multiple components including PLC racks, remote I/O panels, communication switches, SCADA servers, and client workstations. The engineer will support preparation of architecture drawings that define network connectivity and hardware arrangement.

FAT and SAT documentation support is required in this role. Factory Acceptance Testing verifies that control panels and logic perform according to approved specifications before shipment. Site Acceptance Testing verifies system performance after installation. The Automation Engineer will assist in preparing test procedures, recording observations, and documenting results.

Understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, Profibus, Ethernet/IP, and OPC will be advantageous. These protocols enable communication between PLCs, remote I/O units, SCADA servers, and third-party devices.

The engineer should be capable of reading and interpreting electrical schematics and control drawings. These drawings include wiring diagrams, loop diagrams, termination details, and panel layouts. Accurate interpretation ensures proper system integration and troubleshooting.

Good communication skills are necessary because this position involves coordination with project managers, senior engineers, technicians, and client representatives. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and supports efficient project execution.

The Automation Engineer may spend time both in the workshop facility in Musaffah and at project sites within Abu Dhabi, depending on project requirements. Readiness to travel locally for testing and commissioning activities is important.

This is a one-year contract position with the possibility of extension based on project performance and company requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for the Automation Engineer position must meet the following eligibility requirements.

A Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation Engineering is mandatory. The educational background should provide foundational knowledge of measurement systems, control theory, signal processing, and industrial automation.

Applicants must have 1–2 years of relevant experience in automation, instrumentation, or control system projects. Experience can include internships, graduate trainee programs, or junior engineering roles involving PLC or SCADA exposure.

Basic exposure to PLC programming languages such as Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Function Block Diagram, or Sequential Function Chart is required. While advanced programming expertise is not mandatory, the candidate should understand logic structures and be able to interpret basic control programs.

Experience working with SCADA systems and HMI configuration is essential. The applicant should have practical familiarity with screen configuration, tag assignment, alarm setup, and basic troubleshooting.

Understanding of industrial communication protocols is important. Candidates should be aware of network-based communication in automation systems and how field devices connect to controllers.

Ability to read electrical schematics and control drawings is required. This includes understanding panel layouts, wiring connections, loop diagrams, and termination drawings.

Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with documentation such as I/O lists, FDS documents, and cause-and-effect charts.

Strong attention to detail is necessary because industrial automation involves precise signal mapping and logical sequencing.

Candidates must have good communication skills to interact with technical teams and client representatives.

Applicants should be readily available to join, as the hiring requirement is immediate.

Preference may be given to candidates currently located in the UAE or those who can relocate quickly.