U.S. Automation, Controls & Instrumentation Careers – Engineering, Operations & Technical Jobs
Industry Overview - The chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and polymers sectors are key drivers of the U.S. industrial economy, producing essential chemicals, medicines, plastics, and speciality materials. These industries rely on complex process systems, thermal equipment, and advanced instrumentation to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
At Industrial Recruitment Group (IRG), we connect skilled professionals with organizations that design, operate, maintain, and optimize chemical plants, pharmaceutical facilities, and polymer manufacturing plants. We recruit across the full lifecycle — engineering, operations, maintenance, projects, and commercial roles, helping companies maximize efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Key Industries Served
- Pharmaceutical & Biotech: Drug manufacturing, sterile environments, cleanrooms, and formulation processes
- Specialty Chemicals: Surfactants, coatings, adhesives, and industrial reagents
- Polymers & Plastics: Polymerization, extrusion, injection molding, and compounding operations
- Food & Beverage Ingredients: Additives, preservatives, and specialty ingredients
- Industrial & Manufacturing: Process chemicals, lubricants, and material handling
- Energy & Petrochemicals: Chemical intermediates, feedstocks, and process chemicals
Equipment & Systems We Cover
- Process Equipment: Reactors, mixers, agitators, distillation columns, and polymerization vessels
- Boilers & Thermal Systems: Steam generation, heat exchangers, kilns, and furnaces
- Filtration & Separation: Centrifuges, membrane filters, dryers, and crystallizers
- Pumps, Compressors & Turbomachinery: Centrifugal pumps, compressors, and rotary equipment
- Instrumentation & Control Systems: PLCs, DCS, SCADA, and automation integration
- Power & Utilities: CHP, electrical systems, and process energy management
- Storage & Handling: Tanks, silos, pipelines, and material transfer systems
- Safety & Environmental Systems: Scrubbers, neutralization, containment, and effluent treatment
- Testing & Quality Equipment: Analytical instruments, QA/QC systems, and lab instrumentation
Roles We Recruit Engineering & Design
- Chemical, Process, Mechanical, and Pharmaceutical Engineers
- Projects & Commissioning
- Project Managers, Site Engineers, Commissioning Technicians
- Operations & Maintenance
- Plant Operators, Process Technicians, Maintenance Supervisors
- Commercial & Sales
- Technical Sales Engineers, Product Specialists, Account Managers
- Health, Safety & Quality
- HSE Advisors, Quality Engineers, Compliance Officers
- Leadership & Executive
- Plant Managers, Operations Directors, Engineering Managers
Key Employers & Industry Leaders
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Amgen, Gilead
Chemical Manufacturers: Dow, DuPont, BASF, Eastman Chemical, Huntsman
Polymers & Plastics: LyondellBasell, SABIC, Celanese, Covestro
Equipment & OEMs: Flowserve, Alfa Laval, Spirax Sarco, Emerson, Siemens
Service & EPC Providers: Process contractors, automation integrators, and maintenance firms
Skills & Competencies
Chemical, pharmaceutical, or polymer process design and operation
Boilers, heat exchangers, and thermal process equipment
Filtration, separation, and drying systems
PLC, DCS, and SCADA control systems
Safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance
Energy efficiency, process optimization, and sustainability projects
Technical sales, project management, and operations leadership
Why Industrial Recruitment Group?
With deep knowledge of U.S. air and gas treatment systems, IRG connects companies with professionals who combine technical skill, operational experience, and commercial insight. We ensure you have the right talent to maximize performance, reliability, and compliance in every application.